I'll also use this as an excuse to share one of my favorite songs:
Photography Courtesy Honda
Although the all-new IndyCar hybrid powertrains don’t officially debut until 2024, Honda is offering fans and enthusiasts alike a sneak peek of the new units…with a CR-V. Yes, seriously.
“This project vehicle is an INDYCAR ‘beast’ in Honda CR-V ‘sheep’s clothing’,” said David Salters, president and technical director for Honda Performance Development, the North American racing arm of American Honda and Acura. “The CR-V Hybrid Racer is our ‘rolling electrified laboratory’, to investigate where the talented men and women of HPD and Honda could go with electrification, hybrid technology and 100% renewable fuels. It epitomizes Honda’s fun-to-drive ethos, showcases electrification and it just rocks our car culture roots and racing heritage! We present the CR-V Hybrid Racer – aka ‘The HPD Beast’!”
Designed at HPD in California in collaboration with designers from the North America Auto Design Division of Honda America, the CR-V Hybrid Racer was built at Honda’s Automotive Development Center in Ohio by the folks from the Honda of America Racing Team.
Powering the CR-V is a 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged, electrified V6 engine that features Skeleton Supercapacitors and Empel MGU hybrid motor technology. The power unit also runs on Shell’s 100% renewable race fuel. (Power figures aren’t included in the press release, but, for comparison, current IndyCar engines are good for some 700 horsepower.)
Finishing off the wild racer is a unique wrap designed by Honda senior exterior designer Lili Melikian: “The graphics were inspired by the hybrid powertrain, radiating from Honda Hybrid Blue to Honda Racing Red to symbolize the duality of the drivetrain. While the ‘speed squirkles’ add a dynamic fun layer and showcase the playful side of Power of Dreams. Throughout the wrap, we have also sprinkled easter eggs like ghosted outlines of Honda-sponsored tracks and an overhead view of the engine that powers the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer.”
Look for the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer at its public debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida, March 3-5. After that, the CR-V will be on display–plus making on-track demonstrations–at various IndyCar race weekends and “additional appearances at select events” throughout 2023.
Specifications for the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer are as follows:
Powertrain
Chassis and Bodywork
Suspension
I'll also use this as an excuse to share one of my favorite songs:
Indy500s on the Indy-powered CR-V?
I just had a new CR-V Hybrid as a rental car, but it didn't look anything like the one pictured.
Larry Chen just dropped a video on it with the project lead at a track complete with ride along.
It looks like just to commuter I need. Very cool build.
I love it when manufacturers turn engineers loose on stuff like this. Reminds me of the Supervan Transits
Good job whoever designed the livery, too.
However, the X5 Le Mans is still my favorite:
I'm disappointed that they didn't use a CVT, since Honda seems to think that it's the answer to everything automotive these days.
(^Says the guy who, reluctantly, placed a deposit on a new CRV two months ago, in spite of its continuously variable transmission)
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