For hybrids, a car with a lot of power is usually not an option, but Honda is looking to change perceptions with its offering of a supercharger kit for its hybrid CR-Z hatchback.
That's good news for drivers who want to sport a little added boost while helping to save the environment.
Honda says that for the 2013-2014 Honda CR-Z hatchback, customers will have the option of adding a dealer-installed Honda Performance Development (HPD) kit that will increase overall performance for the vehicle.
But it won't be cheap. The kit alone runs $5,495, and that does not even include the dealer installing it on your car. And sadly, for those drivers who select an automatic transmission instead of the standard 6-speed manual, it won't be an option at all.
Honda says the kit is "priced similarly to popular aftermarket supercharger kits, but is engineered and backed by Honda."
The kit would increase the vehicle's horsepower from 130 hp to 197 hp with a manual transmission, meaning it will give additional oomph to the vehicle that many hybrid drivers have repeatedly said is needed to put the cars on par with gasoline-only driven vehicles. The CR-Z runs on a hybrid system of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a battery-fed electric motor.
It also helps to improve the overall basic performance of the car, with high-flow fuel injectors and an HPD air filter as well as an HPD air-to-air intercooler. The kit is aimed at giving drivers more flexibility and options when making the hybrid the car of choice.
The move should also help see Honda boost its overall hybrid market share ahead of expected massive competition in the new year. Chevrolet announced that it would be launching the latest Volt in January at a car event, Tech Times reports.
With the Volt getting some added power and distance, the electric vehicle is gaining popularity, and with Tesla planning to erect a massive gigabattery factory to mass produce the batteries needed for its vehicles in an effort to bring prices down, Honda is hoping that its hybrid model and the additional power can entice consumers ahead of January.
Hybrids use both electric and gasoline power to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. One of the drawbacks many companies have had in developing hybrids is giving them enough horsepower for potential drivers.
With the CR-Z hitting around 200 hp with the kit added on, it makes it a solid choice when moving away from a gasoline-only vehicle.
