Mugen On Up
We're not sure if JDM Honda heads will see this as the good, the bad, or the ugly-this being the release of the 2008 Civic Mugen Si Sedan. The good is the fact that this is the first official Mugen-badged Honda product to come to the U.S. The bad is that any philistine can walk into a Honda dealership and drive off in a Mugen'd Si Sedan, thus reducing some of the mystique and exclusivity shrouding this "unofficial" Honda tuning partner. The ugly concerns Honda's estimated retail price of "less than $30,000."
That's not to say that this isn't a good car; in fact, it's greatly improved over the already lusty Si Sedan. The Mugen Si (only available as a sedan and only offered in the Fiji Blue Pearl) comes with firmer springs and dampers, 18x7.5 forged GP wheels with 215/40ZR18 BFG KDW rubber, "sport-tuned exhaust", and a complete aero package including a front spoiler, grille, side skirts, rear bumper diffuser, and rear wing. Inside you get a Mugen Limited Edition placard on the center console (only 1,000 will be offered for the '08 model year) and a Mugen aluminum shift knob.
We sampled the car at Mid-Ohio and on a brief street loop, and we found the chassis balance to be superb, even though we took it out on the track immediately after driving the hotter-than-your-average-Civic S2000 CR. The suspension was valved nicely for the track and not overly so for the street, and the KDWs gripped well, but the fronts didn't last as long as the CR's, mostly because they were tasked with steering and powering the Mugen Si. The minimalist 16.98-pound forged aluminum wheels (27 percent lighter than the stock 17s) didn't turn in like most plus-sized wheels and their lightness also helps reduce that dreaded unsprung weight.
The Si Sedan may not be the best looking car, but the Mugen aero bits do remove some of the Prius from its appearance. While the Mugen exhaust doesn't add any power, it sure does sound good at WOT. But therein lies the challenge. The Civic Mugen Si may handle, look and sound better than a base Si Sedan but without a power bump, it makes it hard to justify a price nearing Evo and STI levels. No matter-the limited run, the factory warranty and the fact that the price of the Mugen hardware alone would inflate any new Civic to the $30K range makes this car hard to resist. Now, JDMers, all we need to do is unite and pick up all of these Mugen Si Sedans before the poseurs get in on the secret. -John Naderi
Editor's Rides
Fun fact: Even though we work for the number one tuning mag in the biz, we don't all get to roll around in D1-spec cars on a daily basis. Over the 10-year history of the mag, some of us showed up to work in clapped-out rustbuckets, old domestics and cars with engines that only geriatrics with gray beards and Hawaiian shirts could love. Let's take a look back at 10 of the most notable editor's rides.
10. Matt "The Emp" Pearson's 1991 Civic hatchBefore he shilled cars for Acura, The Emp started this little rag we all know and love, so his old Civic will have the honor of starting off this Top 10 list.
9. Cater's JGTC SupraThe best-looking Supra shell a Primedia salary can buy. Too bad it still doesn't have an engine.
8. Ricky's NSXWhen Ricky isn't looking, we swipe the keys to this car and go out and scam on import models. Apparently driving a nice car doesn't make us more attractive.
7. Richard Chang's Ford ProbeHow Chang Bang landed a job here while driving that car, we'll never know. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he actually knows how to write.
6. Carl Brauer's Dodge StealthCarl sure stepped his game up; the man is driving an Enzo-biting Ford GT these days.
5. Uncle Ro-Dawg's CorollaStill scattering pieces throughout Southern California.
4. Derrick Yee's '73 MaverickDerrick's always had an odd obsession with unpopular American cars-the man just bought a GTO. One of the new ones.
3. Yamzy's CelicaRockin' a Buick engine much to the delight of octogenarians everywhere.
2. Ed Eng's 1991 IntegraLanded the cover of Turbo back when the magazine only featured Buicks. Said cover totally bummed Yamz out.
1. Jonny's 240The most famous Super Street ride to ever be sprayed by poo.
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