Mugen Reveals Hotter FL5 Civic Type R and It Looks Like a Screamer

Update May 8, 2024: Mugen has finally released the parts to build the Group A version of the FL5-generation Civic Type R that we previewed ahead of the Tokyo show, along with real photos of the parts installed on a luridly red car. (Mugen says the Group B version is still under development.) You can see the photos in the gallery below.

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The Group A kit, in final form, includes a bunch of exterior parts: lower front spoiler, side skirts, rear lower spoiler, a big and bold rear wing, front bumper “garnish,” and Mugen’s FR10 aluminum wheels in diamond black (which save 22 pounds total compared to the stock alloys). Mugen says the aero bits are functional on the Group A kit, and improve downforce by 25 percent—at what speed isn't clear, but assume at or close to v-max. Mugen’s performance dampers (developed by Yamaha, incidentally) are included, too.

Inside, Mugen’s MS-C sports bucket seats take over butt-squishing duty in the front, and there are carbon fiber center console panels, an Alcantara-covered shift knob, and so forth. A sporty steering wheel and exhaust system are in development and will probably debut with the Group B kit. A full list of parts, including availability date, is available from Mugen here (opens a PDF file).

The original article continues below.

There's a new Honda Civic Type R in town, and of course legendary Honda tuner Mugen is going to do its thing to the hottest Honda hot hatch. Or, more accurately, two things. Because this time around, with the FL5 CTR, Mugen is cooking up two flavors: Group A, and Group B—the production versions of the FL5 concept that Mugen showed off last year in Tokyo.

If that has you instantly thinking of the legendary FIA Group A and B rally categories, maybe that's intentional. Or maybe not. Neither of these Mugens appear to be rally machines, either tarmac or off-piste, so the names are more coincidence than inference. Instead, Group A and B refer to how involved the Mugen transformation is.

The Group A (the red one pictured above) is less involved, with a jutting front chin spoiler, aero vents on the trailing edge of the front fenders, upgraded side skirts, a large wing, a rear diffuser, and BBS wheels. Two types of upgraded brake pads are available, but the calipers and rotors are unchanged. It also gets a stainless steel sport exhaust and some interior bits, like a Mugen steering wheel, front seats, and shifter. Performance dampers and new LED taillights (not pictured, as unfortunately we only have the front angle renders of the two variants at the moment) round out the mix.

The Group B is a more significant makeover, with all of the Group A aero pieces rendered in carbon fiber and the addition of a carbon fiber hood and front fenders. Nineteen-inch BBS wheels; a fully upgraded brake kit composed of new rotors, calipers, and pads; and a titanium tuned sport exhaust round out the package—as far as we know. This is preliminary information, and details like increased engine output or tuning are unknown at this time.

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We'll get more details, including price and availability (at least in the home market) at the Tokyo Auto Salon later this month. As far as availability in America, there's no word yet but we expect (eventually) that the exclusive U.S. distributor of Mugen parts, King Motorsports, will eventually get some or all of these goodies.