2018 Honda CR-V's engineering secrets revealed

Honda has revealed the engineering behind what it says is the strongest, safest and most dynamic CR-V ever built yet.

The Japanese carmaker says its Model Year 2018 CR-V has the strongest and the most sophisticated chassis in the nameplate’s history. It comes with a new body construction that uses advanced lightweight and high-tensile materials for enabling low inertia and a highly rigid platform. The SUV will arrive in Europe later this year.

Honda says the new CR-V has been specifically tuned to comply with European standards and comes with real-time AWD system, new suspension and steering systems along with active and passive systems. 

The new CR-V comes with the new generation, hot-stamp ultra-high-strength steel, which makes up 9 percent of the all-new model’s body frame, resulting in an increased strength in the areas most affected in a crash, whilst also reducing the overall weight of the chassis.

The new car comes with a 36 percent combined use of high-strength 780 MPa, 980 MPa and 1500 MPa steel as compared to 10 percent in the previous car. The company claims that this has also lead to a 35 percent increase in bending rigidity and a 25 percent increase in torsional rigidity.

Additionally, the body assembly process involves an innovative high-efficiency joining technique, whereby the entire inner frame is assembled first, followed by the outer frame, and then the joints. This production technology defies the conventional method of body frame assembly and contributes greatly to the overall body stiffness.

On the suspension front, the all-new Honda CR-V comes with lower-arm-type MacPherson strut suspension at the front, whilst an all-new rear multi-link suspension has been incorporated in conjunction with the Electric Power Steering.

Honda asserts that the dual pinion variable-ratio electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion system for the steering is specifically tuned for the European market. It further claims that the hydraulic suspension bushings, normally reserved for luxury-class vehicles, are fitted at the front and rear, resulting in superior ride isolation as well as enhanced chassis vibration control.

Honda has clarified that the software updates to ‘Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System’ can send up to 60 percent of torque to the rear wheels when required, particularly during a hill climb. The revised calibration offers more dynamic cornering performance through feedback from the yaw rate and steering sensors.

The carmaker has incorporated the ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure that employs an interconnected network of front frames to absorb and deflect energy from a frontal collision. It is complemented in the new CR-V by the Honda 'Sensing' suite of active safety and driver assist technologies, which is installed on all grades and includes lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and collision mitigation braking system.

The new Honda CR-V is expected to arrive in Europe by the end of 2018, with a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo petrol engine. The hybrid model will be launched in early 2019. The company will, however, launch the CR-V diesel in India in the near future.