The Wait is Over
Honda brings Mugen name to U.S.

By KATHY JACKSON | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

LAS VEGAS - Honda is launching a new performance trim level in the United States and giving it a name that is well known in Asia.

The limited-edition Mugen Civic Si sedan will debut next spring. It is a more extreme version of the Civic Si performance sedan that went on sale Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Mugen Co. is a maker of race car engines and auto parts, and has close ties to Honda. It long has provided performance parts for Honda vehicles in Asia. But Honda has never put the name on a vehicle sold in the United States, John Mendel, American Honda's senior vice president, said at the SEMA show here.

Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda founder Soichiro Honda, set up Mugen in 1973. Honda Motor once owned a stake in Mugen but later sold it back.

Mendel says the timing is right for bringing Mugen to America.

"We know this (Mugen) will sell," Mendel said. "It will be assembled and have a warranty by Honda, similar to the high-performance AMG vehicles by Mercedes. The Mugen Si sedan elevates the already impressive Si sedan into new performance territory."

The Mugen will be powered by the same 197-hp, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine as the Si sedan and coupe models. It will also have the same six-speed manual transmission.

Most of the changes relate to the suspension and aerodynamics.

The Mugen is 0.6 inches lower and 1.1 inches longer than the stock Si sedan. The 16.7 pound aluminum wheels are 27 percent lighter than the alloy wheels on the regular Si sedan.

The Mugen also has a front spoiler with a sports grille bearing the Mugen Si emblem, side spoilers and a rear wing.

The company plans to produce only 500 units. The model will sell for less than $30,000. The base price of the Si sedan is $21,895, including the $595 destination charge.

Mendel would not say if the company plans to put the Mugen name on other Honda vehicles. He said the car will be assembled at a Honda plant in either the United States or Canada.

 

wow bad ass I wish they were gonna do that with the fit or others honda

 

id get one maybe if they built them in japan instead of the us or canada

 

.....man thats kinda *** dodnt u guys think honda is going to make mugen a household name....kinda at a loss for words........its going to be like the skyline next year.....im sad....

 

i predict this will make the list of top cars stolen

 

it sounds like the ripoff a-spec name of acura aka overprice aero and suspension parts.

 

http://www.jalopnik.com/photogallery/mugensi/

Heres a few shots of the Mugen Si not bad actually the wheels i want though..

 

if it really is under $30K, that means it'll be close to it, so figure around $8K for a drop, body kit, and rims? i dunno about that...we got a sweeter deal going from a base fit to sport, hahaha!

 

doesnt the si have a different rear end?

 

To bad you can't get a civic si for under 23-25k add all the moogen bs and you get another several thousand dollars on top of that. Good luck with markups.

 

anyone who buys that Mugen SI Sedan for $30,000 should not be allowed to reproduce.

 

The Mugen Civic SI Sedan is just a Civic SI sedan with a body kit, Mugen badges, and new rims. Lame.

Honda should really bring the Civic Type-R to the U.S.




But if the CTR doesn't come to the U.S., we should at least get Civic SI (coupe and sedan) like the one found in this link: JTuned.com Advertisement
Click the skip ad link to see the SI

 

that si is the concept to extreme for us civilians.............lol

 

A Mugen Civic Si sedan is a Civic Si sedan with Mugen parts?? Crazy!
(And you forgot to add the Mugen sports suspension and cat-back exhaust).

But if you would modify your car with all these Mugen parts in the aftermarket, it would cost more than $30,000 with the car. (The wheels alone are almost $3000 from Mugen's U.S. importer, King Motorsports). So we really shouldn't complain if Honda is offering the parts to us already installed for less expense and with a warranty. Five hundred people will be quite satisfied.

 

it WILL sell. honda....500 produced....mugen.... yep and the damn dealers will mark them up for sure! I will guess at least $4k. the si coupe was $2k+ marked up.

 

Oops, I did forget the suspension and exhaust. But, I still like and Civic SI concept from the link in my previous post.

 

Oh I didn't even notice that part of your post! Yes that's a damn cool car... I was there for the unveiling of it at the SEMA show last year. I don't think anything will ever come of it, but I do wish they would make the clear headlights and taillights available and maybe the spoiler too, as accessories. And those sideskirts are sleek! I suppose we can dream.

 

It does not say but it could offer a front strut bar even upgraded sway bars. It is still early to say if it a good deal or not. I think to cost at msrp will be cheaper than doing it your self but Honda dealers will mark it up which is sad.

I was Honda had a way to force dealers to only sell at msrp or lower but thats a pipe dream that will never come true.

 

Lets keep our finger crossed for the Fit!

 

With only 500 units made, they'll probably all get sold even if some are dealer showroom queens for a few months.

No engine mods? sad

edit: yay old thread