Mugen's racing heritage really shines in the craftsmanship of their engine building. This Mugen literature proudly states "We at M-TEC have manufactured the engines of too many cars to count." 'Nuff said!
We love the specs of the Mugen MF408S (pictured below):
Engine 90° V8, naturally aspirated
Displacement 4,000cc
Max Power 590+ hp (440 kW) @ 9,500 rpm
Max Torque 383 lbf·ft (519 N·m @ 7,500 rpm
Restrictor Size 33.4 mm x2 or 46.8 mm x1
Ignition Type Direct Injection
ECU System EFI Technology Inc
CDI System EFI Technology Inc
Clutch Type/Size Carbon / 5.5 inch 4-plate
Maintenance Interval >3,000 km (>5,000 km at Le Mans 24h)
Length 559 mm (not including flywheel)
Height 577 mm (not including flywheel)
Width 720 mm
Weight 131 kg
Crank Height 92 mm
In 1973, the first racing project of the newly formed Mugen Co. Ltd. was the MF-318. Based on the Civic EB1 Civic 1200 engine features dry sump lubrication and Keihin 35mm CV carbs to make 135 ps at 8000 rpm. It was very successful race engine in both formula car and sedan racing. The team at Mugen completely remade or modified every aspect of this engine. Boring the engine to 1300cc, the Mugen MF-318 was victorious in its very first race in the Formula FJ 1300 racing series in Japan. It went on to become the dominant engine in this series for many years to come.
Here is a very rare picture of the Mugen FJ 1200 race car. Pictured here in 1973 at the first Mugen HQ.
Here is one of the first Mugen brochures for the S2000 from early in 2000.
Here is the heart of the Mugen-equipped S2000:
Mugen spent considerable time in the wind tunnel developing their body parts for the S2000. The phrase "Form follows function" has never been more true! The Mugen Aero: S2000 SS - Front Splitter for AP2 is still available.
Our favorite Mugen body kit for the S2000 is the "SS Style" body it. The kit was based on the Mugen Speed Star 2200 (SS2200) concept vehicle. Love it!
Bonus images: Here are pictures of the Mugen S2000 prototype parked behind Mugen HQ in early 2000. These prototypes were in constant use endurance testing new parts and doing promo track work for Mugen.
This was part of our original ad campaign for S2000 parts:
King Motorsports went on to build our own Mugen SS2000 in red. King currently still stocks Mugen Aero pieces for the 2000-2003 S2000 and 2004-2009 S2000.
What even better than the Mugen Accord SiR? That would be the Mugen Accord Euro R!
The Honda Accord Type-R (ATR) was produced from 1998 to 2003 using the CH1 Accord chassis and sold in UK/EU markets, the JDM Accord Euro-R uses the CL1 chassis, Using a naturally aspirated 2.2-litre four-cylinder DOHC H22A "Red Top" VTEC motor which produces 220 bhp (220ps) and the EDM was (212ps) @ 7,200 rpm and 164 lb·ft (222 N·m) @ 6,700 rpm. The Type-R Accord model is differentiated by a number of sporting features including, but not limited to: stiffer suspension and chassis, Torsen limited-slip-differential, twin-piston brakes, dual exhaust system, 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, Recaro seats and a leather-trimmed Momo steering wheel. As an option, there was a distinctive tall and functional rear spoiler wing that most costumers opted for.
Not so demanded among the crowd presently due to its family four-door configuration, it is the most internationally-awarded basic version of the Type-R's, since it (the Accord) was battling with great success in the 2000 European Super Touring Cup season.
Its successor is the CL7 Accord Euro-R. Produced in 2004–2007, built in Sayama, Japan for the JDM market, it came with a K20AI-VTEC motor:
Displacement: 1998 cc, Compression: 11.5:1, power: 220 bhp (220 PS,162 kW) @ 8000 rpm, torque: 152 ft·lbf (206 N·m) @ 7000 rpm and a redline of 8800 rpm} same as the 02-06 Integra Type R. It has the standard Type R modifications – including Recaro seats, a limited-slip-differential and independent double-wishbone suspension.
Now this is a sports sedan- the Mugen Accord SiR:
The Accord SiR Coupes and then the Accord SiR Wagons were built with the Japan-spec H22A DOHC VTEC powertrains which were shipped from Japan and were installed into the HAM-built Accord SiR models. The 1994–1997 "CD" Accord chassis was designed for the H22A DOHC VTEC powertrain to be installed; because the firewall was curved at the top to allow more space for the tilting backwards of the H22A DOHC VTEC engine near the middle of the firewall. The H22A DOHC VTEC engine was the most powerful inline four-cylinder engine Honda built for the Prelude and the Accord before the 1995 U.S.-spec V6 sedan.
The Accord SiR suspension was improved with stiffer front sway bar (27.2mmXt4.0mm), stiffer rear sway bar (16 mm), stiffer front coil springs and stiffer rear coil springs.
Features for the 94–95 Accord SiR models (sedans and coupes) included the following items: cruise control, automatic climate control (Similar to the first generation Acura CL), Bose stereo system, 7,400 redline tachometer, optional electronic traction control and optional limited slip differential for automatic transmission, optional SRS and airbags, factory installed driving lights, optional factory installed "pop up" navigation radio head unit, sound insulation liner under front hood, black housing front headlights, no side molding was available on the Accord SiR sedan, optional rear sunscreen, optional sunroof and power retractable outside mirrors.
Features for the 96–97 Accord SiR models (sedans, coupes and wagons) included the same as above while adding; optional cruise control, rear window wiper on the sedan, optional leather interior and a colored side molding for the sedan as well.
Take your pick: big or small Mugen go kart?
Mugen was very instrumental in exposing young Japanese drivers to motorsports with a very active young driver program. The Mugen "Playing Kart" was the first step of that program. Here is the Mugen "Playing Kart" assembly line at Mugen in 1999.
We are thrilled to have our 2012 summer Dyno Day appear in the latest issue of Honda Tuning Magazine!
For those of you that are image-imparied, here's the text from the mention:
EVENTS
June 2, 2012 - Wisconsin
King describes its event as part meet, part dyno-battle, part show, part barbecue, and part awesome. Everything you could possibly want in a summer afternoon with fellow Honda enthusiasts could be found at King's yearly shindig. And that includes detailed dyno analysis for spectators and competitors to view, detail demonstration, live music, food, a raffle, promos, and assorted free goodies, as well as a special guest in the form of Mugen's CR-Z RR.
If you're anywhere near the King facility in Wisconsin, you need to make next year's event a prioirty!
Awesome photos by Noggs Photography. You can find us in the Winter (Dec 2012/Jan 2013) issue of Honda Tuning. LIKE the King Motorsports Facebook page to be the first to know when Dyno Day 2013 is scheduled!
Here are a few pics of one of our favorite partnerships and race car builds -- the King Motorsports / Moser Racing ITR's at the 2000 Molson Grand Prix Motorola Cup race in Toronto. Toronto was a racing venue we always looked forward to! The photo above includes Robert Moser, Rich Hays and Joe Moser.
Below are the #63 and #64 Type-R's on a qualifying lap.
Here's a YouTube video shared by Joe Moser, who said: "
If you worked on the Mugen/Honda F1 engine team in the late 90's, you would have had some unique apparel to set you apart. Here are some of the items from the "Honda Collection" you would have been sporting!
First off, your noggin would be snugly tucked into this black ball cap with embroidered logos and sharp white bill trim.
When the boss comes to visit, your tie has the Mugen colors with MUGEN and HONDA typed black-on-black.
And to plant you to the ground, your feet hug the asphalt in these special edition black kicks with white trim and stitching.
And when it's time to drive home in your own Honda, your keys have this special key holder!
The Mugen "Special Tool Set" is a lesser-known product from Mugen back in the day -- not many were sold. This kit features over 20 pieces, including combination wrenches, sockets, extensions, screwdrivers and lug wrench. Many pieces have a stamped or printed Mugen logo and folded up neatly inside a tidy carry case. We dig the color-coded screwdrivers -- red for phillips-head, blue for flathead.
