Honda has revealed its new CR-V hybrid in full production trim at this years Paris Motor Show.
Under the skin it features an all-new twin motor Intelligent Multi Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid powertrain. It’s composed of an electric motor, a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a separate electric motor-generator to deliver a total output of 181bhp and 315Nm of torque.
The new system uses a single fixed gear ratio in place of a conventional gearbox, in a bid to reduce mass and size. Buyers are able to choose between front- and four-wheel drive variants.
The system automatically shuffles between its three driving modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive – depending on conditions and how the car is being driven. The pure EV and hybrid driving modes are tuned for low speed and urban driving, but range on electric power alone won’t challenge that of the many plug-insystems already on sale. The petrol engine can kick in to power the wheels on motorways, but it is also used to deliver power to the electric motor and recharge the battery pack.
The front-wheel drive CR-V hybrid achieves 53.3mpg in official tests, while the four-wheel drive model is slightly less efficient, returning 51.4mpg. CO2 emissions stand at 120g/km for the front wheel drive model and 126g/km for the four-wheel drive.
The hybrid is accompanied by new petrol models at Paris, along with a more practical seven-seat variant.