TORQUE GT ● BLOG
Who remembers the Honda CR-X from the 80’s? A retro looking coupe that’s become classic amongst Honda fans.
Honda tapped into this back in 2010, releasing the Honda CR-Z. A modern, funky coupe, undeniably influenced by the CR-X. However, the plot thickens as the CR-Z is a hybrid…
Don’t worry though, this isn’t a Prius equivalent from Honda. In typical Honda tradition they created something a little different - A hybrid powertrain linked to a 6 speed manual gearbox. Upon release, this was Honda’s conscious effort to be more environmentally friendly whilst pleasing the driving enthusiast at the same time… no easy feat!
The hybrid technology was a sign of the times, however in present day the technology this car contains is arguably even more relevant. In a world of inflation and recessions, is the CR-Z the perfect balance of buying with both your head and heart?
Well let's break it down. It’s a coupe with a design that still looks fresh over a decade on. Under the bonnet it offers a 1.5-litre petrol engine with IMA electric assist powering the front wheels.
Producing a modest 112 bhp & 107 lb-ft, Honda never intended for this to be a serious performance car, but weighing just under 1200kg means it handles extremely well. Towards the end of its production, power was increased to 130bhp giving the driver just that little bit more to play with. Available in the UK as well as Japan, it didn’t sell in huge numbers when new…
However, nowadays these forward thinking coupes are more than affordable and unsurprisingly still proving reliable thanks to Honda’s renowned engineering/build quality. We’re regularly importing them for our Personal Import customers.
You may be thinking “why don’t I just buy a UK model?” and you could… but as per usual, Japan kept some JDM only, special versions for themselves.
Introducing the Mugen RZ… Now as the name suggests, this is a special edition created by Mugen which will prick the ears of any Honda boffin. It's rare too, with just 300 produced!
This example was again sourced through our Personal Import Service for a client who wanted to own something unique. Cosmetically it takes the humble CR-Z to eleven.
The list is vast and includes 17” forged Mugen alloys, a full body kit with aerodynamic upgrades such as an adjustable front spoiler, rear diffuser and enormous rear wing! The body is finished in a striking paint job named Azure Blue Metallic - The only colour available for the 300 examples.
The blue theme continues inside, uplifting the cabin… Seats with blue inserts, blue stitching on the steering wheel and a special Mugen aluminium gear knob, wrapped in dry carbon and finished off with a blue band. If you don’t like blue, this car probably isn’t for you!
Mugen also gave it more racecar vibes with gauges on the dashboard along with a small metal plate presenting the car’s serial number, in this case No.006.
All of this certainly makes the RZ look exciting, but is it all show and no go? Fortunately not, as Mugen did plenty of mechanical upgrades too.
Simply, a supercharger was added… Well done Mugen! This hikes the modest power figures to a more enticing 174 bhp and 193 lb-ft. Along with this Mugen gave the RZ a cat-back exhaust with dual titanium tips, uprated discs, callipers & pads, plus five-way adjustable coilover suspension.
As soon as you set off, you’re immediately aware of the extra grunt. It retains the good bits of the original car, like the sweet 6 speed manual and decent chassis. Start showing it a few bends and the new coilovers help keep the car even more planted.
With spirited driving the Mugen RZ still remains fairly efficient thanks to the hybrid technology. So if you’re looking for a fun, reliable, relatively cheap to run JDM daily which will turn heads, the Mugen RZ is potentially the ultimate expression.
As far as we know this is the only Mugen RZ in the UK, so the new owner truly has something exclusive! Obviously you’ll pay a premium for the ‘Ultimate Version’ of the CR-Z, but there’s plenty of standard cars out in Japan ready to import.
Many are available with cosmetic editions, for example, you may fancy a standard CR-Z with a Mugen body kit & spoiler like this awesome example below…
Is 2023 the year you’re thinking about importing a JDM car? If so now’s the time to get in touch, then you’ll be enjoying it by the time summer arrives.