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2026 Honda CR-V e:HEV (Japan Spec): The Home-Market Comeback Nobody Expected

When Honda pulled the wraps off the sixth-generation CR-V back in 2022, one question lingered louder than most: Where was Japan’s version? For reasons Honda never fully explained, the brand’s best-selling global SUV skipped its home market entirely—until now. The Japan Mobility Show finally marked the long-overdue return of the domestic CR-V, offered exclusively as a hybrid and trimmed down to a laser-focused two-variant lineup.

And in typical Honda fashion, the wait wasn’t for nothing.

A CR-V Focused for Japan

While markets like the U.S. get a sprawling menu of trims—from base LX all the way to the rugged TrailSport—the Japanese lineup is intentionally simple. Buyers have just two choices:

  • CR-V e:HEV RS
  • CR-V e:HEV RS Black Edition

Honda says the streamlined approach is meant to reduce confusion and create clear value distinctions. And honestly, it works.

Meet the Black Edition: Stealth Mode Activated

Sitting at the top of the hierarchy, the Black Edition takes the CR-V’s clean design and gives it an extra layer of attitude. Crystal Black accents wrap the lower bodywork, the 19-inch wheels wear a darker finish with noise-reduction tech, and the cabin takes on a more premium, shadowy vibe with a black headliner and Piano Black trim.

Other exclusives include:

  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Ventilated seats
  • Head-up display
  • Honda Sensing 360 (an upgraded safety suite with wider radar/camera coverage and enhanced highway assists)

AWD is standard here too, because a flagship should come fully loaded.

Standard RS: Still Well Equipped

Even the entry RS trim comes with a generous kit list that would make some competitors blush:

  • 9-inch infotainment system
  • 10.2-inch digital cluster
  • 12-speaker Bose audio
  • Wireless charging
  • Hands-free tailgate
  • Heated seats
  • Honda Sensing ADAS

Buyers can pick between FWD and AWD, making it the more flexible option.

The Powertrain: Hybrid Only, and Proud of It

Japan’s CR-V goes all-in on Honda’s e:HEV technology. Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with two electric motors and an e-CVT. Honda hasn’t released full domestic figures yet, but the same setup makes 181 hp in European models.

More importantly, the system behaves like a series hybrid most of the time—in other words, the electric motors do the heavy lifting, and the gas engine often acts as a generator. It’s smooth, quiet, and efficiency-minded, which fits the Japanese market perfectly.

Accessory Packs: Tough or Urban, Take Your Pick

Honda knows customization sells, so both trims can be dressed up through two factory packages:

Tough Premium (Black Edition only)

  • Luna Silver bumper insert
  • Rugged side skirts
  • Crystal Black roof spoiler
  • Blacked-out badges

Urban Premium (RS version)

  • Similar components, but finished to blend with the RS’s lighter cladding
  • Designed for a more understated, city-focused look

Honda Genuine Accessories will expand further with items like wind deflectors and extra exterior accents.

Pricing and Availability

Order books in Japan open December 12, with first deliveries scheduled for February 2026.

  • CR-V e:HEV RS — ¥5,122,700 (≈ $33,100)
  • CR-V e:HEV RS Black Edition (AWD) — ¥5,779,400 (≈ $37,400)

And sitting in a different league entirely is the CR-V e:FCEV, Honda’s hydrogen fuel-cell plug-in hybrid variant. It’s already available in limited numbers starting at ¥8,094,900 (≈ $52,300).

Where It Fits in Honda’s Japan SUV Lineup

Now that the CR-V is officially back, it joins the WR-V, Vezel, and ZR-V to round out Honda’s domestic SUV family. The gap it left is finally filled—and with the Black Edition leading the charge, Honda seems eager to remind Japan that the CR-V is still the brand’s global backbone.

Source: Honda

News

Pininfarina and JAS Revive a Legend: The Honda NSX Reborn as the Tensei

In a world where the restomod scene has become a playground for dreamers with deep pockets and deeper nostalgia, it was only a matter of time before someone turned their attention to one of Japan’s greatest hits. Enter Tensei, a meticulously reimagined first-gen Honda NSX brought back to life by two giants of the automotive world: Pininfarina and JAS Motorsport.

The original NSX—Honda’s aluminum, mid-engine two-seater that stunned the world at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show—has long been considered untouchable. With development input from Ayrton Senna and engineering precision that challenged Ferrari at its own game, the first NSX earned its place among Japan’s all-time greats. Its successor never enjoyed the same mythos, making the original the obvious canvas for a modern resurrection.

A Faithful Form, Modern Materials

Pininfarina’s approach to the Tensei is refreshingly respectful. Rather than reinvent the NSX’s silhouette, the Italian studio chose to celebrate it. The restomod keeps the essential cues that made the original iconic: the canopy-style roofline inspired by the F-16 fighter jet, the distinctive glass curvature, and the low, purposeful stance.

But nostalgia only goes so far. Every exterior panel has been re-created in carbon fiber, wrapped tightly over the original aluminum chassis. The changes in shape are subtle—blink and you might miss them—but they’re purposeful, sharpening the car’s surfaces without erasing its heritage. Modern LED lighting replaces the original pop-ups, while ultra-light wheels with center-lock nuts sit over a beefed-up braking system that looks ready for track duty.

As for the interior? Pininfarina is keeping that part of the story out of the spotlight for now. No cabin photos have been released, which suggests something special is brewing behind those doors.

A Reborn V6 With Racing DNA

If you were worried the Tensei would trade mechanical soul for batteries and silence, relax. JAS Motorsport—Honda’s longtime racing partner—has confirmed that the car will stick with the NSX’s original naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V6. But calling it “original” is almost misleading.

The engine has reportedly undergone a full, motorsport-grade rework, promising sharper throttle response, more power, and stronger torque. No numbers yet, but the upgrades aim to enrich the car’s character rather than inflate the spec sheet. Best of all, the Tensei comes exclusively with a six-speed manual, sending power straight to the rear wheels—just like the NSX should.

Built for the Few, Priced for the Elite

How many Tensei units will be built? No one’s talking. But insiders expect the run to be extremely limited, with pricing likely approaching the stratosphere occupied by another restomod superstar: Singer’s reimagined Porsche 911s. If that proves true, the Tensei won’t just be a collector’s car—it’ll be a collector’s badge of honor.

The Tensei appears to be exactly what a restomod NSX should be: faithful, focused, and obsessively crafted. Pininfarina brings elegance; JAS brings racing pedigree; the NSX brings its own legend. If the final product lives up to the names behind it, the Tensei could become one of the most desirable Japanese restomods ever built.

And for those lucky enough to get one next year? They won’t just be buying a car. They’ll be buying the rebirth of a masterpiece.

Source: JAS Motorsport

News

Honda Stays in the Black Despite Industry Squeeze, Sets New Electrified Sales Record

American Honda wrapped November with 102,824 units sold, a double-digit monthly drop but still enough to keep the company 1.8% ahead year-to-date—a respectable feat in a market still hamstrung by semiconductor shortages and supply-chain snags. What’s keeping Honda’s momentum alive? A balanced product mix, big gains from fresh sheetmetal, and an electrified lineup that just notched a new annual sales record.

Honda: Trucks Pull the Weight, Hybrids Surge

The Honda brand delivered 91,582 vehicles in November and continues to run 1.8% ahead YTD. Light trucks remain the backbone of the lineup, crossing 60,000 monthly sales for the 10th consecutive month.

Passport Breaks Records

The all-new Honda Passport was the standout, logging its best November ever at 4,363 units, a massive 73% jump YTD. Honda’s midsize SUV continues to carve out its niche between the compact CR-V and full-size Pilot.

CR-V Continues to Dominate

Unsurprisingly, the CR-V led the brand—and the company—yet again with 29,421 units sold. More than half (54%) of those were hybrids, underscoring Honda’s accelerated shift toward electric-assisted drivetrains.

Other Notables

  • HR-V: 10,821 units, strong volume for Honda’s entry-level crossover.
  • Pilot: 9,234 units, continuing to rebound with the latest redesign.
  • Ridgeline: 3,352 units, up YTD as Honda’s unconventional pickup finds its audience.
  • Odyssey: 5,492 units, showing year-to-date growth in a shrinking minivan segment.

Passenger Cars Hold Steady

Honda cars nearly hit the 28,000-unit mark.

  • Civic: 17,353 units in November, with the Civic Hybrid setting a new November record at 6,426 units, accounting for 37% of the mix.
  • Accord: 10,613 units, with hybrids making up 47%.

Electrified Honda Models Smash Annual Record

Honda’s hybrid and electrified portfolio delivered 28,258 units in November, pushing the brand to a record 385,453 electrified sales YTD. That’s 30.9% of all Honda sales, and a clear indicator of where product planning—and consumer demand—are headed.

Acura: Momentum Led by Integra and the New ADX

Acura sold 11,242 vehicles in November, a marginal dip for the month but still 1.9% ahead YTD, with over 121,000 units sold so far in 2025.

Gateway Models Power the Brand

The entry duo—the sporty Integra and the newly launched ADX—hit their best combined performance yet with 4,781 units in November.

  • The ADX, Acura’s latest compact luxury crossover, posted a new monthly record at 2,837 units and already holds a segment-leading 30% share only months after launch.
  • The Integra recorded 1,944 units, its best since April, maintaining its own 37% segment share.

SUVs Back on the Rise

Acura’s SUVs totaled 8,659 units, up 6.5% YTD.

  • MDX + RDX: A combined 5,800 units, their strongest month since May.

The Bottom Line: Honda’s Strategy Is Working

Despite a rough November—cars down 5.6%, trucks down 18.8% year over year—American Honda’s broader story is one of stability and strategic success:

  • Light trucks continue to be the sales engine.
  • Hybrids are surging across both Honda and Acura.
  • New models like Passport and ADX are outperforming expectations.
  • Electrified vehicles are now central, not supplemental, to Honda’s sales mix.

The semiconductor bottleneck may persist, but Honda’s disciplined product cadence—and a customer base eager for fuel-efficient and electrified options—has kept the automaker not just afloat, but positioned for a strong year-end close.

Source: Honda