2026 FL5 Speculation Thread

[VarmintCong]

To be fair, June and July is when most announcements happen from Honda, and Honda rarely "announces" carryover years. Just new models and refreshes.

If the CTR carries over unchanged, you'll likely just see it in regularly released sales brochures and on the Honda website with little to no announcement in September or October. If it gets a facelift (extremely unlikely) we will probably hear about it June or July. Otherwise, if there is a new model- probably wont see anything until MY2027 or later.

I still strongly hold there wont be a 2026. The Next CTR we see will likely be an uptuned 2 liter NA hybrid- or a downtuned 2 liter turbo hybrid. Right now all we have is speculation, but all the signs point towards this being the likely scenario.

Mild hybrid is another option, with only an electric alternator and tiny battery to run accessories. You see this on 2024+ Mercedes and I'm sure other cars.

I'm sure Honda is testing a real hybrid Type R but if it adds too much weight or dulls the character of the car, they might go with a mild hybrid. It probably depends on various regulations in US, EU, Japan.

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[blueroadster]

Mild hybrid is another option, with only an electric alternator and tiny battery to run accessories. You see this on 2024+ Mercedes and I'm sure other cars.

I'm sure Honda is testing a real hybrid Type R but if it adds too much weight or dulls the character of the car, they might go with a mild hybrid. It probably depends on various regulations in US, EU, Japan.

Team up with Mazda to use the rotary power plant in a hybrid configuration and focus on a 50/50 weight distribution.. Rotary is very efficient although not necessarily emissions friendly. Combination is not likely to happen though.

 

[optronix]

Team up with Mazda to use the rotary power plant in a hybrid configuration and focus on a 50/50 weight distribution.. Rotary is very efficient although not necessarily emissions friendly. Combination is not likely to happen though.

While we're speculating...

WTF even is this thread...

 

[JCZ5]

Honestly, I don't understand why a mild-hybrid that does torque fill (aka eliminate turbo-lag) would be a bad thing. You get that NA response and yet not going fully hybrid / electrification.

 

[Cueyo]

Honestly, I don't understand why a mild-hybrid that does torque fill (aka eliminate turbo-lag) would be a bad thing. You get that NA response and yet not going fully hybrid / electrification.

For me, the problem isn't that it fixes driving issues, it's that it removes the driver from the car more. Adding a hybrid system means there's now a level of abstraction between the driver and the car, not only will you likely lose the manual transmission because of it (probably replaced by a transmission that attempts to mimic one), but you also have more systems in place to keep those motors and that engine from being driven in more aggressive ways (for better or for worse).

The Prelude Honda is releasing will likely be the litmus test for whether the hybrid sports car is worth their time.

 

[spectre186]

Mild hybrid on the B58 is fantastic. I wouldn’t mind that sort of system moving forward.

 

[JCZ5]

For me, the problem isn't that it fixes driving issues, it's that it removes the driver from the car more. Adding a hybrid system means there's now a level of abstraction between the driver and the car, not only will you likely lose the manual transmission because of it (probably replaced by a transmission that attempts to mimic one), but you also have more systems in place to keep those motors and that engine from being driven in more aggressive ways (for better or for worse).

The Prelude Honda is releasing will likely be the litmus test for whether the hybrid sports car is worth their time.

Ah interesting, I didn't know you can't combine a MT with a mild hybrid system. I was thinking more of the new 992.2 GTS, but I guess it does not have a manual and the manual is only available on the turbo engine version of the T.

...If that is the case, glad I just got FL5

 

[AspecR]

Mild hybrid is another option, with only an electric alternator and tiny battery to run accessories. You see this on 2024+ Mercedes and I'm sure other cars.

I'm sure Honda is testing a real hybrid Type R but if it adds too much weight or dulls the character of the car, they might go with a mild hybrid. It probably depends on various regulations in US, EU, Japan.

Ah interesting, I didn't know you can't combine a MT with a mild hybrid system. I was thinking more of the new 992.2 GTS, but I guess it does not have a manual and the manual is only available on the turbo engine version of the T.

...If that is the case, glad I just got FL5

You can marry a mild hybrid system with a manual transmission(look up Vonnen Shadow drive for Porsche) but from the little research I've done, you can extract more benefits from it when mated to an automatic transmission. They make a better use case when attached to an automatic transmission so manufacturers focus on that, especially since the market for manual transmission sports cars probably isn't big enough to justify the cost of federalization, not for affordable cars at least.

 

[optronix]

Ah interesting, I didn't know you can't combine a MT with a mild hybrid system. I was thinking more of the new 992.2 GTS, but I guess it does not have a manual and the manual is only available on the turbo engine version of the T.

...If that is the case, glad I just got FL5

Yeah for the 992.2 GTS the electric motor is IN the transmission.

AND the turbo, for that matter... pretty cool but yes, doesn't leave room for a manual.

Which is why I'd buy the 992.2 T.

Or Emira...

 

[someguy115]

Honestly, I don't understand why a mild-hybrid that does torque fill (aka eliminate turbo-lag) would be a bad thing. You get that NA response and yet not going fully hybrid / electrification.

A few things-

1: It makes tuning... awful. All the hybrid systems out there have electric motor control separate of torque curves and such, and (so far) there is no way to tune it. Its pretty much based off of throttle amount at various speeds. The further you mod from stock, the more "out of whack" the hybrid system behaves, and you end up with really unpredictable performance in lower RPMs. This means off the shelf tunes are going to be even more wacky. an OTS tune on a stock car might be fine, but with an intake could be *too* punchy and result in odd behavior like understeer.

2: It definitely doesn't "feel NA". Having driven a few hybrid performance vehicle- you can tell. Now, for performance that doesn't really matter, but if you want a good driver feel or experience, it just feel unsatisfying. Just like going back to the manual vs automatic dilemma. Automatics may be faster almost universally across the board, but most enthusiasts prefer manuals- either with a stick or DCT. Even mild hybrid systems will still add a few 100 lbs. Not a huge deal, but it can be noticeable.

Is it end of the world? No. But the world of performance cars is changing, and there will continue to be more and more compromises as time goes on.

 

[VarmintCong]

Honestly, I don't understand why a mild-hybrid that does torque fill (aka eliminate turbo-lag) would be a bad thing. You get that NA response and yet not going fully hybrid / electrification.

Adds weight, cost and complexity - the last things we want on a Type R. On a 5000 lb BMW sports-limo, sure.

 

[VarmintCong]

The Prelude Honda is releasing will likely be the litmus test for whether the hybrid sports car is worth their time.

It's that just a 2-door Civic hybrid, maybe with some sporty software?

 

[optronix]

It's that just a 2-door Civic hybrid, maybe with some sporty software?

Yeah, I think the Prelude falls far more towards the "sporty car" end of the scale than the "sports car". It doesn't appear to be something an enthusiast would be excited about.

 

[WindJunkie]

Or Emira...

This is the way

 

[AZCWTypeR]

Original Insight's and Civic hybrids were available with manual transmissions.

The problem for automakers is they can't easily program drivers of manuals (per close relative in the auto industry), so it is harder to meet EPA targets. On hybrid eCVT cars, there's a lot of pre-programmed computing between your right foot and actual acceleration.

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