Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - Gobsmacked! Mugen Brandishes the 500+hp, 4.0L LM (Legend Max )

The Tokyo Auto Salon is one of those shows that I always hope to attend, but when the time comes, we never have the time (or more importantly, funds) to actually cover it. Fortunately, a TOV reader (AkiraNSX) did attend the show, and was kind enough to share the following photos and information with us.

Mugen Legend Max

The Study Concept Model "LM (LEGEND MAX)"

This is a "combination of racing technology and tuning philosophy." A Mugen Le Mans V8 engine fitted to a further evolved Mugen Legend M1 equipment package.

Specifications and Equipment

Engine

Engine name: Mugen MF408S
Engine type: V8 Naturally Aspirated
Displacement: 4.0Liters
Horsepower: over 500ps
Valvetrain: 32 valves, DOHC

Dimensions

Overall Length: 4980mm
Overall Width: 1905mm
Wheelbase: 2800mm

Wheels and Tires

Wheel: 18" Alloy (18x9.5JJ)- they look like Mugen NR wheels with a center cap and in a new color
Tire: 275/35R18

Brakes

Rotor: 5 slit
Pad: Type Competition
Hose: Micro Mesh Brake Lines

Aerodynamics

Exterior: "Increased Advance Body"

Interior

Seat: bucket type (front)- not the currently available Mugen bucket seats, these have position adjustments

Color

Exterior: Firecracker Red
Interior: Black and Blue

Mugen MF408S engine
Debuting in the 2002 ALMS (American Le Mans Series), this 4 liter V8 engine has seen action every year since then. In 2004, it was used in the JGTC Series by the VEMAC RD408R GT500 class racing machine.

Specs for the MF408S in the VEMAC RD408R

Layout: 90 degree V8 Naturally Aspirated
Displacement: 4000cc
Horsepower: 590hp / 9500rpm
torque: 383lb/ft / 7500rpm
Restrictor: 33.4mm x2 or 46.8mm x1
Clutch: Carbon 4 plate
length: 559mm
width: 720mm
height: 577mm
weight: 131kg

The photos below show the Legend Max and one photo of some sort of award (sorry, didn't bother to see what award it was) winning Xanthic Prelude, which has their new Tilt Forward hood and an ALL SILVER CARBON (SSG) BODY. The silver Legend is the Legend Modulo Concept, which is basically the RL A-Spec concept with Honda emblems instead of Acura emblems, and it has clear taillight lenses which the A-Spec does not have.

Another car worth looking at, although I didn't get a photo of, is the Doov Legend designed with the BAR Honda 006 F1 car theme, featuring dry carbon aerodynamic parts and grille, on a pearl white body and 18" BBS 360 Challenge-style wheels, which are apparently available through Honda dealers in Japan now as a dealer option for the minivans, complete with the correct 55mm offset. Not mentioned anywhere in the Mugen booth are that the Mugen Legend Max is FR, and the transmission is manual. But you can see the shift lever in the (very poorly shot) photo of the interior. Headlamps and taillamps are from the US spec Acura RL, if you look carefully, you will see the orange lenses in the front and the reflective side markers lit up in the sides of the taillamps.