Honda Civic Mugen and Modulo: a comparo

MODULO side under spoilers make the 1.8 Civic look sportier. PHOTOS BY AIDA SEVILLA-MENDOZA

ON THE Civic 1.8, Modulo front under spoiler and grille chrome accent

MUGEN wing-type tailgate spoiler and rear under spoiler

Honda Motor Co. is returning to Formula One in 2015.  As if to herald this much anticipated return to the world’s richest and most prestigious motorsport series, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit in this country, introduced on May 30 two versions of “the more sporty Civic”: the 2.0 EL Mugen and the 1.8 E Modulo.  HCPI is banking on the idea that encasing the 2014 Civic in sportier styling creates a dynamic new image that will appeal to a broader and younger market.

Mugen and Modulo are distinct brands of two different companies. Mugen aftermarket parts and body kits are produced by M-TEC Co. Ltd. which was founded in Japan in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda Motor Co. founder Soichiro Honda. The word Mugen in Japanese means “unlimited”, so the word “power” is often added after it to denote “Unlimited Power.” The younger Honda aimed to develop Honda machinery for competition purposes. Although M-TEC Co., also known as Mugen Motorsports, designs and manufactures performance parts exclusively for Honda vehicles, it is not and never has been owned by Honda.  Mugen has an excellent motorsport pedigree from designing engines for Formula One, Le Mans and Japanese Super GT vehicles.  Aside from manufacturing performance and racing products for Honda cars including exhausts, spoilers and wheels for amateur enthusiasts, Mugen also supplies engines for the Honda HSV-010 GT500 race cars as well as operates a Twin Turbo V6-powered CRZ in the GT300 Super GT racing series.

MODULO rear under spoiler and wing-type tailgate spoiler

THE MUGEN side under spoiler is seen in this side view photo.

The 2014 Civic EL Mugen (2.0 SOHC i-VTEC, 152.88 horsepower  at 6,500 revolutions per minute, five-speed automatic transmission) has a sporty grille with the Mugen emblem, aerodynamic front under spoiler, side under spoilers, rear under spoiler and wing-type tailgate spoiler with the Mugen emblem, 17-inch mag wheels shod with 215/45/R17 91V tires, and projector HID headlamps.  Inside: black leather seats, retractable center armrest, three-spoke leather steering wheel, automatic climate control.

WHAT BOTH HAVE. Both the 2.0 Mugen and 1.8 Modulo have electric power steering, paddle shifters, cruise control, 7-inch touchscreen audio display, multiview reverse camera with guidelines (dynamic in the Mugen), four speakers, two tweeters, AUX-in, two USB ports, Bluetooth and HDMI-in, Bluetooth hands-free telephone connectivity, sport fog lights, chrome handles, power retract side mirrors with integrated side turn lights, disc brakes front and rear, independent McPherson strut-type front suspension, double wishbone rear suspension with stabilizers fore and aft.

THE MODULO tailgate emblem

THE CIVIC 2.0 EL sports the Mugen grille with emblem and aerodynamic front under spoiler.

Because it has six airbags (front, side curtain and side), Vehicle Stability Assist, child seat anchors and driver and front seat passenger seatbelt reminders aside from the usual antilock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake  force Distribution (EBD), the Civic EL Mugen was awarded a 5-star rating, the highest rating possible in the offset frontal collision test at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour, by the Asean New Car Assessment Program (Asean NCAP).  It also earned 82 percent, one of the highest scores in the child occupant safety test for compact vehicles.

Meanwhile, Honda Access Asia & Oceania Co. Ltd. in Bangkok manufactures and sells Honda Genuine Accessories to customers worldwide to enhance the value of Honda vehicles and highlight their superior performance, quality, safety and environmental friendliness.  The Honda  Custom Performance enterprise was born in November 1996 at Honda Access Sales Co. in Japan, carrying the Modulo brand to signify the top-drawer standard that is the core value of Honda technology. In Thailand, Honda Custom Performance parts were introduced to market with the new 2006 Civic to enhance the appeal of the car.  Honda’s engineering team created Modulo based on the ultimate standard in design, functionality and quality.

THE MODULO emblem on the side under spoiler

MUGEN emblem on the sporty grille

MODULO PARTS. The 2014 Civic E Modulo (1.8 SOHC i-VTEC, 1139.07 HP at 6,500 rpm, five-speed AT) has Modulo front grille chrome, front under spoiler, side under spoilers, rear under spoiler, wing-type tailgate spoiler (not as high as the Mugen’s) and Modulo tailgate emblem, 16-inch alloy wheels shod with 205/65/R16 91V tires and projector type halogen headlights. Inside: grey fabric seats, three-spoke urethane steering wheel and manual type climate control. The 1.8 Civic E Modulo’s safety features are driver and front passenger airbags, ABS with EBD, driver seatbelt reminder and child seat anchors.

I test-drove a white orchid pearl 1.8 Civic E Modulo (P1.138 million) and a steel metallic 2.0 Civic EL Mugen (P1.368 million) during two separate weeks and observed that: 1) More people commented on the good looks of the Modulo than the Mugen—maybe because the Modulo is pearl white? 2) More motorists gave way to the Mugen than to the Modulo—maybe because they were awed by its very high wing-type rear spoiler? 3) When you drive a Mugen, more people expect you to drive fast like a race driver, than when you drive a Modulo.  Given Mugen’s motorsport heritage, that seems logical.

But since the 1.8- and 2-liter engines and suspension were not modified for racing, the addition of Mugen and Modulo aftermarket accessories does not really upgrade the performance of the Civic—if it needs upgrading at all as a road car.  As HCPI president and general manager Toshio Kuwahara said at the launch of the updated Civics, they now present a refreshed exterior styling that is more dynamic, aggressive and sporty.  Given the reputation for quality, efficiency and reliability that the Honda Civic has built over the years, for car-savvy consumers that is more than enough.