Honda Is Building an 800-HP CR-V Hybrid Race Car for Some Reason

Honda might be best known for its economical and reliable runabouts, but the brand is no stranger to crafting high-performance machines. Thanks to Honda's Performance Development, Auto Development Center, and North America Auto Design Divisions, we now have a chance to see what happens when you combine that motorsports know-how with the brand’s best-selling SUV. Feast your eyes on the world’s first glimpse of the upcoming 800-hp CR-V Hybrid race car.

It doesn’t take a long look at this highly-modified Honda CR-V to understand the automaker’s intentions with this build. To even call this thing a CR-V might be a bit of a stretch, as it appears we’re dealing with a dedicated tube frame chassis. The bodywork itself is also quite a bit wider than before, and looks to be made of carbon and other lightweight composites. The front and rear bodywork are split into two large clamshells, which again hints at the lack of production CR-V bits to be found. There’s clearly an extreme focus on the vehicle’s aero package, with a smattering of vents, dive planes, and channels for the air found everywhere. The rear wind itself is a properly giant unit, which fits the vibe of this monster. Inside you’ll find typical race car appointments and nothing from a traditional road car. Honda says this CR-V will be an absolute monster on track, which we get a little taste of in the clip below.

While Honda has yet to share any specific details about this CR-V Hybrid Race Car, a proper reveal event is scheduled for February 28. That means we won’t have to wait much longer to learn more information about the powertrain stuck inside this machine. If the now-defunct NSX is proof of anything, it's that Honda knows its way around a performance hybrid system.

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