Report: The next-gen Honda CR-Z could get a turbo motor
The original Honda CR-Z wasn’t exactly a smash hit. In theory and on paper, as a mild-hybrid that was affordable, fun-to-drive, and efficient, didn’t exactly play out as such.
It was mildly fun-to-drive, it wasn’t as efficient as expected, and that chipped away at its affordability factor.
But Honda’s not giving up as CARandDRIVER reports there could be a next-generation CR-Z with a turbo motor. This makes perfect sense since Honda just revealed their first-ever high-performance turbocharged four-banger for the new 2016 Honda Civic Type-R. So even Honda’s going turbocharged, signaling a possible end to Honda’s tradition to keep their motors naturally-aspirated, lively, and very rev-happy.
The CR-Z’s idea was also to revive the spirit of the original CR-X, which was a smash-hit and an absolute hoot to drive in Si form. But again, the last CR-Z fell a little bit short.
The new model is speculated to be larger than the current model while the 2.0L turbo-four should be detuned from its original state of tune, producing 280hp. There’s even the possibility that this new CR-Z could be pegged as a performance model and variant to the typical US-market Civic.
Expect a prototype or concept sometime in 2017 at Detroit.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: CARandDRIVER