Mugen and Honda ran a single make racing series using the City Turbos. The cars were based on the production vehicles as were the motors. The motors had larger exhaust, injectors, production type turbo (with 22psi), production type intercooler, and a modified camshaft. These cars did the standing 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds (which isn’t bad for a frontwheel drive car set up for circuit racing).

They ran very fat tires (9” front and 7” rear). The official Mugen figure for power output is 138+hp @ 5500rpm but the torque is around 22kgm @ 3500rpm (standard twin cam VTEC 1600 has 16kgm, NSX V6 has about 28kgm). It takes little work to produce these power figure in a street motor. The cars from the one make racing series were bought by an Australian entrepreneur with the vision for continuing the series in Australia. Unfortunately all the vehicles were in a warehouse in Osaka waiting to be shipped when an earthquake struck and buried the lot.

Update 2/20/2013:

If you were racing your Mugen City Turbo II in the mid 80's, chances are are you had this Mugen competition oil cooler kit.

Time for an "image tribute" to some classic Mugen wheels over the years. Let's start with the radiating-heat goodness of the CF-48. These are the uber rare black versions with black center caps. The black CRX ain't too bad either!

You have to have the black aero discs (and gold-colored logo / lettering) to go along with them! If you've ever owned CF-48 wheels you know there aren't many aero discs in circulation today...

The MR-5 was easily the most popular wheel of that era. The black-center version with polished lip is hard to beat!

Mugen CR-X Circuit Racer with Mugen MR-5 wheels.....

The M7 wheel is quite rare as very few were sold back in the day. It's all about the SUPER FACTORS!

1. SUPER PRECISION

2. SUPER DYNAMIC-BALANCED

3. SUPER DURABILITY

4. SUPER STRONG

5. SUPER LIGHT

*Update*

Here are a few more additions to our classic Mugen wheel tribute!

Mugen CF-48 wheels with the aero disks. American Honda provided the entire SCCA SSC class field with these wheels at the Runoff in 1985. Quite a sight! This brochure showed them available in GUN METALLIC, CHROME CUT SILVER and CHROME CUT BLACK.

A closer look:

From our image library. Old school shot of a Mugen-equipped EF with Mugen CF-48 wheels.

Update 2/14/2013:

Check out this Mugen 1985 Accord with CF-48 wheels! Brings back memories. Check out all the color and style variations, including a metallic aero disc version!

Today we have a Mugen history brochure from 2003. It includes a storied racing timeline that starts in 1973 and covers Mugen's major racing contributions, engines and accomplishments up to 2003.

Right-click to see the images at full size.

We are proud to have the King Motorsports / Mugen GT3 CRX included as part of Mugen history!

Ladies and Gents, may we present the Mugen Legend Max Concept Car, unveiled at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Salon. This V8 beast was created to be a world class sports sedan-- designed to go toe to toe with AMG and Alpina.

Here are specs for the Study Concept Model "LM (Legend Max)"

ENGINE

> Engine name: Mugen MF408S

> Engine type: V8 Naturally Aspirated

> Displacement: 4.0 Liters

> Horsepower: over 500ps

> Valvetrain: 32 valves, DOHC

DIMENSIONS

> Overall Length: 4980mm

> Overall Width: 1905mm

> Wheelbase: 2800mm

WHEELS & TIRES

> Wheel: 18" Alloy (18x9.5JJ)

> Tire: 275/35R18

BRAKES

> Rotor: 5 slit

> Pad: Type Competition

> Hose: Micro Mesh Brake Lines

AERO

> Exterior: "Increased Advance Body"

INTERIOR

> Seat: Bucket Type (Front)

COLOR

> Exterior: Firecracker Red

> Interior: Black & Blue

Specs for the MF408S in the VEMAC RD408R

> Layout: 90 degree V8 Naturally Aspirated

> Displacement: 4000cc

> Horsepower: 590hp / 9500rpm

> Torque: 383lb/ft / 7500rpm

> Restrictor: 33.4mm x2 or 46.8mm x1

> Clutch: Carbon 4 plate

> Length: 559mm

> Width: 720mm

> Height: 577mm

> Weight: 131kg

** Thanks to vtec.net for the specs -- head over there to see pics from TAS 2005 **

The Honda RA301 was produced by Honda Racing for the 1968 Formula One season. It was introduced during the 1968 Spanish Grand Prix, the second round of the season. Like its predecessor (RA300), the car was co-developed by Lola Cars, and called "Lola T180" by Lola Cars.

The car was an update of the previous season's RA300, using the same RA273E engine. As Honda was also focused on developing the air-cooled RA302, the RA301's development suffered and Surtees only managed a best of second place in the France. Poor reliability saw him managing to finish just two other races.

The car was planned to be replaced by the RA302 at the 1968 French Grand Prix, but Surtees refused to drive the new car because of safety concerns. After the death of Jo Schlesser at that race, Surtees again refused to drive the RA302 at the 1968 Italian Grand Prix, and the RA301 was used until the end of the season.

With Honda's withdrawal from Formula One at the end of the season, the RA301 was the last F1 car raced by Honda until the 2006 Formula One season's Honda RA106.

** Thanks to Wikipedia for the history and Motorsport Retro for the pic **

If wheels were animals, the Mugen wheels would be the ruthless carnivores at the top of the food chain. In that elite pack, the forged MF10 wheels are the dominant males.

Of the MF10 wheels, the best of the pack was the MF10L. The "L" suffix tells the world these are the ultra-lightweight versions of the MF10, specifically made for the race track and only available in white. These are the only version of the MF10 to come in white rather than the standard bronze or silver. Completing the package are unique red and gray graphics sweeping opposing sides of the rim (these graphics are also exclusive to the MF10L).

These wheels are the king of the hill. The MF10L were specifically made for DC2, EK, EG and CRX fitments and were available only in 15" diameter. These are a super light version of the MF10 wheel. Put in perspective, each wheel is only about the weight of 2 of your mom's laptop computers. They are forged wheels so they are super strong and great for racing, which is what they were designed for. Ideal for reducing un-sprung weight -- which translates into faster acceleration and better transient response.

Here are specs for the 2 sizes the MF10L were available in:

Size: 15x6.5

Offset: +45mm 

Bolt pattern: 4x100 

Color: Racing White

Weight: Approx. 10.5 pounds each

Size: 15x7

Offset: +40mm 

Bolt pattern: 4x100 

Color: Racing White

Weight: Approx. 11 pounds each

What if we told you that an extremely limited quantity of the 15x6.5 MF10L wheels were recently found in a dark corner of Mugen's warehouse? And that those sets were on their way to King Motorsports for sale in late January 2013? Follow us on Facebook to be the first to hear the official announcement!

Here's the sticker on the inner barrel of the rim:

Close up of the Mugen MF10L sizing from the brochure:

We'll leave you with this drool-worthy K20A-powered EK4 on Mugen MF10L wheels from HT '07:

Update 1/2/2013:

We are happy to announce that a very limited quantity of the MF10L 15x6.5 wheels are on their way to us now and are due to arrive in our Wisconsin facility the week of January 28, 2013. Then we'll ship 'em out to a few lucky folks. The wheels are up for pre-order now on the King Motorsports site at a special price! Priced as a set of four wheels.

http://www.kingmotorsports.com/p-4335-mugen-mf10l-wheels-15x65-45mm-offset-4x100.aspx

When they are gone, THEY ARE GONE!

Update 2/4/2013:

Mugen shipment MK 13-01 has arrived at our loading dock. 95 boxes of Mugen goodies, including the very last of the Mugen MF10L wheels! Most have been sold by this point, so those who acted quickly were wise to do so. :)

We inspect one of the sets. Gorgeous!

The 2000 Mugen S-MX. A seriously cool micro hauler!

The S-MX is similar in appearance to the larger Honda Stepwgn, shortened substantially in length and height. Whereas the Stepwgn had three rows of seating to accommodate eight passengers, the smaller S-MX has two rows of seating for four or five passengers.

In order to maximize space for passengers, the S-MX uses a front bench seat and a column shifter for the four-speed automatic transmission (the only available transmission). The S-MX was powered by a 2.0 L version of Honda's B-series engine featuring double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder; it did not use Honda's VTEC system. Peak power output was 128 hp (130 PS; 96 kW) @ 5,500 rpm and peak torque was 135 lb·ft (18.7 kgf·m; 183 N·m) @ 4,200 rpm.

This engine was shared with the Honda CR-V compact crossover. Similar to the CR-V, the S-MX was available with front-wheel-drive or optional four-wheel-drive.

We like the Mugen logo molded into the side skirt. This is something rarely seen on Mugen aero kits.

Let's face it, you can't build every amazing Mugen car out there. So we resort to the next best thing -- building out your collection with scale models. Ebbro has made amazingly detailed die-cast models for Honda and the Mugen variants for many years in the tidy 1/43 scale (about 3-4" long). I've only ever seen them sold in stores in Asia. You can see a few at the King Motorsports showroom, where King's CEO displays a part of his collection.

In the early 2000's, Mugen worked closely with Ebbro to produce this collection of Mugen models. The details are truly stunning, right down to the precise livery placement and colors on the race cars. As with all Ebbro models, they feature complete interiors and include details like exhaust pipes, radio antennas, cannards, Honda/Mugen badging, clear headlight/taillight housings, window vents and windshield wipers. Ebbro does not cut corners when they make these things. They even have Mugen part numbers!

MUGEN S2000. The colors are faithful to the gray Mugen prototype we showcased on our blog and even includes the Mugen logo in the quarter window of the hardtop.

MUGEN INTEGRA TYPE R. See our blog post for the Mugen DC2R to see how faithful this model is to its full-size counterpart!

MUGEN STREAM

MUGEN FIT

MUGEN NSX JGTC 2002

CASTROL MUGEN NSX JGTC 1999

CASTROL MUGEN NSX JGTC 1999

LOCTITE MUGEN NSX/JGTC 2001

Mugen have continued to partner with top-quality manufacturers like Tamiya, Ebbro and Autoart to create 1/24 scale plastic model kits, 1/10 scale R/C kits, 1/43 scale die-cast and 1/18 scale die-cast replicas. If you love Mugen cars and have more shelf space than garage space, these models are a great place to start a collection!

See the current catalog of Honda/Mugen models from Ebbro on their website. Scroll to the bottom to drool over the discontinued models. Check out Ebbro.net for more pics and 360-degree views!

Here is a nice tidbit from our archives for you CR-X fans. This is a visual timeline of Mugen's second-gen CR-X models.

1987: CR-X PRO.2 F1 Marshal model

(Includes bonus "CYBER SPORTS" graphics!)

1988: CR-X PRO.2 Products model [EF7/8]

1989: CR-X PRO.2 VTEC [EF9]

See all our current performance parts for the second-gen CR-X at the King Motorsports online store.

Skunk2 Thermal Intake Manifold and Throttle Body gaskets are designed as direct replacements for OEM gaskets. Skunk2's advanced high temperature thermal polymer material protects against heat soak and maximizes horsepower gains by reducing heat transfer. With the use of Skunk2 thermal gaskets, air intake temps are minimized which provides the your engine cooler air for combustion, and that means horsepower. This and bypassing several heat sources can provide you up to 5% more power.

Skunk2 Racing thermal intake manifold and throttle body gaskets are perfect for your race, weekend warrior and street application.

Features:
- B/D/K-Series Applications
- Direct replacements for OEM intake manifold and throttle body gaskets
- Protects against heat soak and reduces the incoming air temperature before it reaches the cylinder head.
- Reduces HP robbing heat transfer into the intake manifold
- High Heat deflection

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• Honda B16A2, A3
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Thermal Intake Manifold Gasket (B16a)
372-05-0290

• Acura B17A1
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Thermal Intake Manifold Gasket (K-Series non-Si)
372-05-0320

• Acura K20A2, A3, Z1
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