Honda CR-Z Turbo with up to 200bhp by year end
It appears Honda are now rushing to produce a CR-Z without hybrid drivetrain. Plans are for a new 1.6 litre turbo VTEC-i with up to 200bhp
We understand why Honda makes the Honda CR-Z. We also applaud it for wanting to make hybrid cars a bit more interesting at the lower end of the car spectrum. More of a ‘Drive’ than a ‘Transport’. Trouble is, the Honda CR-Z doesn’t offer much for the enthusiastic driver.
We applaud that Honda sees fit to equip the CR-Z with a proper gearbox instead of a woeful CVT, and that the CR-Z looks like a proper little sporty coupe. Unfortunately, in small cars the whole hybrid gubbins bit only really works if you drive everywhere without any enthusiasm. As soon as you start to hustle and look for fun the hybrid lets out a yelp and starts to drink fuel.
But as buyers of small coupes are looking for a bit of fun and enthusiastic driving they jump in to the CR-Z, plant their right foot in the carpet, and leave it there. But with only 125bhp on offer they go nowhere quickly and decimate any fuel efficiency the hybrid setup could offer. Which probably explains why CR-Z sales are falling away after an initial surge. Fortunately there is a solution.
As we reported in December, Honda are planning on fitting the CR-Z with a proper turbo engine. Instead of a pitiful 125bhp with the hybrid bits Honda are planning on offering an all-new turbocharged, 1.6-litre petrol engine with Honda’s VTEC-i variable camshafts with the option of either 160bhp in standard guise or 200 bhp in a Honda CR-Z Type R
And now it seems the plan is getting hustled to the front of the development queue as Honda want to deliver a proper CR-Z before sales fall too much further. In fact – according to Autocar – it could be ready to hit showrooms by the end of the year.
Real Cars 1 | Hybrid Cars 0
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