Honda CR-Z Supercharged Engine Concept Hints at Production Car: 2011 SEMA Show
Honda may in fact be closer to offering a supercharged CR-Z than expected. Tucked away in a corner of the Japanese automaker’s booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas is what Honda is calling the HPD CR-Z Supercharged Engine Concept.
This engine follows after the debut of the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept at last year’s SEMA Show, which used a similar supercharged 1.5-liter Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid engine to generate around 200-hp. It’s also remarkably similar to the supercharged 1.5-liter IMA built by Mugen.
Seemingly yet another concept that won’t make it to fruition, Kurt Antonius, Honda’s assistant vice president of public relations, dropped a big hint and urged us to take a second look at the engine. Raising our hopes of a 200-hp CR-Z, Antonius commented that the engine on display isn’t a highly-polished show piece like you might expect of a concept, but rather what appears to be a production-ready engine.
Antonius’ comments were enough to raise our eyebrows, and our hopes, but he was mum on any further comment. Will the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept eventually make it to production? Antonius admitted that Honda has taken a bit of a break from performance cars, but insisted that they’re coming back.
GALLERY: HPD CR-Z Supercharged Engine Concept
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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Honda admits taking a brake from performance cars, but insisted they're comming back? WILL SEE! We all know what Honda call performance/fast the public call SLOW/UNINSPIRING! JUST LOOK AT THE 2012 CIVIC SI / CR-ZZZZZ
@jeff - HAHA learn your mechanics dude! That is a supercharger all the way! Have you ever seen a belt driven Turbo before?? because I haven't!