Japanese car brand Honda has unveiled the striking CR-V Hybrid Racer, a bonkers one-off based on the firm’s compact SUV.
Designed by a team of engineers from Honda Performance Development (HPD) the track-focused HPB Beast - as it has been named - has been created to serve as a ‘rolling laboratory’ to feed the development of future electrified technology by Honda.
The SUV body sits above a steel tubular chassis, while in the back of the vehicle sits a brawny 596kW 2.2-litre twin-turbocharged electrified V6 power unit borrowed from the firm’s Indycar racer.
Supercapacitors were fitted to the V6 engine to enable the powertrain to store electricity. The Hybrid race also runs on 100% renewable fuel produced by Shell.
The Hybrid Racer also features the front suspension from the Honda NSX GT3, while the rear suspension is taken from the Dallara single-seater.
From the beltline up, the HPD Best uses the standard CR-V steel body, while the lower half is a carbon-composite construction which incorporates a huge front splitter and flared wheel arches.
A special one-of-a-kind wrap has been added to complete the look of the Hybrid Racer.
“This project vehicle is an Indycar ‘beast’ in Honda CR-V ‘sheep’s clothing’,” said David Salters, president and technical director for HPD.
“The CR-V Hybrid Racer is our rolling electrified laboratory, to investigate where the talented men and women of HPD and Honda could go with electrification, hybrid technology and 100% renewable fuels.
“It epitomises Honda’s fun-to-drive ethos, showcases electrification and it just rocks our car culture roots and racing heritage.”
The CR-V Hybrid Racer will be on display at several Grand Prix events throughout 2023.
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