Civic Mugen Type-RR
Any Honda fan will tell you, Type-R logo means one of the best names in the industry when it comes to fast, stylish and fun to drive front wheel drive cars (considering that 90% of Hondas are FWD). We've seen a lot of Type-R Civics and none ever failed to deliver that "extra something" which makes it so special. The ingredients are well known; increased HP from the VTEC high revs motor, normally aspirated of course, sharpened chassis AND weight reduction. That's basically what every race car enthusiast would do to his own car before taking it to the track...but this time, we have been very fortunate to get our hands on an amazing Civic, not only because only 300 units will be produced but mostly because it was tuned by Mugen. The japanese company affiliated to Honda in Racing brings an enormous amount of knowledge into what's probably the best factory tuned Honda Civic that money can buy.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome the Mugen Civic Type RR.
The Mugen Honda Civic Type-RR was unveiled last summer (July 07) and can be considered as the "Road Legal" version of the Super Taikyu Championship Civics which have been dominating the field in the ST4 class. Pretty much like the Impreza Type RA-R, the Civic RR is not the kind you'll see at the traffic lights on a regular basis, the car will be made at a very exclusive 300 units.
The facts
- 240 PS, 15 more than the Civic Type-R, 85 more than the standard Civic (2.0GL).
- 218 Nm, slightly better than the 215 Nm of the regular Type-R and 30 Nm more than the 2.0 GL.
- 1255 Kg, 15kg lighter than the Type-R and 45 compared to the 2.0 GL.
Design
Unless you're a Honda freak, you may have a hard time distinguishing the R from the RR as both cars look very similar from an exterior point of view. Still, the Mugen version receives a wider body kit and a couple visible mods such as the air ducts on the hood, carbon front grille rocking the Mugen logo, new front spoiler, 18 inches black wheels and specially designed Potenza RE070 (225 / 40R18 88Y) tyres.
The rear end also lets you know that there is something going on with this Honda thanks to a dual exhaust system, additional braking light and new carbon fiber rear spoiler as good for looks as it is for downforce.
Interior
Minor but enjoyable changes inside aswell as the radio disappeared and was replaced by various gauges for oil temperature, water temperature and pressure. The standard bucket seats were replaced by wonderful carbon ones. Those seats will require you to be in shape though, we're talking race here, the pedals were also modified (aluminium) and the shift knob couple with the number of your version own Civic RR among the 300 produced.
On the road
Honestly, when you look at the figures on the paper, the Civic Type RR doesn't impress that much, 15PS more, equivalent torque and a tad lighter, it all sounds like something you could do yourself on a regular Civic Type-R...but you'd be wrong, very wrong.
Making a car faster means more power for 99% of the people but remember that this is a FWD car, the front wheels have to steer AND support the power of the engine and this is why most of the changes do not appear on the specs sheet. The aerodynamics and most of all, the chassis, were dramatically tuned resulting in a much more grippy and responsive feel behind the wheel.
This is a very wise, professional and "down to earth" tuning that Mugen realised for the Civic and the improvements made to the chassis could probably welcome even more power.
As the RR is a "track-friendly" machine, aimed at racing enthusiasts, the Traction Control, among other security equipments, is nowhere to be found. And that's a good thing, especially on a circuit.
The greatest change felt behind teh wheel doesn"t come from the accelerations but from the stering response, the car translates every move of your arms and hands into a precise direction through the corner, the handling and balance are really impeccable and give more and more confidence at each and every turn.
Now remember this is a road legal machine and not all roads are as clean and flat as Suzuka's main straight so the suspensions do give a hard time when the tarmac is not perfectly even. Driving this car at Sebring should be the heck of an experience for your poor back! Hopefully, the suspensions can easily be tuned "on the fly".
To go with the fantastic sensations, the sound of the VTEC through the exhaust was music to our ears, no wonder they got rid of the radio you wouldn't turn it on anyway! The engine has, of course, kept its high revvin' personality. Unfortunately, the limiter will put a violent end to your enthusiasm come 160km per hour, HOPEFULLY, it can be deactivated ON RACE TRACKS.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome the Mugen Civic Type RR.
The Mugen Honda Civic Type-RR was unveiled last summer (July 07) and can be considered as the "Road Legal" version of the Super Taikyu Championship Civics which have been dominating the field in the ST4 class. Pretty much like the Impreza Type RA-R, the Civic RR is not the kind you'll see at the traffic lights on a regular basis, the car will be made at a very exclusive 300 units.
The facts
- 240 PS, 15 more than the Civic Type-R, 85 more than the standard Civic (2.0GL).
- 218 Nm, slightly better than the 215 Nm of the regular Type-R and 30 Nm more than the 2.0 GL.
- 1255 Kg, 15kg lighter than the Type-R and 45 compared to the 2.0 GL.
DesignUnless you're a Honda freak, you may have a hard time distinguishing the R from the RR as both cars look very similar from an exterior point of view. Still, the Mugen version receives a wider body kit and a couple visible mods such as the air ducts on the hood, carbon front grille rocking the Mugen logo, new front spoiler, 18 inches black wheels and specially designed Potenza RE070 (225 / 40R18 88Y) tyres.
The rear end also lets you know that there is something going on with this Honda thanks to a dual exhaust system, additional braking light and new carbon fiber rear spoiler as good for looks as it is for downforce.
Interior
Minor but enjoyable changes inside aswell as the radio disappeared and was replaced by various gauges for oil temperature, water temperature and pressure. The standard bucket seats were replaced by wonderful carbon ones. Those seats will require you to be in shape though, we're talking race here, the pedals were also modified (aluminium) and the shift knob couple with the number of your version own Civic RR among the 300 produced.
On the road
Honestly, when you look at the figures on the paper, the Civic Type RR doesn't impress that much, 15PS more, equivalent torque and a tad lighter, it all sounds like something you could do yourself on a regular Civic Type-R...but you'd be wrong, very wrong.
Making a car faster means more power for 99% of the people but remember that this is a FWD car, the front wheels have to steer AND support the power of the engine and this is why most of the changes do not appear on the specs sheet. The aerodynamics and most of all, the chassis, were dramatically tuned resulting in a much more grippy and responsive feel behind the wheel.
This is a very wise, professional and "down to earth" tuning that Mugen realised for the Civic and the improvements made to the chassis could probably welcome even more power.
As the RR is a "track-friendly" machine, aimed at racing enthusiasts, the Traction Control, among other security equipments, is nowhere to be found. And that's a good thing, especially on a circuit.
The greatest change felt behind teh wheel doesn"t come from the accelerations but from the stering response, the car translates every move of your arms and hands into a precise direction through the corner, the handling and balance are really impeccable and give more and more confidence at each and every turn.
Now remember this is a road legal machine and not all roads are as clean and flat as Suzuka's main straight so the suspensions do give a hard time when the tarmac is not perfectly even. Driving this car at Sebring should be the heck of an experience for your poor back! Hopefully, the suspensions can easily be tuned "on the fly".
To go with the fantastic sensations, the sound of the VTEC through the exhaust was music to our ears, no wonder they got rid of the radio you wouldn't turn it on anyway! The engine has, of course, kept its high revvin' personality. Unfortunately, the limiter will put a violent end to your enthusiasm come 160km per hour, HOPEFULLY, it can be deactivated ON RACE TRACKS.
Plus:
Price
Performance
Look
Exclusivity
Handling
Minus:
Deliciously uncomfortable
Conclusion:
You've got it right, we were simply amazed by the Mugen Honda Civic Type-RR. The attention to detail and the years of experience accumulated by Mugen in racing competition worldwide really come alive in this Civic.
The car is sold around 30.000€ in Japan, yeah no need to tell me, if this was available at your local Honda Dealer there would be one in front of your house by now and you'd have made athe right choice, at least if you like Hondas and diabolical performances...but don't we all?
Many thanks to Mugen for letting us test drive what certainly is the best factory Honda Civic ever built.
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