The first indication that Honda was seriously considering a high-performance version of its CR-Z presented itself at this year’s SEMA, where Honda Performance Development (HPD) unveiled the racy CR-Z Hybrid R concept.
By adding a turbocharger and an upgrade to the standard car’s IMA electric motor, HPD was able to extract a healthy 149 kW and 237 N.m of torque – figures that the performance arm hopes to test in the upcoming 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race.
Now, insiders from British motoring publication Autocar have found out that Honda is readying a newly-developed turbocharged 1,6-litre petrol engine for the CR-Z. The new engine, which is being developed at the firm’s Tochigi R&D centre and is also under consideration for the Jazz, Civic and Accord, looks likely to replace the company’s current 1,8- and 2,0-litre engines as part of a wide-scale “engine downsizing” exercise.
The engine is likely to be offered in two guises; a standard version delivering around 123 kW and another tuned to churn out 149 kW. The latter version is earmarked to underpin a potential CR-Z Type-R model next year, providing a similar output to the 2,0-litre VTEC unit in the Civic Type R.
