Hybrids don’t just mean low emissions. In the hands of Honda’s crack team of eco engineers, they’re also some of the fastest rally cars around.
The company’s rally team, Oaktec, is dead set on cranking up performance to the limit, using a special Civic hybrid rally car to highlight performance to crowds at the Green Car Guide Live show in Liverpool.
The car uses two power systems, electric and petrol. It also packs additional brakes to help regenerate power when drivers slam the anchors on. That’s crucial in rally driving, where stopping isn’t an option, but slowing down for bends definitely is.
Elsewhere, the engineering team say the car’s electric motor gives masses of torque, making it much more competitive on loose surfaces.
In 2006 the team had five class wins on the trot with the smaller, less powerful Honda Insight, while the Civic recently came second in the 1400cc class at the prestigious Jim Clark rally, competing against cars 300kg lighter that itself.
The car already squeezes 120bhp from its 1339cc engine, and has hit 110mph on the rally stages. Oaktec expects this to increase to 145bhp and 125mph within 18 months. Not bad for a car that achieved 50mpg when driving between the rally stages.
Out now | From £17,105 | Honda
