Honda took the wraps off the Mugen-developed Civic 5D Mugen at the recent Moscow Motor Show, and suffice to say, it’s one delectable looking hatchback.

Mugen have succeeded in transposing the Type R flavour of the two-door FN2 Civic Type R onto its five-door sibling, and it’s tempting to say that the end result is a car that appears harder, edgier and more athletic than the top o’ the line CTR.

It’s a pity then that the Civic 5D Mugen is just a styling exercise for now, with neither Honda nor Mugen making any fuss over what resides beneath that vented bonnet - suggesting that whatever it is, it ain’t nuthin’ worth getting excited about.

Still, it does pave the way for a greater presence in Europe by Mugen, who have traditionally tuned only Japanese-market cars (although the USDM Civic Mugen Si was one recent exception), and there’s no denying that the Civic 5D Mugen is one hell of a looker that’s bound to get our Continental friends salivating.

With the appearance of the Mugen’s take on the European Civic properly nailed down, all that remains is to equip it with an engine that truly befits its character. Now, where’s that K20…

[Source: Mugen]
[Images: Honda Europe, Mugen]