Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Japan, Honda
Officially Official: Japan gets Honda Civic Mugen RR
by Alex Nunez on Jun 28th 2007 at 10:51AM 
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It was rumored yesterday, and it's real today. Come September 13, Japanese enthusiasts will be able to order up the hottest Civic Type R yet. The already-impressive R gets the full once-over from Mugen, and the result is the Honda Civic Mugen RR. Designed to be perhaps the ultimate front-engined/front-wheel-drive performance car, the Mugen RR sheds an additional 10kg (22 lbs) off the standard Civic Type R's weight, coming in at 2733 lbs. In addition to the weight loss, the freer-breathing Mugen RR picks up 15 horsepower over the regular Type R. It's rated at 240 horses at 8,000 rpm and 160 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm.
Complementing the added power and and decreased weight are a new bodykit, upgraded brakes all around, a retuned suspension, new wheels and tires, and logo-emblazoned Recaro sport buckets. Availability is limited to 300 cars, all in the Milan Red finish shown, and the pricing in Japan has been set at ¥4,777,500 ($38,750 USD).
Mugen's official website has a video of the car lapping Japan's Tsukuba circuit in 1:06:68, which is worth a look if you're interested in seeing it in action.
[Source: MUGEN via Carview]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MrSweetNLow 11:05AM (6/28/2007)
Wow... that for a civic? I don't care how souped up it is. You can get a 2008 VW GTI with DSG for $23,000. It shifts in 8 milliseconds (the Enzo shifts in 150 milliseconds, FXX shits in 100 milliseconds). Has 200hp and 200lb ft of torque.
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MikeW 11:57AM (6/28/2007)
Double clutch transmissions don't shift. They transition gears.
The time quoted is only the time that the fuel is cut (under peak clutch overlap). So apples to oranges.
You are still looking at an ~150-250ms 'shift' time. From the time clutch one starts coming out, and that half of the transmission is shifted to neutral, to the time clutch two is fully engaged.
240ps is more likely, 240hp@8000rpm is 157.5ft-lbs, only dropping 2.5 ft-lbs over 1000 rpm, 240ps is still a remarkable 5ft-lbs over 1000rpm.
lose the wing, get an M3 type spoiler.
That FXX must be taking extra strength ex-lax, wow.
John R 11:36AM (6/28/2007)
Yeah you can get a GTI for $23k but when you start adding stuff that one typically expects in his/her car that price is going to inflate.
I'm looking at May's C/D right now and the GTI they tested, a four door with a 6-speed (not DSG) is priced at $29k and change. Granted it's still almost $10k below what Honda is asking or this Civic Type-R. However, one should keep in mind they are only making 300 examples, some of which are probably going to be added to collections.
On the other side when one considers that Japan's tax structure on automobiles is based on litre displacement there might be a trade off when considering other cars with V6s that make as much power.
I dunno, I'm just trying to rationalize. Me personally, if I were in Japan, I would get a Mazdaspeed3. Exclusivity be damned
Wesley Hodgson 9:57AM (6/29/2007)
You guys are also forgetting that the price in USD of a car in Japan isn't the same as what it would cost in the USA. Car prices aren't just a straight currency conversion. I would imagine that cars in Japan are relatively a lot more expensive then they are in the US. Check how much a new GTI is in Japan and use that for comparison.
Sean Flanagan 11:15AM (6/28/2007)
My God, I NEED every single one of those parts for my Si sedan. Especially the exhaust and bodykit. Gorgeous. Match those up to AJP turbo kit... Come on lottery...
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Tyk 11:19AM (6/28/2007)
This would never come to NA as a Civic... far too expensive. The Civic range in JPN has more room to move upscale (and pricing) due the absence of the Acura division.
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epilonious 11:19AM (6/28/2007)
*yawn* Yet Another FF compact taken to ridiculous extremes of price and "performance" by some tuner.
for 38,000, I'd expect them to drop the Civic body onto a stretched S2000 driveline. THAT would be nifty....
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wormyguy 11:19AM (6/28/2007)
Looks like a ton of show and a passable amount of go. For almost 39k, I'll take a Mustang GT for 14k less, or a used Corvette, *or an S2000.*
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FLR 11:23AM (6/28/2007)
A $40,000 Civic? Where do I sign up?
Actually, kids probably spend this much on their 1993 Civics after all the body kits and engine work.
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John P. 11:36AM (6/28/2007)
Looking at this and the Cobra, or Saleen or MrSweetNLow's GTI even just became the deals of the century.
Here's a case where I guess I don't get it, and have no desire to "Get It".
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Allan 11:44AM (6/28/2007)
For nearly $40k, you'd think they'd find a way to give it some torque. Good god...
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Tyo 11:47AM (6/28/2007)
i laugh at lexus owners daily who spend 40k on a ff LUXURY car, this is even more laughable. Love the idea of a FR small sedan from honda, wont happen though.
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OziD 3:58AM (6/29/2007)
what lexus is FWD?
Jason 6:15AM (6/29/2007)
The Lexus ES is FWD...
Max 11:49AM (6/28/2007)
You also have to remember that the currency conversions are never accurate on vehicle pricing. If this car were sold in the US, it would cost less than $38k.
Its sad that Honda's performance division (mugen) is now better known for their cosmetic items than performance parts. This car would have been much better off as a competition model....simplified with an emphasis on handling and performance. If they wanted to make the car lighter, they should have started with getting rid of the body kit and wing. Instead, install an aluminum hood, trunk and roof panel. The car would easily be 60-80 pounds lighter and lower the center of gravity.
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Mr. Oak 11:49AM (6/28/2007)
I just paid what for a Civic? Note to self: Have doctor look at hole in my head.
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dave 11:56AM (6/28/2007)
My lord, thats 2009 GT-R price territory....BUT, did you see the damn redline on this little monster??? Simply ridiculous...and awesome ;)
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Joe 12:29PM (6/28/2007)
BFD...
The Gen I and II Taurus SHO redlined at 8500 with a proper tune. It made 225 HP and 220 lb/ft of torque, with a V6 engine that's 20 years old now, that would still cost well less than $38K from the factory.
And that wasn't even a tuner car.
RoadRunnerSTi 12:10PM (6/28/2007)
Any civic over $29k is a little hard to swallow because you're stepping into EVO/STi/MS6 territory which offers 4-doors, and a front engine layout like the civic, but adds AWD and a higher level of performance too for the same buck... not to mention drop $1,500 in mods on any of the above cars and the gap in performance increases ten fold.
I can't really see any reason for anyone to spend more then $26-27k on this car.
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tweezy 12:27PM (6/28/2007)
I like it... though it is a bit pricey. That said, I highly doubt this would be anyone's DD grocery getter. I like the visual look too. The small things like the low mount LED brake light are sweet.
I have to ask though, couldn't they have saved even more weight with single exhaust. It is still just an N/A 4-banger.
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