A few weeks ago at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Honda unveiled a concept study of the hybrid CR-Z prepared by Mugen’s European division.
The fettled CR-Z retained the regular model’s mechanical hardware including the IMA electric motor and the 1.5-liter gasoline engine, but the upgraded internals and the addition of a supercharger increased its performance by more than 50% over the normal model, to 200+ horsepower and 215 Nm (158.6 lb/ft).
Mugen’s engineers also improved the tuned CR-Z’s driving dynamics by widened the tracks and adding a limited-slip differential, a 5-step adjustable dampers and larger brakes.
And in order to differentiate it from the run-of-the-mill CR-Z, they also modified the exterior as well as the interior.
While Honda stated that it has no current plans for a production model, the company didn’t rule out a limited run version in the near future, depending on customer feedback.
We’ve already shown you an official video of the tuned CR-Z in action, but Channel 5’s Fifth Gear TV show managed to get their hands on the car. The presenters found that while it is much quicker than the standard model and more fun to drive, it is a bit too harsh for everyday use. You can watch the video after the jump.
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