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TURBOTASTIC: Honda’s CR-Z Hybrid R concept was more than a show-pony. The company is well advanced with respects to a new 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, set to debut in its hybrid coupe.
Honda is set to add turbocharging to its CR-Zi in an attempt to align its performance with the company’s coupe heritage,
The current front-wheel drive hybrid coupe has 84kW from its 1.5-litre petrol power augmented by 10kW of battery "drive assist".
Unfortunately the CR-Z’s performance has simply proved inadequate to capture the minds (and disposable incomes) of enthusiast customers.
The 1.5-litre hybrid drive is not enough to entice traditional hot-hatch customers (especially those who hoped it would be an authentic modern CRX) to buy into Honda’s CR-Z vision of efficient performance.
To address this the company’s design engineers at its Tochigi research and development centre are working on a new 1.6-litre turbo engine to pair in a hybrid drive system with the electric drive assist motor.
TURBO ONE-SIX TO RESCUE
Industry insiders figure the blown 1.6 will be produced in two guises (117kW and 147kW) to provide low emissions and high performance.
Beyond its expected debut application in the CR-Z, Honda’s new turbo 1.6 engines are set to be rolled out throughout the company’s product portfolio.
The 147kW version will replace Honda’s much vaunted two-litre naturally-aspirated performance engine which has been discontinued and left the Civic range without its range-topping Type R derivative.
With sales of the CR-Z softening in its domestic market, Honda is keen to have the 117kW turbocharged CR-Z homologated and validated for sale as soon as possible. Indications of Honda's intentions were clear at this year’s SEMA auto show in Las Vegas when the CR-Z Hybrid R concept was unveiled, featuring a turbocharged version of the series production 84kW 1.5-litre engine.
The current front-wheel drive hybrid coupe has 84kW from its 1.5-litre petrol power augmented by 10kW of battery "drive assist".
Unfortunately the CR-Z’s performance has simply proved inadequate to capture the minds (and disposable incomes) of enthusiast customers.
The 1.5-litre hybrid drive is not enough to entice traditional hot-hatch customers (especially those who hoped it would be an authentic modern CRX) to buy into Honda’s CR-Z vision of efficient performance.
To address this the company’s design engineers at its Tochigi research and development centre are working on a new 1.6-litre turbo engine to pair in a hybrid drive system with the electric drive assist motor.
TURBO ONE-SIX TO RESCUE
Industry insiders figure the blown 1.6 will be produced in two guises (117kW and 147kW) to provide low emissions and high performance.
Beyond its expected debut application in the CR-Z, Honda’s new turbo 1.6 engines are set to be rolled out throughout the company’s product portfolio.
The 147kW version will replace Honda’s much vaunted two-litre naturally-aspirated performance engine which has been discontinued and left the Civic range without its range-topping Type R derivative.
With sales of the CR-Z softening in its domestic market, Honda is keen to have the 117kW turbocharged CR-Z homologated and validated for sale as soon as possible. Indications of Honda's intentions were clear at this year’s SEMA auto show in Las Vegas when the CR-Z Hybrid R concept was unveiled, featuring a turbocharged version of the series production 84kW 1.5-litre engine.
