If you're as serious about wheels as us, then this isn't your first time hearing about Mugen. And you'll know that it's pronounced Moo-ghin. Some of the rarest exhausts, intakes, valve covers have been stamped with their logos. While science will tell you that time-travel is not real, in a way, some parts within the tuning world can. Mugen CtF-48s are certainly one of them. First seen during the 80s, an era when Japanese car culture was brilliantly unpolished.
Now, after nearly 40 years, Mugen is bringing them back. Before you get too excited, you should know that only 300 sets will be made. A number small enough to keep the collectors restless and the purists awake at night. Though, should start to be resold... we might know where they'll land.
The Shape of a Movement
For the uninitiated, the CF-48 was designed to avoid oversized spokes and glossy finishes. It’s a simple, almost utilitarian design with a flat-face, compact specs, and it is instantly recognizable because of its bolt-on aero cover. You may hear people refer to it as the “fan wheel,” but that undersells what it really was. Mugen balanced form with function by ensuring the wheel reduced brake heat, improved aerodynamics, and shaved milliseconds off laps in a time when data lived in notebooks. That's why the CF-48 is considered to be so legendary. It belongs to an era before the algorithm and before “retro” became a style guide.
From Track to Memory
The wheel first hit global consciousness after being fitted on Mugen’s Honda CRX GT4 race car. That car won multiple races (and a championship), proving that engineering was enough to punch above your weight in the 1980s Japanese touring circuit.
Those victories cemented Mugen’s place in Honda’s performance story. For enthusiasts, the CF-48 became a shorthand for that golden era of Japan's car scene.
Why It Matters Now
In a world where everything gets reissued, recycled, or worse, replicated, it’s easy to become numb. Mugen has never been a brand that pandered to trend cycles with re-releases. This rare drop truly pays its respects to their roots, especially to those who're as obsessed with 80s and 90s Hondas as us.
The Future Is Circular
Maybe the rerelease of the CF-48 says something about where tuning culture is headed. We're again reminded that some designs never die; they just wait for the world to catch up again. Congratulations to the team at Mugen on the rerelease, and we look forward to seeing whats slated next!