Honda Performance Development unveiled the CR-V Hybrid Racer ahead of its debut this weekend.
Honda's latest track weapon
The Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer is a one-off project vehicle developed with racing enhancements from the front to the back. This signifies that the automaker is still motivated to create high-performance models amid its electrification push.
“This project vehicle is an IndyCar ‘beast’ in Honda CR-V ‘sheep’s clothin’,” said David Salters, President and Technical Director for Honda Performance Development, the North American racing arm of American Honda and Acura.
Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer
Salters mentioned IndyCar as the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer is inspired by the automaker’s technical advancements in the American-based racing series.
With that being said, the high-performance compact crossover is fitted with a 2.2-liter HI23TT twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit, which is Honda’s current IndyCar engine. Running on Shell’s 100 percent renewable race fuel, the vehicle gets world-leading Skeleton Supercapacitors and Empel MGU hybrid motor technology.
Race-ready crossover
The chassis is also different from the road-going Honda CR-V. Instead of a regular chassis, this track beast is built using a chromoly tube frame chassis combined with custom carbon fiber lower bodywork. Unlike the CR-V we’ve known for years, the Hybrid Racer cannot be used by families as the second and third-row seats are removed to make room for the hybrid power unit.
“The graphics were inspired by the hybrid powertrain, radiating from Honda Hybrid Blue to Honda Racing Red to symbolize the duality of the drivetrain,” said Senior Exterior Designer Lili Melikian. “While the ‘speed squirkles’ add a dynamic fun layer and showcase the playful side of Power of Dreams.”
It boasts Honda's IndyCar hybrid engine
Honda will debut the CR-V Hybrid Racer at the NTT IndyCar Series season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg happening from March 3 to 5.
It is unlikely for us to see the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer in the metal considering that it is a one-off. However, the sixth-generation CR-V the project vehicle is based on will make its ASEAN debut in Thailand on March 22. That said, it could only be a matter of time before we bid farewell to the current iteration.
See more exciting cars at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Honda CR-V 2024
The 2024 Honda CR-V is a midsize crossover SUV. For the Philippine market, it has three variants: the V Turbo CVT, VX Turbo CVT, and the RS e:HEV (hybrid) e-CVT.
The latest version of this Honda model has two different engine options. For the top-spec hybrid trim, it uses a 2.0-liter gasoline four-banger paired with a dual motor and lithium-ion battery. The combustion component alone produces up to 145 horsepower and 183 Nm of torque. The electric-powered component meanwhile, can churn out 181 horsepower and 335 Nm of torque.
Aboard the V and VX trims meanwhile is a 1.5-liter inline-4 engine that can churn out 187 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque.
Only the VX gets all-wheel-drive, while the rest are front-wheel-drive. All trims then use a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but the one on the hybrid trim is an electronic CVT (e-CVT).
In terms of dimensions, the all-new CR-V is 4,691mm long, 1,866mm wide, and 1,681mm (1,691mm for VX) in height. Both the hybrid and the V’s wheelbase then spans 2,701mm (2,700mm for VX).
Locally, the Honda CR-V competes against the likes of the Mazda CX-9, Cherry Tiggo 8 Pro, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Peugeot 5008, etc.
₱ 2,100,000 - ₱ 2,590,000
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