Japan Gets Hot CR-Z: Are You Jel?

Honda has decided to offer a Mugen-tuned version of the CR-Z coupe after all, but it’s strictly for banzai petrolheads in Japan. That means, annoyingly, that the most powerful Honda you can buy over here in the UK remains something without a Mugen or Type-R badge on it. No, the pokiest Honda is: the Accord 2.4-litre VTEC, with a whacking great 198bhp. Cheers, guys.

So, what do those lucky Japanese get on top of the nice-but-slow CR-Z? There’s a fat bodykit, power’s up 30bhp to 153bhp, and you get uprated brakes, tyres and lighter wheels. The price has been kicked up the backside too, to over £35k, thanks to the pretty unhappy exchange rate for Japanese yen, so you can see why Honda won’t be offering the Mugen CR-Z RZ over here. For £35k, we’d be looking at a nicely looked after 2009 Nissan GT-R, thanks very much.

Although thinking about it, Japan has the good sense to drive on the left, so if you ever wanted to import the CR-Z RZ, it’ll be right-hand drive and ready set-up for the UK. Wheyy!

Still, Honda did build one concept for the UK market, back when they had it in their heads it’d sell for £23k on our shores. The carbon-fibre orange rollerskate got the #TeamCT once over earlier this year, so get your chops round the video below and see what you’re missing out on with the Mugen CR-Z RZ. Are you well jel?