Honda Reportedly Planning More Powerful Hybrid Sports Coupe

[MikeCR-Z]

Honda Reportedly Planning More Powerful Hybrid Sports Coupe

The Honda CR-Z has not even landed in showrooms, and already we are hearing rumors about a new, bigger hybrid sports coupe in Japan. At a recent chance meeting, a Honda insider revealed that company is busy working on a next generation hybrid sports coupe that will dwarf the all-new CR-Z in performance. Details of the powerplant are still sketchy, but our source tells us that in place of a planned V-6 hybrid, engineers are leaning toward the incorporation of a cleaner, more fuel efficient 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gas engine attached to Honda's well-known IMA hybrid system, which would lift this coupe's engine capacity by one full liter over the CR-Z. He adds that the V-6 hybrid is being considered as a main powerplant for U.S.-spec minivans and SUVs, which need more grunt.

The vehicle referred to here is a new sports coupe around the same size as the Accord Coupe, and would have four seats. The beauty of a sports hybrid, according to one Honda engineer, as that you can easily tune the car to lean more towards performance or more towards fuel efficiency depending on what you want. And it seems as though a lot of people (in Japan at least) want the new CR-Z, which has already taken in nearly 9000 orders in just one month.

Our source also mentioned that Honda is currently testing a system similar to the Chevy Volt's range extender plug-in hybrid system for the Japanese firm's medium to large passenger cars and SUVs. The difference is that Honda would employ an engine and electric motor setup, which, when all the stored electricity is used, would automatically switch to an on-board capacitor that would further extended its range. This system would reportedly be fitted to vehicles including the next Accord.

Read more: Honda Reportedly Planning More Powerful Hybrid Sports Coupe - Wide Open Throttle - Motor Trend Magazine

[bizzybear]

WOW!!! awesome find Mike!!! i like the concept so far... lets hope the numbers are better than the CR-Z and let's hope Honda is going to use its NEW Hybrid system and not the same IMA system b/c if not, we can expect numbers like:

my guestimated engine specs:
2.5L 4 cylinder
petrol engine output 200hp/190tq
electric motor output 35hp/100tq
combined output 235hp/245tq

just like the CR-Z the combined numbers are with the peak torque coming in around 1100rpms and peak horsepower around 7400rpms...

which would be nice and definitely faster than the 4cylinder Accord of now...

i'm an optimist so i'm hoping for a HIGH-REVVING 2.5L (at least 7900rpms)

[dorifuto.boi]

its gonna be too big if its the size of the accord coupe
and did they say that japan is gonna get the I4 and they're gonna stick a v6 for america ? wow....

dispite the fact that I think its too big, i think it'd be a cool car. except i still like the crz more =]

thanks for the post tho =] always nice to be updated on future products =D
maybe when production of this car is confirmed, you can make this forum a "honda hybrid sports" forum haha

[Rotiv]

I still dont understant why honda or other japanese carmakers arent going for turbocharged engines thogether with direct injection, european carmakers are getting really good milleage with good torque figures. Even american carmakers are starting to see that this is the way to go (ecoboost).
I know that they are trying to use the ima system as a turbo, improving torque @ low rpm but why not use turbo+ima?
Volkswagen seems to be going this way, the hybrid coupe concept was a clear sign, a machine VW said will get 45 miles per gallon by combining a four-cylinder gasoline engine from VWs TFSI with a 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Will honda lag behind in the future?

[bizzybear]

Originally Posted by Rotiv

I still dont understant why honda or other japanese carmakers arent going for turbocharged engines thogether with direct injection, european carmakers are getting really good milleage with good torque figures. Even american carmakers are starting to see that this is the way to go (ecoboost).
I know that they are trying to use the ima system as a turbo, improving torque @ low rpm but why not use turbo+ima?
Volkswagen seems to be going this way, the hybrid coupe concept was a clear sign, a machine VW said will get 45 miles per gallon by combining a four-cylinder gasoline engine from VWs TFSI with a 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Will honda lag behind in the future?

don't take what i'm saying the wrong way b/c i really agree with you for the most part... but Honda on the other hand isn't just looking for great fuel economy... they're also focused on being extremely GREEN with AT-PZEV standards going into a lot of their newer vehicles...

if the Honda Sports Coupe in the OP is really coming out i might just have to get the CR-Z and turbo it in the meantime... just so i get an idea of how the Hybrid systems work with turbos etc...

[human668]

If Honda keeps using current engine, I doubt there will be 2.5L. I think most likely be a 200hp-ish K24. As a TSX owner, I love this engine. It has no problem handle 7600rpm rev.
Perhaps with new technology and IMA system, Honda can make it 240hp/200tq easily.

[bizzybear]

as much as i love K-series engines...
1. i doubt honda will put one in a hybrid anytime soon...
2. they need to make a newer version of it...

[dorifuto.boi]

well it says the debut is in 3 years so i guess theres nothing to worry about now