2008 Honda Civic MUGEN Si - Review and Photos

2008 Honda Civic MUGEN Si

The Mugen is powered by the same 2.0 liter inline four-cylinder engine that propels the stock Si. The 16-valve double-overhead cam unit produces 197 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque -- not all that impressive until you look further into the figures. Horsepower doesn't peak until 7800 rpm; torque until 6100 rpm. That means that in order to get the most out of the Mugen, you have to really rev it up and use that big tach to make sure that you're running in the powerband. The engine isn't shy about letting you know when it's happy. There's a spike in power as you approach the peak. It almost feels like a turbocharger kicks in, the spike is so strong. If you shift the six-speed manual gearbox later than you would on most cars, you get great rushes of acceleration from the Mugen. A freer flowing exhaust system rewards you with incredible music from the engine, and a happy feeling follows.

Getting the power to the ground is accomplished with front-wheel drive. There's just a hint of torque steer (the tendency of front-wheel drive cars to pull to one side under heavy acceleration), but nothing scary. The Mugen suspension is stiffer and tighter than a stock Si's, which makes for a slightly less comfortable ride on a day-to-day basis. The tradeoff is definitely worth it -- the Mugen handles like a razor, responding beautifully to every steering input with great feedback and road feel.

Intellectually, I know that the Mugen is the same car as the Civic Si, but when you add up the whole package -- the look, the feel, the sound -- the Mugen feels a whole lot faster and cooler.

2008 Honda Civic MUGEN Si

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Hardcore New Impreza WRX STI Reveals All

Subaru has at last revealed details of its hardcore new Impreza WRX STI which is substantially different to the non-turbo five-door models now being delivered to first customers.

And with a heavily-revised new 296 bhp turbocharged 2.5 liter 'boxer' engine, totally new platform and suspension plus even more advanced symmetrical all-wheel drive system, the World Rally Championship look-alike is sure to satisfy Subaru traditionalists.

At the rear, four exhaust pipes twinned in pairs at either side of the body not only give a distinctive look but reduce exhaust air-flow resistance by 38 per cent, increasing power and reducing noise.

Comfort With Agility

The new Impreza WRX STI boasts a much plusher interior than before, offering leather/Alcantara-covered sports seats as standard with Recaro seats as an option. Curtain airbags are standard and the audio system has been upgraded.

The braking system has been developed in conjunction with Italian specialist, Brembo, and features four-pot calipers at the front and twin-pot at the rear - both ventilated discs.

A multi-mode Vehicle Dynamics Control System allows the driver to select the best setting for the prevalent road conditions. For example, it can be turned off altogether or set to 'Traction' which delays artificial interference.

More Power, More Driver Involvement

The award-winning 2.5 liter horizontally-opposed 'boxer' engine benefits from a thorough revision which includes a larger and more efficient intercooler which increases power.

The new STI also boasts stronger low to mid-speed torque thanks to variable-valve timing for the intake and exhaust system and a fast-warm catalytic converter for reduced emissions.

Power is now 296 bhp at 6,000 rpm with torque of 300 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm.

The much-praised six-speed manual transmission has been revised, with a shorter-throw gear-change and lighter movements, especially from neutral to 1st and 1st to 2nd gear thanks to a revised synchromesh.

A firm favorite with existing STI owners, the Driver's Control Centre Differential has been improved, giving even more choice of handling characteristics.

The DCCD is operated via a switch in the centre console, allowing the driver to manually select the torque distribution front to rear, reverting to automatic mode every time the ignition is switched off.

For example, he or she can choose between having a sharper cornering turn-in or more stable straight-line running.

In Manual Mode, the driver can adjust the front to rear torque distribution through varying degrees to suit different road conditions such as loose gravel or soft snow.

Now, for the new Impreza WRX STI, the DCCD switch also allows the selection of three different types of 'Auto' Mode.

1: Auto Mode is selected when the engine is started and covers most road conditions.
2: Auto+ Mode places the emphasis on traction for slippery roads, sharing out the torque more evenly between all four wheels and enhancing straight-line stability.
3: Auto- Mode increases agility by enhancing steering response through less torque-split interference.

Subaru Impreza 2.5 STi

Source : rsportscars.com

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The new Honda Civic Hybrid

New Honda Civic Hybrid

The Civic Hybrid has Honda’s CVT known as Multimatic S, which is the same as before. There are claims of improved operating efficiency with a wide ratio strategy employed for the higher gears. The increased torque has required an increase in clutch capacity too.

As befits the Civic Hybrid, there are some items in and around the car to distinguish it from the normal Civic. The instrument panel has the same design but there is the IMA meter which tells the driver when the hybrid system is running on the petrol engine and when the battery is getting recharged. There is also a real-time fuel consumption meter adjacent to the digital speedometer.

Driving the Civic Hybrid is not much different in feel from the normal Civic, though the strong acceleration is noticeable. If the driver is not informed of the powertrain, he might actually think he is in the 1.8-litre Civic, which says a lot about the Honda Hybrid System because the engine it uses has a 1.3-litre displacement. The handling characteristics are fairly similar too but subjectively, the new Civic Hybrid feels less sporty than the new Toyota Prius which this writer also had a chance to drive before.

The IMA system consists of an ultra-thin DC brushless electric motor mounted between the engine and the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) drivetrain; this provides additional torque and power by engaging during vehicle acceleration. At low speed cruising (about 40kmh), the motor solely powers the vehicle.

All the electric power created by the motor is stored in a compact battery box called the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) - consisting of a rear-mounted compact nickel metal hydride battery and power control unit - which controls the flow of electricity to and from the electric motor. Recharging takes place when braking, slowing down or traveling downhill; battery life is claimed to be about five to seven years.

New Honda Civic Hybrid

Honda Civic Hybrid Video

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2008 All New Mazda 6 Overview

2008 Mazda 6

With so much versatility and driving fun, why not pick a 6? The four- and six-cylinder engines have never been particularly powerful in this class, and newer competitors have made these modest motors seem like Calista Flockhart duking it out on "American Gladiators." The Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry all offer at least 270-horsepower V6 engines, while at the same time bettering the 212-hp Mazda's fuel economy. The base four-cylinder is pretty much the same story, although the power gap isn't as significant. In this era of gas mileage awareness, less power and higher consumption is a tough sell.

An all-new Mazda 6 will debut next year that will hopefully address the power, fuel economy and rear seat space issues. In the meantime, though, if you can look past the current model's downsides, the 2008 Mazda 6 is still an attractive choice. If buying something other than the Camry-Accord-Altima status quo is appealing, then the 6 should definitely be considered -- especially if a "fun to drive" demeanor is a top priority.

All 2008 Mazda 6 models are front-wheel drive. Standard on the i model is a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 156 hp and 154 pound-feet of torque. The s model upgrades to a 3.0-liter V6 that makes 212 hp and 197 lb-ft. The Sport trim level comes only with a five-speed manual, while the Sport Value Edition offers a five-speed automatic. The Touring and Grand Touring trims are only available with a six-speed automatic. The Mazda 6 s will run to 60 mph in about 8 seconds flat, which is respectable, but at least a second off the pace of the segment speedsters.

2008 Mazda 6

2008 Mazda 6 Pictures

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