Back in March Autocar.co.uk ran a story quoting Honda's R&D Chief as saying that a higher-performance CR-Z was in the works. Over a half year later, Temple of VTEC Asia editor WongKN was able to confirm this development while attending a press event for the CR-Z in Malaysia. At this event, CR-Z LPL (Large Project Leader) Norio Tomobe-san directly confirmed to WongKN that there was a higher performance version of the CR-Z under development.

Unfortunately, WongKN was unable to pry any further details from Tomobe-san. Other sources have indicated to WongKN that Honda has been researching forced induction versions of the CR-Z, and we know for a fact that HPD (here in the USA) has developed a turbocharged version of the CR-Z, developing right around 200hp (we even got to drive it last month), and then last week at the SEMA show in Las Vegas Honda revealed a supercharged concept of the CR-Z's L15 IMA engine, also developed by HPD. It's unknown whether or not HPD's development work will be funneled back to the mothership in Japan, or if HRD is doing their own separate development for the factory product.

Read WongKN's blog about the topic here

Last edited by JeffX on November 11, 2011 14:46