New CR-V Hybrid Racer Video: Honda Engineers Tell Story Behind the World’s Only SUV Powered by an Indycar Engine

Honda has released a new video taking viewers inside the construction of the CR-V Hybrid Racer, a wild 800-horsepower SUV aptly nicknamed “The Beast” by the engineers responsible for its development. The video tells the story behind the 14-month long in-house project, documenting the meticulous hand-fabrication required to build the world’s only SUV powered by an IndyCar drivetrain.

“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.”

Conceived and designed by Honda Performance Development (HPD) in Southern California, the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer is a rolling laboratory built completely by Honda engineers for the continued development of our electrified motorsports programs. It was constructed at Honda’s North American Automotive Development Center (ADC) in Ohio by the Honda of America Racing Team, an all-volunteer group of passionate enthusiasts who dedicated their weekends, vacation time and holidays to the build.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer showcases the extreme power and performance capability of electrified powertrains. The special one-off project’s exterior was designed by Honda’s production car studio in Los Angeles with considerable inspiration taken from the wild GT racing and Group B rally cars of the 1980s and ‘90s.

Hybrid-electric models are a key step in Honda’s electrification strategy, with the all-new CR-V hybrid, Accord hybrid and soon a Civic hybrid featuring Honda’s new, more powerful, 4th-generation two-motor hybrid-electric system.

For more information on the Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer click here.