Honda CR-V Hybrid Prototype revealed

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The Honda CR-V Hybrid Prototype has been revealed for the Frankfurt motor show, previewing the European specification of the popular Japanese SUV.

It’s the first time the company has offered a hybrid-powered crossover in the European market, combining a 2.0-litre i-VTEC Atkinson Cycle petrol engine and an electric motor, mated to a fixed-gear ratio rather than a conventional transmission.

Honda has chosen not to detail outputs, performance figures, battery capacity or EV driving range, though it has confirmed the CR-V Hybrid is capable of driving on pure-electric power.

What we can speculate is that the CR-V Hybrid uses a similar drivetrain to the one used in the Accord Sport Hybrid, which utilises a 105kW/165Nm Atkinson Cycle 2.0-litre petrol engine paired to a 124kW electric motor and 1.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

System outputs for the Accord Sport Hybrid available in Australia are rated at 146kW and 307Nm, while claiming to use as little as 4.6L/100km on the combined cycle – compared to 7.9L/100km for the 2.4-litre petrol model and 9.2L/100km for the current V6. (A newer Accord Hybrid has been revealed, but technical details are still to be confirmed.)

Meanwhile, the CR-V Hybrid offers three driving modes; EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive – each are self explanatory as to what they entail.

The new-generation Honda CR-V – which has been on sale in Australia for a number of months now – is set to go on sale in Europe during 2018, powered by either a hybrid system as previewed by this concept or the familiar 1.5-litre VTEC turbo offered here.

European buyers will, however, get the choice of a six-speed manual or continuously-variable transmission with the 1.5-litre petrol – whereas Australia is CVT only.

Australia

Speaking with CarAdvice, Neil McDonald, public relations manager for Honda’s local arm, said: “The CR-V hybrid is under consideration for Australia, but the challenge is that it is not currently available out of our Thai plant, where Honda Australia sources its CR-V”.

“Honda constantly looks at the various opportunities presented by our global product portfolio, but as you know, we need a robust business case to move forward. In the case of the CR-V hybrid, we are studying the opportunity it presents.”

Would you buy a CR-V hybrid if it was offered?

MORE: Honda CR-V news, reviews, comparisons and video
MORE: Everything Honda

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