Back when Honda first introduced the CR-Z, many felt that the car has got the perfect look to replace the old CR-X. However, on the performance front, the CR-Z failed to live up to the hype as it came out with a hybrid powertrain.
The decision was widely criticized by the car enthusiasts and Honda received took the criticism well. Now, the Japanese carmaker is looking to correct its ways through dropping the EV motors on the next-gen CR-Z.
In detail, the future sports car is going to come out with a different powertrain and it is tipped by an industry insider to be a 2L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. Together with the CR-Z’s larger framework and shortened rear end like the latest Honda Civic, the vehicle is expected to generate about 280hp.
If so, then the CR-Z will be sitting behind the Honda Civic Type-R and act as the carmaker’s second most powerful vehicle. While the former and the latter might feature the same engine, the CR-Z’s mill will be tuned for better fuel economy to cover up for the loss of the EV component.
Then again, the above is still unproven and it is best to take it with a pinch of salt. We can expect official details to get spilled soon by Honda, possibly at the upcoming New York Auto Show happening on April 1, 2015.
