Mugen’s 197-hp Honda CR-Z hybrid: Does it mean anything?
Helping to make eco-modification cool?
Is there a bridge between performance and eco-tuning?
By the time Mugen is done fine tuning the Honda CR-Z hybrid, they’ll have added 15 percent more power to their current CR-Z tuner that now offers 197 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, while the tuned CR-Z can achieve 0 – 60 in about 6.6 seconds when in ‘Mugen mode’, it only achieves about 25 mpg.
However, when in eco mode, the Mugen modified CR-Z achieves better fuel economy than a stock CR-Z hybrid.
According to Mugen via MotorTrend, the eco-tuned Honda CR-Z achieves 42 mpg. So, does this Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde hybrid offer anything to inspire the fuel efficiency cause? Can consumers have the best of the both worlds?
Perhaps. Minimally, this Mugen tuner seems to demonstrate that eco-tuning might have wheels. For instance, what if Mugen were only focused on increasing fuel economy, rather than mostly focusing on increasing performance. It seems even further gains would be possible. Therefore, eco-tuning seems to have real potential, at least in terms of improving fuel economy.
Still, will eco-modification ever compete with performance-modification? Why not? If energy prices continue to trend higher, even cost-effective performance will be desired, and it will be driven by cheaper power. That means eco-modifications.
Yes…it means we’re going in the wrong direction.