Cách Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer được tạo ra

The Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer is an absolutely bonkers vehicle that owes its existence to a crew of dedicated engineers and creative geniuses. That’s why there’s no better group of people to walk us through how this 800-horsepower rocketship was built.

Thanks to a deep-dive video Honda posted to its YouTube channel; we finally get a look behind the scenes. Creating “The Beast” was an arduous 14-month process that saw all types of volunteers work long nights and weekends to get this mad blend of Honda CR-V and IndyCar up and running.

The process took so long because this vehicle has as much in common with a regular CR-V as a paper airplane does with an F-16. It may resemble the beloved SUV, but that’s about it. It’s basically a Chromoly tube chassis powered by a 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged hybrid V6 engine that will eventually debut in 2024 as the Honda IndyCar power unit.

Honda

Honda

“The CR-V Hybrid Racer is a passion project for everyone at Honda involved with its design, engineering, and construction,” said David Salters, president and technical director for Honda Performance Development, the North American racing arm of American Honda. “The Beast epitomizes Honda’s fun-to-drive ethos and racing heritage.”

The goal of the vehicle was to create a testbed for the continued development of the brand’s electrified sports programs. It was first conceived and designed by Honda Performance Development (HPD) in Southern California before being handed off to be built at Honda’s North American Automotive Development Center (ADC) in Ohio by the Honda of America Racing Team (HART).

The team comprises volunteers who work in their free time on projects, and the stuff they produce is amazing.

Once the vehicle was put together, it needed a livery that was going to make a statement. The team looked to Lili Melikian, a senior exterior designer based in LA who took inspiration from the GT and Group B racing series of the ’80s and ’90s. The blue-to-red gradient is meant to represent the vehicle’s hybrid nature. She also included several easter eggs, like images of the hybrid powertrain on the roof.

The car is now touring the IndyCar circuit to give people an up-close look and even on-track demonstrations with drivers like Max Verstappen.

After that, who knows what will be in store for the car in 2024. Since Pikes Peak took place recently, it’s at the forefront of the mind. We’d be lying if we said we wouldn’t want to see this thing rip up some twisty mountain roads next year. Honda should give it some consideration.