Photo: Honda
Honda continues the tradition of showing pre-production prototypes just before a new model's launch, as the Euro-spec CR-V is making its way to the Frankfurt Motor Show, as a hybrid no less.
Almost nothing about this car is new, but it's still very news-worthy. You see, the CR-V is being presented as a hybrid model, something that wasn't available in Europe until now, and Honda plans to ditch the diesel engine for good.
We don't have any sales numbers available right now, but the CR-V was primarily bought as diesel in Europe. Very few people went for the naturally-aspirated gasoline models, as they didn't have good enough fuel economy numbers. But faced with declining diesel engine sales and regulations that are poised to choke the market, Honda was forced to respond. It's a shame, considering the twin-turbo 1.6 i-DTEC with 160 HP has only been on the market since 2015.
The new hybrid model is supposed to fill that gap, though we suspect sales will slump initially. It's already been previewed at Auto Shanghai earlier this year. Basically, the pre-production prototype looks the same with the exception of LED strips taking the place of the round fog lights.
The powertrain has yet to be fully detailed, but we know it consists of a 2.0-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle and one electric motor. There's going to be three driving modes, including one where the CR-V is powered only by electricity for a short duration.
The only other engine available on the UK-made CR-V is the 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo, similar to the one on the Civic. However, we expect power to be dropped slightly from the U.S. spec version. It's going to be linked to either a six-speed manual or a CVT, not the 9-speed automatic Honda put in the outgoing CR-V.
Also coming to Frankfurt are a refreshed Jazz with the new Sport trim and the Urgan EV concept.
We don't have any sales numbers available right now, but the CR-V was primarily bought as diesel in Europe. Very few people went for the naturally-aspirated gasoline models, as they didn't have good enough fuel economy numbers. But faced with declining diesel engine sales and regulations that are poised to choke the market, Honda was forced to respond. It's a shame, considering the twin-turbo 1.6 i-DTEC with 160 HP has only been on the market since 2015.
The new hybrid model is supposed to fill that gap, though we suspect sales will slump initially. It's already been previewed at Auto Shanghai earlier this year. Basically, the pre-production prototype looks the same with the exception of LED strips taking the place of the round fog lights.
The powertrain has yet to be fully detailed, but we know it consists of a 2.0-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle and one electric motor. There's going to be three driving modes, including one where the CR-V is powered only by electricity for a short duration.
The only other engine available on the UK-made CR-V is the 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo, similar to the one on the Civic. However, we expect power to be dropped slightly from the U.S. spec version. It's going to be linked to either a six-speed manual or a CVT, not the 9-speed automatic Honda put in the outgoing CR-V.
Also coming to Frankfurt are a refreshed Jazz with the new Sport trim and the Urgan EV concept.
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