Let us crystal clear the air ideal away on this ridiculous SUV called the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer. It is really a one particular-off construct incorporating a number of departments in the automaker, spearheaded by the engineers at Honda Overall performance Advancement (HPD). But it is a a single-off, so regrettably you will not see a widebody CR-V with a ginormous wing and a screaming engine at dealerships. But you will see it at pick out IndyCar events this yr.
That’s mainly because this relatives SUV is actually a race car hiding beneath CR-V physique panels, and even then, Honda isn’t making an attempt pretty difficult to retain it a top secret. The lessen 50 % of the racer is all carbon fiber, punctuated by substantial fender flares and butterfly front doorways that open to a racing inside. A personalized tube chassis serves as the foundation, but the higher part of the SUV is even now a sixth-gen CR-V metal system. Except for the universe-sized rear wing, that is.
The rear doorways don’t open – at the very least not as you’d count on. They are fastened to an articulating clamshell, hinged at the again which opens to reveal the actual rationale you clicked this post in the 1st location. Which is where an Xtrac 6-speed paddle-change transmission resides, related to a twin-turbocharged hybrid V6 IndyCar engine mounted wherever you’d typically see second-row seats. It can be not a carbon duplicate of the forthcoming 2024 Honda IndyCar powertrain, but it does offer a preview of what is to come.
Exclusively, it really is a 2.2-liter Honda V6 tuned to operate on Shell 100-p.c renewable race fuel and sure, it’s a hybrid. HPD President David Salters confirms it can be an 800-hp bundle, though a particular breakdown of energy for combustion and electrical programs isn’t described. Rather of batteries, the CR-V Hybrid Racer essentially works by using a supercapacitor storage method not fully in contrast to what you find from Lamborghini, enhancing all round electricity with small-term bursts and enhanced gas mileage.
“The certain reason it has supercapacitors is electric power,” discussed Salters for the duration of a media preview for the distinctive CR-V. “They are truly great at high electrical power also in this application, they are inherently safe and sound. You won’t be able to definitely do nearly anything bad to them, But it can be seriously also for us to discover.”
And that is the crux of why this bonkers CR-V exists – to discover. Honda has no qualms about contacting the total experiment a “rolling laboratory,” built to discover distinctive features of functionality and how electrification can match into the equation. Lessons discovered with the CR-V Hybrid Racer could be applied to upcoming racing endeavors, while for now, Honda has no programs to take its super SUV to distinct venues like Pikes Peak.
Not that it wouldn’t do very well on rather substantially any system. The tube frame retains entrance suspension and 15-inch Brembo brakes sourced from the NSX GT-3 race car. At the rear, you are going to uncover Dallara IR-18 Indy suspension with 14-inch Brembos. The fender flares are filled with 305/35-sequence tires at the back again and 285/35-collection at the entrance. They are mounted to 20-inch wheels that evaluate 10.5 inches wide in front, and 11 inches at the rear. The massive wing is effective with a distinctive front splitter for prolific downforce, and whilst you can find no mention of overall performance, we’ll go out on a limb and say this bonkers CR-V is rapidly.
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“So ideal now, its concentration is to examine electrification, power administration, all these things with a watch for racing, and also, for likely highway car or truck use, so we will attempt and use it as a lab for the instant,” described Salters.
Certainly, of class we requested no matter if “road car use” usually means Honda may contemplate a high-overall performance output CR-V, perhaps not as radical as this but something in an Si or Kind R taste. The automaker gave us a very crystal clear response: no comment on long run products about the CR-V. Regardless of whether that modifications as people see the Hybrid Racer up shut, we will just have to wait around it out.
And persons will definitely have a possibility to see it. Honda will choose the CR-V Hybrid Racer to numerous 2023 IndyCar activities for show and demonstration applications, setting up on March 3 at the time-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida.