2016 Honda CR-Z to Be Based on Civic Type R: Report
The next Honda CR-Z could wind up with real performance credibility courtesy of the new Civic Type R, even if the latter doesn’t make a trans-Atlantic leap.
A new report suggests Honda is working on a more powerful version of its CR-Z that might finally live up to the car’s sporty appearance. Motoring.au reports that the company’s research and development division has a CR-Z prototype that sits on a shorter wheelbase version of the upcoming Civic Type R platform.
The car is said to use a turbocharged 1.5-liter direct-injection gas engine mated to a hybrid drivetrain to make roughly 220 hp. That power would be sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
SEE ALSO: Watch and Hear the 2015 Civic Type R Tackle the Nurburgring
With the absence of a named source and little more than sketchy details to rely on, there isn’t any concrete evidence about the car. But Honda is currently developing its new Civic Type R, which traditionally skips the U.S. market. Honda is also without an affordable performance car and has been for quite some time. The Civic Si doesn’t come close to competing with other front-wheel drive performance cars in the U.S., market.
According to the report, the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ lit fires under a few bottoms at Honda’s research and development department.
If that’s really true, it might make sense that Honda is scheming to bring something with more spirit to U.S. buyers. The more potent CR-Z is said to ride on a milder version of the new Civic Type R suspension, which could add up to an entertaining package with the car’s light weight.
With a new NSX on the way, it’s comforting to realize that Honda probably hasn’t forgotten its background in performance cars so much as shelved.
[Source: Motoring.au]
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Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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Anyone notice the "sex" on the guard rail? Think they are dropping subliminal hints here...
Will that 1.5 Liter engine be part time lean burn or Atkinson cycle or will it be boring old OTTO cycle that gets mediocre MPG? The high performance aspects could still come out of the engine when it pops out of lean burn or Atkinson cycle mode, back to OTTO cycle mode. Will it be a true hybrid, or will it be another mild hybrid like all the rest of Honda's hybrids (except for the 2014 Accord plug-in)?