When I drove the Honda CR-Z, I remember it surprising me. This was the vehicle that didn't get the hybrid-like mileage one would expect and it, frankly, was tiny. I will admit though, I am a sucker for small cars.
But it drove pretty damn well and it was fun. AND, it had a manual gearbox!
At the end of the day though it's just not fast enough, it doesn't have much utility and it's not getting good enough mpg to do anything well. So it falls squarely in the middle of being an also ran. That means Honda has to do something to remedy this situation if it wants an amazing product.
Rumors have circulated about a forced induction CR-Z but nothing's come to fruition.
So when I ran across this video clip of a racing version with a six-cylinder powerplant, I was intrigued. Then I heard it and I was blown away.
The problem: It's a racecar and I'd wager that Honda will not be bold enough to put a six-cylinder into a production variant.
Honda's press release follows:
Honda Announces Support to the Racing Activities of Team Mugen in the GT300 Class of SUPER GT Series Start of test runs for the MUGEN CR-Z GT equipped with Honda racing hybrid system
TOKYO, Japan - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced its intent to provide technical support to Team Mugen, operated by M-TEC Co., Ltd., for its competition with the MUGEN CR-Z GT in the GT300 class of SUPER GT Series. Honda will supply a 2.8-liter V6 twin-turbo engine and the racing hybrid system developed exclusively for this Team Mugen racing machine and will start actual test runs.
Team Mugen's first race with the MUGEN CR-Z GT featuring the Honda racing hybrid system will be the 2012 SUPER GT Series Round 4 SUGO GT 300km Race held on July 28-29, 2012.