New Source

When you own a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) car, it would make sense to buy accessories or modification from Japan. This is especially true when you drive a JDM sports car and fill your car with goods from Japan. However, for owners that could just afford the car but still wanna mod, the solution would be to get replica from other countries or source locally. I finally found someone to send my beat up carbon fiber hood for repair. While I was there I asked the person that sells carbon fiber hood where most hoods sold in the market are from and he told me its mostly from Taiwan.

Celica C-One Ver. 2 Hood - my hood design

I knew that Taiwan is one of the biggest suppliers of parts besides Japan but to completely overshadow the Japanese supplier seems unthinkable. Now, many people considers price but my biggest concern is the weight and finishing since it is carbon fiber that we are talking about. I was told that it cost a fraction of price with 80% finishing of a Japanese counterpart but it is slightly heavier than the Japanese one. I tried to carry one of the hoods in that person's shop and although it is fully carbon it still is heavier than I thought.

Celica Veilside FF-GT Hood

The reason I would consider buying a carbon fiber part especially hoods is for the weight saving, durability and the racy design. There would not be a point to get a heavier and lower quality product but the price difference itself is incentive enough. Plus, it is more difficult to find one from Japan especially products from C-ONE that went bankrupt a few years back. This could really justify buying parts from Taiwan instead. However, I am considered lucky being able to find an original carbon fiber hood from Japan. Although it is really banged up, it is well made and most importantly very light. I can't wait for mine to be done and send it for painting.

Celica Invader Hood

Honda CR-Z MUGEN RZ

I went to my friend's workshop and spotted a new facelift Honda CR-Z parked there. It is undergoing some body kit change to the MUGEN series and I heard that the owner will supercharge the CR-Z later. Although in Japan, HKS, a major performance parts manufacturer already R&D a supercharger kit for the CR-Z, the current trend in Malaysia is to use a supercharger by the company, Sprintex instead. I have not compared the specs of both supercharger but HKS is definitely expensive. In terms of bodykit, since MUGEN is the direct performance line for all Honda models, its body kit is undeniably the most popular choice until I have gotten sick at spotting one. 

That is when I remember that MUGEN came up with a special edition that sells only 300 units called the MUGEN RZ. Surely a complete car from MUGEN does not only have aesthetic changes but also a bump in performance. How this particular special edition fit into the topic is that although also from MUGEN, the body kit is not the same and it comes stock with a supercharger similar to Rotrex and HKS design. If given the choice I would prefer to get my hands on this beauty rather than bolting on an aftermarket supercharger. Not only did some expert already R&D on it, there is higher reliability. From the picture below, the exterior parts are listed.

I am using pictures from the official MUGEN website and it lists the parts that is different from the standard CR-Z. The first thing that you will notice is actually the blue and black theme surrounding the interior. The door trims and front seats is now blue rather than all black and steering wheel have blue stitches, gear knob has a blue ring and the extra boost meter has blue illumination. The whole thing does really fit well and matches with the blue cluster meter that CR-Z is famous for. In addition to it, I think that blue is chosen because of the hybrid badging of Honda that is blue and also to separate itself from the usual red and black interior for its type R models. The most exclusive however is the MUGEN RZ badge in the interior that shows that it is an authentic RZ and the number of the car out of the limited 300 units.

I have listed the exterior and interior changes, now it is time to focus on the main dish, the power unit. Usually a supercharger kit comes with the supercharger, optional intercooler and air filter. In addition to these 3, the RZ comes with a change of radiator and oil cooler too forming the XIMA system. You could say it is a very complete kit where the whole thing increased the original 120 bhp by 30% reaching 152 bhp but it does not only stop there. MUGEN as an experienced tuner, knows that it is not enough just by increasing the output of the engine. It is also important to let it breath properly, so the exhaust is also upgraded. MUGEN changed the piping to straight flow piping but it will be noisy and to solve that, a silencer is used at the end. CR-Z has a 3 mode drive system (ECO, normal, sport) and MUGEN introduced a new mapping for the E.C.U., increasing power for all modes and added a PLUS SPORT system.

It looks cooler from the exterior to the interior and it definitely is a force to be reckon with thanks to the force inducted engine but now we all know that there is some other things are a big concern that many forgets. If a car can go faster, you will need more braking power and to maneuver through corners, the suspensions must be upgraded. MUGEN never forgets about that department and came up with parts that will do the job right. The whole front leg has undergone special treatment. The whole suspension (absorber & spring) is upgraded making it harder and the car lower for the corners. As for braking, nothing is left stock. The rotors is bigger and thicker with slits and the caliper is bigger to accommodate the bigger rotors. This all increase the temperature that the brakes can withstand and release heat faster. The brake pads are upgraded coupled with micromesh brake lines to handle more heat and reduce fading especially during track attacks and all this is behind MUGEN 17 inch aluminum rim. Now this setup will definitely be enough to stop this powerful machine.

I do not know about you but an average car owner could not get one car to be like this MUGEN RZ. It is heavily loaded and most importantly it is from a famous tuner. I would get my hands on one of this beauty because one look at this, the normal CR-Z seems like a tame kitten. Definitely enough for daily drive and the occasionally sprint with great looks. I would love to drive everyday in this blue and cool interior.

PS. All photos are from http://www.mugen-power.com/automobile/complete/MUGEN-RZ/rz/index.html