Report: Mugen CR-Z powertrain details come to light

Mugen Honda CR-Z sketches – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Honda CR-Z is an interesting little hybrid that has mostly disappointed us with a dire need for more power if it ever hopes to live up to its promise as a sports coupe. The tuners at Mugen have promised to change all that with a souped-up version of the unique little hatch, and CAR reports the result is a 50-percent power increase via forced injection.

The British mag says the Mugen Euro will feature a supercharger mated to the standard 1.5-liter four-cylinder, which bumps the power output to 197 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. That's a far cry from the stock 113 ponies and 107 lb-ft, yet the engineers at Mugen reportedly managed to find a way sync Honda's integrated hybrid assist system. That should make for a fairly efficient little screamer, and Mugen is reportedly hoping induction and exhaust upgrades will help its hot hatch improve upon the CRZ's 38 miles per gallon. Not if you're using all 197 of those ponies on a regular basis.

Additional upgrades reported by CAR are a host of weight-saving tech including 17-inch forged Mugen GP wheels, front and rear adjustable dampers and upgraded brakes. Expected visual updates include Mugen-spec front and rear bumpers, a massive rear wing and side skirts.

When the Mugen Euro CR-Z makes its official debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, we're told to expect Type-R levels of performance. Sadly, we won't be holding our breath for a U.S. launch any time soon.