RUMOUR: Next-Gen Honda CR-Z To Go Turbo, Get Debut By 2017?

Now here’s an interesting rumour: How would you fancy a Honda CR-Z turbo hybrid? Well, it’s nothing official at the moment, but given Honda’s momentum of late (ever since it rolled back a V-TEC turbo), we wouldn’t be too surprised if it were all true.

Our friends over at Motoring.com.au have just revealed an inside-scoop from within Honda’s sacred R&D centre in Tochigi that suggests the aging CR-Z hybrid may be sorted out with a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo engine, hybrid power i-DCD powertrain, an eight-speed auto transmission and up to 200hp, or more, from it all. Yikes…

Motoring has apparently spoken to a source “very close to Honda” who said that given a current demand for more ‘hot’ cars from the likes of Honda America, Honda has turned its attention to the CR-Z to possibly deliver the goods.

The source continued to add that a “big comeback” for the CR-Z is on the cards for 2017, and that “the new coupe will be a force to reckon with.”

To keep the new model cost effective for Honda, it’s expected that the coming CR-Z will share platforms with its Civic cousin, which will grow the sports hybrid coupe up by a size or two, but still keep it significantly smaller than a Civic.

As mentioned, a new 1.5-litre VTEC turbo engine is likely to be featured, paired with Honda’s i-DCD hybrid powertrain and an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 2.0-litre turbo model has also been mentioned.

However, Motoring also disclosed that the CR-Z may in turn grow out of its current role to become a "high-performance coupe of the next-gen US-spec Civic." How all of this actually pans out, we'll have to wait and see.

 But for now, come on, Honda. Do it!