Click for more information.
The new Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer will debut at next month’s IndyCar season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Partly a publicity ploy, and also a technology demonstrator, the vehicle combines a Honda Performance Division IndyCar drivetrain, racing suspension, Firestone high-performance tires with Honda CR-V Hybrid bodywork.
“This project vehicle is an INDYCAR ‘beast’ in Honda CR-V ‘sheep’s clothing’,” said David Salters, presumably with tongue in cheek, the president and technical director for Honda Performance Development, the North American racing arm of American Honda and Acura, referring to the code name of the project.
“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,” said Salters. “It epitomizes Honda’s fun-to-drive ethos, showcases electrification and it just rocks our car culture roots and racing heritage! We present the CR-V Hybrid Racer–aka ‘The HPD Beast’!” AutoInformed notes, wryly, that this isn’t in keeping with meeting the nicest people on a Honda, but it has, well, light comedy or entertainment value. Video click here
Click for more information.
Conceived and designed by the engineers at Honda Performance Development (HPD) in California and designers from the North America Auto Design Division (NAAD) of American Honda; then built at Honda Automotive Development Center (ADC) in Ohio by the Honda of America Racing Team (HART); the CR-V Hybrid Racer places (crams?) a 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged, electrified Honda V6 INDYCAR power unit and transmission under 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid bodywork to create the “rolling laboratory” for the continued development of electrified technology by Honda and HPD. The CR-V Hybrid Racer runs on Shell’s 100% renewable race fuel; and has Skeleton Supercapacitors and Empel MGU hybrid motor technology.
The chromoly steel tube chassis of the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer is clad in “hybrid” bodywork designed by NAAD. From the beltline up, the Hybrid Racer uses a standard production sixth-generation CR-V steel body, including the glass windshield, windows and even the sunroof. The lower half is of carbon-composite construction, incorporating a massive front splitter and louvered, flared fenders. An equally large rear wing and butterfly half-cut doors on either side for the driver and passenger complete the cladding.
While hybrid power units officially debut in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2024, race fans and enthusiasts will be able to see The HPD Beast at its public debut March 3-5 at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida. The Beast will be on display and making on-track demonstrations at multiple INDYCAR events, including the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (April 14-16); the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (April 28-30); the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (June 30- July 2); the Honda Indy Toronto (July 14-16); the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville (August 4-6); the Grand Prix of Portland (September 1-3); and the season-concluding Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (September 8-10). In addition to INDYCAR race weekends, the CR-V Hybrid Racer will make additional appearances at other events throughout 2023.
Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer Specifications
Powertrain
- Honda HI23TT 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine
- Borg Warner EFR7163 turbochargers
- McLaren Applied Technologies Tag 400i Engine Control Unit
- Drive-by-wire controlled port throttle
- Shell 100% renewable race fuel
- Driver-activated Empel electric motor generator unit
- Skeleton super capacitor energy storage system
- XTRAC six-speed transmission; Mega-Line Assisted paddle-shift
Chassis and Bodywork
- Chromoly tube frame chassis
- New, 6th generation Honda CR-V Hybrid bodywork from beltline up
- Standard Honda CR-V Hybrid windshield and greenhouse
- Custom carbon fiber lower bodywork incorporating flared fenders
- Butterfly half-cut doors provide access for driver and passenger
- Radiator adapted by HPD from the Dallara IR-18 Indy car
- Clamshell rear bodywork to display power unit and drivetrain
- Custom downforce-producing front splitter and rear wing
Suspension
- Front suspension from HPD-developed Acura NSX GT-3 Evo22
- Rear suspension adapted from Dallara IR-18 Indy car
- Brembo 380mm front brakes from Acura NSX GT-3 Evo22
- Brembo 355mm custom rear brakes adapted to Dallara IR-18 suspension
- Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Ultra-High Performance Summer Tires
- Front tires 285/35-20; Rear tires a massive 305/35-20
- 2Elle Engineering 20×10.5 Front and 20×11 Rear two-piece alloy wheels
Honda Performance Development Shows CR-V Hybrid Racer
Click for more information.
The new Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer will debut at next month’s IndyCar season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Partly a publicity ploy, and also a technology demonstrator, the vehicle combines a Honda Performance Division IndyCar drivetrain, racing suspension, Firestone high-performance tires with Honda CR-V Hybrid bodywork.
“This project vehicle is an INDYCAR ‘beast’ in Honda CR-V ‘sheep’s clothing’,” said David Salters, presumably with tongue in cheek, the president and technical director for Honda Performance Development, the North American racing arm of American Honda and Acura, referring to the code name of the project.
“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,” said Salters. “It epitomizes Honda’s fun-to-drive ethos, showcases electrification and it just rocks our car culture roots and racing heritage! We present the CR-V Hybrid Racer–aka ‘The HPD Beast’!” AutoInformed notes, wryly, that this isn’t in keeping with meeting the nicest people on a Honda, but it has, well, light comedy or entertainment value. Video click here
Click for more information.
Conceived and designed by the engineers at Honda Performance Development (HPD) in California and designers from the North America Auto Design Division (NAAD) of American Honda; then built at Honda Automotive Development Center (ADC) in Ohio by the Honda of America Racing Team (HART); the CR-V Hybrid Racer places (crams?) a 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged, electrified Honda V6 INDYCAR power unit and transmission under 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid bodywork to create the “rolling laboratory” for the continued development of electrified technology by Honda and HPD. The CR-V Hybrid Racer runs on Shell’s 100% renewable race fuel; and has Skeleton Supercapacitors and Empel MGU hybrid motor technology.
The chromoly steel tube chassis of the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer is clad in “hybrid” bodywork designed by NAAD. From the beltline up, the Hybrid Racer uses a standard production sixth-generation CR-V steel body, including the glass windshield, windows and even the sunroof. The lower half is of carbon-composite construction, incorporating a massive front splitter and louvered, flared fenders. An equally large rear wing and butterfly half-cut doors on either side for the driver and passenger complete the cladding.
While hybrid power units officially debut in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2024, race fans and enthusiasts will be able to see The HPD Beast at its public debut March 3-5 at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida. The Beast will be on display and making on-track demonstrations at multiple INDYCAR events, including the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (April 14-16); the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (April 28-30); the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (June 30- July 2); the Honda Indy Toronto (July 14-16); the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville (August 4-6); the Grand Prix of Portland (September 1-3); and the season-concluding Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (September 8-10). In addition to INDYCAR race weekends, the CR-V Hybrid Racer will make additional appearances at other events throughout 2023.
Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer Specifications
Powertrain
Chassis and Bodywork
Suspension