Honda Life Mugen: Only In Japan

Motoring Channel Staff - 19/November/2008

Tokyo, Japan — Forget the Honda Jazz - this is what the cool kids drive.

Only in Japan could you expect a vehicle such as the Life, a super mini city runabout, to be modified in such an elaborate way.

The land of origami and ornate carpentry is also known for its odd car styling.

Mugen's take on the ultra-compact Life mini car is best described as fugly.

The compact vehicle is powered by a super efficient 0.7-litre engine in naturally aspirated or turbo forms (the latter featuring a bad-ass hood scoop) and with the new Mugen kit can be styled to look very unattractive.

Mugen is Honda's semi-official tuner, sort of like Nismo is to Nissan and HSV is to Holden.

Having seen the popularity of the new 'kei' car in Japan, the tuning firm deemed the Life to be in need of some tender loving care, which involves the following upgrades:

Roof spoiler
Side skirts
Front apron
Rear apron
Radiator grille
14 or 15-inch wheels
Exhaust system
Tyre pressure gauge

The interior also features a high performance 140km/h speedometer and if you haven't yet decided to get one of these brutal urban warriors on import from Japan, shame on you.

Related Links:
- Honda Jazz (Road Test)
- Honda City (2009)
- Honda Civic Hybrid (Road Test)
- Honda Insight Concept (2008)
- Honda Civic Type R (Road Test)
- Honda CR-V (Road Test)
- Honda Accord Euro (2008)
- Honda Accord V6 (Road Test)
- Honda OSM Concept (2008)
- Honda Accord Euro (Road Test)
- Mugen Honda Civic Type-RR (2008)
- Honda Civic Type R - sedan (2007)
- Honda Legend (Road Test)