Possible Bolt-Ons for Hybrid?

[StrategyFreak]

One of my friends owns a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid. Actually, its not his but his parents let him drive it most of the time because he needs to get to work and stuff. But he doesn't like how slow it goes and he always hates how it just has so little power. He's hoping to do some upgrades to maybe give it some more power, espcially just for daily driving and maybe a little racing on the track.

He knows that there aren't any turbo kits out or other major upgrades available right now for the hybrid, but are there any minor bolt ons that he could use to help boost his power?

btw, this "friend" is not me trying to avoid humiliation when posting about upgrading a civic hybrid. I actually have a 2006 Honda Civic LX that I'm thinking about trading in for a better car around 20 to 25 grand. One of the possible options is the Si, although I'm also thinking about the Mazdaspeed 3 or maybe even an WRX but I don't want to pay insurance.

[vtecmike1]

the gasoline engines of hybrids are a supplement to there electric powerplant. thats why the power is low. thats all they are is a supplement to aid the electic motor when it can't keep up with the demand. i doubt theres much if anything to be gained on it.

on a side note a prius in my town tries to race me everytime he sees me lol. its funny.

[DTNguyen107]

Originally Posted by StrategyFreak

maybe a little racing on the track.

A hybrid on a race track?

Ah that made my day.

[vtecmike1]

don't laugh to much. the hybrid lexus gs430 is faster then the standard v8.

[jameslewis178]

look up the blitz pruis and you will change your mind about slow hybrids. it puts out something like 300hp between both the engines because when they doubled the hp of the gas engine it also doubled the hp of the electric engine and the tq is crazy. he can also make it look like a jdm type r if hes into that and get a shit load better gas mileage.

[NYDR27]

Originally Posted by vtecmike1

the gasoline engines of hybrids are a supplement to there electric powerplant. thats why the power is low. thats all they are is a supplement to aid the electic motor when it can't keep up with the demand. i doubt theres much if anything to be gained on it.

on a side note a prius in my town tries to race me everytime he sees me lol. its funny.

Actually, it's the electric motor that supplements the gas engine. The Hybrid's gas engine is supposed to produce something like 103hp for a whopping total of about 110hp. It's sufficient enough for everyday driving. I've never had any trouble joining the freeway or passing someone anyways. But in my opinion, I think the hybrid's CVT transmission makes it feel a little sluggish because you don't have the jolt you get from manual cars or automatics when you switch gears. But that's the way it was designed, smooth.

[I Vtec, do you?]

This thread is terrible. It's not even his car, why would he be putting bolt-ons to his parents car?

Needless to say, it'd take a LOT of work to get a hybrid on the track. He should prolly invest in his own cheaper car, most anything would probably be quicker/ride better.

[GoHuskies]

Originally Posted by vtecmike1

the gasoline engines of hybrids are a supplement to there electric powerplant. thats why the power is low. thats all they are is a supplement to aid the electic motor when it can't keep up with the demand. i doubt theres much if anything to be gained on it.

on a side note a prius in my town tries to race me everytime he sees me lol. its funny.

Switch that.

The electric motor supplements the gas engine. The motor does not have the capacity to start the car moving from a stop, the engine is always running while driving, it just cuts off the fuel at certain times.

Edit: Already beaten the above lol. But seriously why doesn't "your friend" just use his savings to combine with his resale value and buy the CRZ in a year. It might be a better hybrid for him, if you, I mean he can convince his parents to buy it.

[therra978]

n20...

[Pdivizzle0112]

lexus hybrids arent built for fuel economy.

I work for lexus.

and yes, a gs hybrid will smoke us,
An rx400 h will run us hard

And an ls600 will smoke us too and they weigh about 5500lbs

[msjwild3]

Upgrading power on a Hybrid? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the hybrid? It has no power so it can get good milage.

[Asif22]

Get an pollen charger

[twinsnails]

Originally Posted by DTNguyen107

A hybrid on a race track?

Ah that made my day.

Apparently one member did it...I recall the post b/c it was back when I was researching suspension upgrades (see post no. 5 in the link below).

Hybrid Suspension Upgrade from Si

Besides, isn't the consensus that it's more fun to go as fast as you can in a slow car than go slow in a fast car

[Litlelev]

this is such a dumb thread. It's not even the OPs car, it's his friends parents' car. If he can't afford a car, why would he buy stuff for it, especially cause it's his parents hybrid.

and to answer the question, NO, he can't buy bolt ons that will add any real power.

[twinsnails]

Since I'm actually supposed to "work" tonight, I just did a search and guess what??? Apparently there was a Hybrid race car in a 24 Hour race at the Nurburgring track last year!

Civic Hybrid completes 24-hour race | Car Tech: An automotive blog from CNET

So, instead of bolt-ons, may be go the weight-savings route and tell your friend to remove the seats, liners, AC, radio, carpets, replace windows/windshield, etc., and if he's heavy...hit the treadmill


EDIT: Here's a link to a better pic of the hybrid race car.
Image

[david3558]

With tighter emissions regulations, in the coming years all the "sports cars" we'll be seeing will most likely be hybrids.

[msjwild3]

Originally Posted by david3558

With tighter emissions regulations, in the coming years all the "sports cars" we'll be seeing will most likely be hybrids.

Ya like the new corvette ZR1 will be the most powerful one well ever see again because of emissions. The very firt one sold for 1.5 million.

[Robert J]

Originally Posted by twinsnails

Apparently one member did it...I recall the post b/c it was back when I was researching suspension upgrades (see post no. 5 in the link below).

Hybrid Suspension Upgrade from Si

Besides, isn't the consensus that it's more fun to go as fast as you can in a slow car than go slow in a fast car

My HCH is a screaming go-cart in the 80plus testing laps that I have done on the Road Coarse at Portland International Raceway. Sure, my Champ Car friends are turning laps under a minute, but my times in the 1:40's would be respectable in most club racing events. The SCCA corner workers cheer me on, and love how the car sounds (and doesn't sound) as I drive all out - they way things like "man, you drive the wheels off that thing" and I've had Ferrari's and Vets's that cant keep up in the corners. It's tough to get over 90 on the front and back straight, but your smooth exits from the corners will give you a lot of momentum to help with that problem, and give you a running start against the higher horsepower cars.

I keep video, as well as telemetry of my track times.

I hold the track record for the best hybrid time, and for the worst hybrid fuel milage at 11 mpg. (Although no one has been brave enough to challange me yet)

Soon you will see hybrid tech in F-!, as well as most other venues of racing. Don't forget that it's not how fast you go, it's how quickly you get there. No one laughs at me after they see me on the track .............

If given the choice between driving the street in an Si with my radio blasting so loud I cant hear myself think, and occaisionally making some noise at the green light -- or straping in and putting the pedal to the floor for 160 miles of no stop driving on the edge, and pushing my car to the edge of it's technical abiltiy....... Guess what I'll choose. ....... but I'll be way to cool to laugh at those guys when I drive by and see them sitting there at the red light with your stereo going "boom" "boom".

Attached is a photo of my other car- a Penske PC21. I agree that it's more fun for me to go really fast in my HCH though, as this Penske is only the best drivers in the world can drive this Penske to it's edge.

[KraziAzn]

Its a hybrid civic...


IMO its a joke upgrading a hybrid civic...

just be happy with ur 999999999miles per gallon lol

[CanyonDriver]

Anyone seen Toyota's concept hybrid prototype? 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Its going to be a pricey car if it ever makes it past prototype.