Japanese carmaker aims to promote cars with some electrification while ditching the diesel option for its popular SUV in that part of the world.
Oh, I thought it was a China-only model…
At the Shanghai motor show earlier this year, Honda premiered a prototype version of the CR-V Hybrid. It’s the first time ever in the model’s history to feature a petrol-electric hybrid.
And Honda has just announced that it will take the CR-V Hybrid, also in prototype form, to the Frankfurt motor show next week before putting it up for sale in European showrooms in 2018.
Nothing much really separates the CR-V Hybrid on the skin from its siblings, powered by conventional engines, with the exception of the badge on the side of the vehicle. Even the wheels are the same.
Has Honda announced details of the hybrid?
Once again, Honda has spoken only broadly about it. The company says the CR-V Hybrid uses the so-called i-MMD (intelligent multi-mode drive) featuring a 2.0-litre petrol engine, two electric motors and electronic CVT automatic transmission.
Although it hasn’t mentioned this, this petrol-electric hybrid is probably the one used in the Accord Hybrid, which produces a combined 215hp. Likewise, Honda hasn’t said anything yet about the batteries, which are the lithium-ion type in the Accord Hybrid.
Honda adds that the 1.6-litre diesel-turbo and nine-speed automatic gearbox won’t be available in Europe anymore because it wants to promote cars with some electrification in the part of the world from next year onward. Like in the US, the CR-V will also be available with 1.5-litre petrol-turbo in Europe.
Tch! Now wonder diesel came to Thailand…
Yeah, and it was the first time ever for the CR-V (and the brand) to get a diesel choice in Thailand, which isn’t really a bad thing because the SUV in its previous four generations never had fuel economy to boast about.
When asked whether the CR-V Hybrid would be sold in Thailand, the usual response from a spokesman was: “under study”. However, the presence of the Accord Hybrid in Thai showrooms justifies the hybrid notion in terms of both marketing and local industrialisation. That's unless Honda wants to make good use of the diesel tech it still has.
At the moment, the fifth-gen CR-V is being sold in Thailand with either 160hp 1.6-litre diesel-turbo and nine-speed automatic or 173hp 2.4-litre petrol and CVT ’box.
