Honda CR-V Hybrid Prototype revealed at Frankfurt

The Honda CR-V Hybrid has already been shown in China, but the debut of a prototype at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show will be the first time the petrol-electric SUV makes an appearance outside the Middle Kingdom. This is an important car for Europe – when the fifth-gen Comfortable Runabout Vehicle goes on sale there next year, it will ditch the popular diesel, with the Hybrid being joined by a VTEC Turbo petrol.

Power comes from the same two-motor Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system as in the Accord Hybrid, paired to a 2.0 litre i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle petrol engine. In the sedan, it makes 145 hp and 175 Nm, resulting in a total system output of 212 hp and a combined fuel economy figure of 20.4 km per litre.

Honda CR-V Hybrid Prototype revealed at Frankfurt

As with the Accord, the CR-V Hybrid features three drive modes, these being EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive. The last two bring the petrol mill into play, but in different ways – in Hybrid Drive, it powers the electric generator motor (which in turn powers the electric propulsion motor), while in Engine Drive it drives the wheels directly (with the electric propulsion motor adding a burst of extra power).

More conventional buyers can opt for the aforementioned 1.5 litre VTEC Turbo engine, which in our market makes 193 PS and 243 Nm. A CVT and a six-speed manual gearbox will be offered.

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