Turbocharging is not something Honda has often been associated with, but we noticed that its luxury division, Acura, had bolted a turbo to its latest concept car in Detroit so thought it was worth a closer look.

The Acura RDX Prototype displayed at the Detroit Show is crammed full of new engineering bits and pieces that are destined in some form or other for the European market. Under the bonnet lies a new 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine that naturally is fitted with Honda's renowned i-VTEC technology, but for the first time in its history, a turbocharger. In the RDX, this engine outputs 240bhp, and a massively impressive 260lb.ft if torque. Honda utilises a variable geometry turbo too, to ensure that there is little lag at low revs, but plenty of boost further up the engine speed range.

Inside, the sporty interior of the concept features steering wheel mounted paddles to swap cogs in the 5-speed sequential 'SportShift' automatic transmission. This is allied to Honda's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system we are soon to see in a forthcoming range-topping Honda saloon. The SH-AWD system works in a similar manner to that found in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, where torque is shuffled between front and rear axles as well as between the rear wheels depending on the driving conditions and grip.

If Honda has any sense, it will replace the competent, but dull CR-V with this sporty new body style. Other than that, we know there will be a Honda Civic Type-R concept at the Geneva Motor Show this year, and the 2.3-litre engine could endow it with performance to beat all the current rivals.

Shane O' Donoghue - 3 Feb 2006