Ironically, while the rest of the automotive marques are helping boy-racers realise their dreams by churning out more souped up, hardcore variants in their line-ups, Honda has seemingly taken a more conservative approach in spawning sports offerings. Truth to be told, there isn’t much in the current stable that will evoke the same kind of emotions as it would elsewhere (considering Nissan has the sexy 370Z and Toyota has the playful 86).

Locally, we have seen the last of the Integra coupes, discontinued since mid of 2006 due to the shrinkage of the coupe market. Other examples which are more prone to leaving twin strips of rubber on the tarmac were much less 'accessible', such as the Civic FD2 Type R and the limited edition Civic Mugen RR (both ended their production run before the introduction of the latest 9th gen Civic). That leaves the CR-Z as the sole illustration of sporting essence of the marque - at least for now that is.

Honda fans must have been elated with the revival of the iconic CR-X, the low-slung, 2+2 two-door coupe which was among the popular choices for early boy racers. The CR-Z inherits much of the attributes which its forebearer was fondly remembered and missed for - diminutive but purposeful stance, high-slopping rump, and the see-through glass between the tail-lamps. With the CR-Z however, Honda has instilled its eco-conscious senses, giving it a perceived tamer character with the hybrid moniker.

Now it seems, though, Mugen has come to save the day.

Renowned for its go-fast bits for Honda cars, Mugen has released two tuning packages specifically for the CR-Z - the Mugen Sports package and an Aero Package. Starring the Mugen Sports Package is the sports suspension system with 5 levels of damping adjustment. The larger damper pistons and springs collectively allows additional load to be transferred to the front wheels, thus improving traction. The suspension system also lowers the height by up to 20mm, bestowing a more raring-to-go stance to the car. Topping off the Sports package is the carbon-fibre gearknob, Mugen limited edition oil filler cap, and Mugen floor mats.

The Sports damping allows users to customise the ride characteristic of the sports hatch. Opting for a sportier setup negates a wee bit of body-roll at the corners, giving the extra boost in confidence to the driver. Inevitably, comfort is compromised with the change. In this case, the rear occupants are more affected by the toughened settings, not helped by the squat quarters they are in.

Aesthetically, the Aero Package from Mugen does little to change the silhouette of the car. Front bumper gets the slightly edgier look thanks to the more pronounced side flanks. The rump, on the other hand, receives a roof wing, complete with the full body kit and rear diffuser. And yes, the spruced-up CR-Z still look the bit if you ask us - a proper three-door coupe blessed with good looks that will draw jealous grimaces from the crowd.

So how does the CR-Z stand up to the likes of the more recent offerings such as the BRZ and 86? With nips and tucks from Mugen, the CR-Z looks sharper, with the rear wing the more obvious hint at the boy-racer nature amongst the exterior kit. With combined figures of 128bhp and 223Nm of torque from the petrol and electric motor (The CR-Z Mugen edition has the same power-train as the one we sampled earlier this year), it may not stand up to the challenge in a power race. Putting the raw figures aside however, it is not hard to see the unique preposition of the car, further blessed by bits from the tuning masters that will no doubt garner eyeballs from fans and bystanders alike.

Good news is Kah Motor is offering the first 10 units of the CR-Z with the Mugen Aero Package, worth $6,500 as standard, to mark 10 years of Honda Hybrid Power. The first three units of the CR-Z with manual transmission will also receive the Mugen Sports package complete with the aero kit – a total worth of $11,500.

Now that is something we would like to pit against the mainstream big players.