Honda has premiered the CR-V hybrid prototype at the Frankfurt motor show, demonstrating the brand’s first electrified SUV powertrain available in Europe.
With the Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive system, the two-motor hybrid features an electric propulsion motor, a 2.0 liter i-VTEC four-cylinder Atkinson cycle gasoline engine for energy generation and propulsion, and a separate electric generator motor.
This means the car can do away with the conventional transmission and instead utilize a single fixed-gear ratio that creates a direct connection between moving components, ultimately providing smooth torque transfer.
In the relentless quest to lower emissions, the OEM has used clever engineering to produce a powertrain system that determines how to use fuel and electrical energy in the most efficient way possible, switching between EV drive, hybrid drive and engine drive.
The CR-V also features the powertrain option of Honda’s 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo petrol engine, available with a manual or CVT transmission. In a move that is becoming more prolific, the OEM’s latest SUV will not feature a diesel unit, as the fuel option’s popularity decreases.
While the hybrid powertrain is the big change for the CR-V, the Japanese auto maker has also given its newest addition a facelift, giving the HV a wider look.
Honda’s first hybrid SUV to reach Europe is on show at the Frankfurt motor show this week and will hit streets in 2018.
September 13, 2017
