Mugen gives Honda Civic Type R extra edge with upgrade equipment
Group A or Group B: not blood types
The current Honda Civic Type R (codenamed FL5) is widely accepted as one of the all-time great hot hatchbacks, but that hasn’t stopped Japanese tuning and motorsports company Mugen from offering a programme of upgrades for the Japanese performance car.
Due to be unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, which runs from January 12-14, the Mugen bundles can be split into two broad specifications — Group A and Group B. The former is a more subtle visual upgrade package while the latter equips the Civic Type R with some serious visual menace.
From (Group) A to (Group) B
Both of the bodykit packages for the Mugen Civic Type R have been developed to improve the aerodynamic capabilities of the car, rather than just making it look more aggressive. Mugen has been working on computational fluid dynamics (computer-based aero testing) and on-road wind testing to make sure they’re spot on.
The Group A bundle adds a bigger front splitter at the lower leading edge of the bumper, as well as redesigned air intakes either side of the front number plate.
Bigger side skirts, a reshaped — and notably large — rear spoiler and a unique design of back bumper complete the look.
Group B specification, meanwhile, is a lot more focused. It uses the same front splitter, rear bumper, boot spoiler and front air intakes as the Group A, but the side skirts are considerably chunkier, while you can’t fail to notice the carbon-fibre bonnet.
This reduces weight over the nose of the car in a bid to improve the keenness of its handling, while various slats and vents allow heat to better escape the turbocharged Civic’s engine bay.
Further vents on the tops of the front wings allow air to exit the front wheelarch area — a feature the Mugen Civic Type R shares with no less a luminary than the extreme Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
- Porsche 911 GT3 RS revealed with active aero, more power and enhanced track focus
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Pipes, anchors and dampers
Mugen is also working on various performance parts and interior modifications for the Civic.
In an explanatory video from the tuning house, the sports exhaust system is designed to save weight and also improve the sound the car makes.
Two types will be offered, one made from stainless steel and the other from super-light and super-strong titanium. Interestingly, from the graphic shown, it would seem these exhausts would have one single, large tailpipe, rather than the standard Civic Type R’s trademark three exits as standard from the factory.
Mugen is also working with BBS on a set of forged aluminium 19in wheels, while performance dampers will be sold to improve the Civic’s body control.
There’s also a brake upgrade planned, with Mugen saying various levels of potency will suit everyone, from those using their Type R just for normal driving right up to people who plan to go out on track in the car.
The high-performance brake kit is the apogee of this Mugen offering, replacing all of the car’s standards discs, callipers, pads and brake hoses for greater stopping power.
Inside, Mugen customers can opt for a number of items, including a new steering wheel, bucket seats, a replacement gearshift knob and even a carbon-fibre centre console panel.
Mugen will announce the full prices of its Civic Type R upgrade options at the Tokyo Auto Salon motor show, as well as letting us get a better look at both Group A and Group B cars.
Started by old man Soichiro’s son
Mugen, a Japanese word meaning “without limit” or “vast”, was founded in 1973 by the son of Honda’s fabled company founder Soichiro. His boy Hirotoshi set up Mugen 51 years ago but, despite the family link, it has never been officially part of or owned by the Honda Motor Company.
It has made an enviable name for itself in tuning and upgrading road-going high-performance Hondas over the decades, while Mugen Motorsport does much of Honda’s competitive racing work.
The upgrade packages for the FL5 are by no means the first time Mugen has turned its attention to the Civic Type R, with perhaps the most well-known example on these shores being the Civic Type R Mugen of 2009, based on the hot version of the eighth-generation Honda hatch.
Related articles
- If you were interested in the Mugen-tweaked Honda Civic Type R, you might like to read our review of the Honda Civic Type R
- And if you like hot hatches, check out this video review of 2018 Ford Fiesta ST
- Also check out what Clarkson said about the previous Golf GTI Clubsport
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