While hybrid technology was once the province of slow, boring vehicles that lacked fun, supercar manufacturers and Le Mans drivers have proven that the technology can be used to make vehicles more exciting. And Honda is also looking to impress with its CR-V Hybrid Racer.
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The automaker announced that it will present a racing version of one of its most monotonous vehicles, the CR-V. Dubbed the CR-V Hybrid Racer Project Car, it is being developed by Honda Performance Development, the Auto Development Center and American Honda’s North America Auto Design Division.
CR-V Hybrid Racer is an ‘insane beast’
Billed as the “ultimate high-performance beast”, Honda says the vehicle will deliver over 800 hp (597 kW/811 PS). Impressively, that’s more than the Acura ARX-06 prototype race car does, and it won the 24 Hours of Daytona in January. This car, which combines a 2.4-litre V6 biturbo engine with electric motors, is limited by regulations to just 671 hp (500 kW/680 PS).
It’s still unclear which drivetrain will power Honda’s next CR-V Hybrid Racer Project Car, but the 2023 CR-V Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s mated to a pair of electric motors that combine to make a relatively measly 204 hp (152 kW/207 PS).
As well as boosting power, the new racing concept will feature huge aerodynamic elements, such as a rear wing big enough to tackle Pikes Peak. It will also have huge fenders, lots of carbon fiber body panels, a pretty serious looking interior with a racing car-style steering wheel, as well as an open rear bodywork, which suggests it could feature a mid-mounted engine. .
Honda has yet to say what its plans are for the CR-V Hybrid Racer Project Car. Honda Performance Development, however, is a capable racing team, which means it’s not outside the realm of possibility to enter this vehicle in a competition of some sort in the future.