It follows a surprise unveiling of the MUGEN CR-Z RR at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last summer and will be available for test drives at Honda UK’s Mugen dealers in the spring with prices expected to be around £24,000.

Using the same 1.5-litre engine as the conventional car, MUGEN Euro’s engineers added a centrifugal supercharger and intercooler kit, with an uprated induction system and its own ECU map. The resulting 173bhp means it can match Type R models for acceleration, hitting 62mph in 6.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of over 130mph. 

The CR-Z iCF also retains its three-mode IMA hybrid drive system, allowing the driver to select a more economic setup to save fuel. For Honda, it's a chance to re-enter the hot hatch market after the Civic Type R was withdrawn from European price lists earlier this year due to Euro V emissions standards.