Honda CR-Z Hybrid
Sponsored links:
Shifting to smaller and lighter-weight vehicles is about the quickest and easiest way to reduce the environmental impact of our cars. But compact cars have never been big sellers in the United States. Could Americans be seduced to downsize their vehicles with an attractive and sporty compact hybrid?
First unveiled two years ago at the Tokyo Motor Show, the sporty two-passenger Honda CR-Z Hybrid is back again in Tokyo in 2009. This time, Honda is closer to a production model—about “95 percent” of the way according to company officials. Honda has committed to introducing a range of small hybrids, with both the CR-Z Hybrid and Honda Fit Hybrid due out in 2010. It’s too early for mileage or pricing info, but we expect mpg in the high-30s and a price tag in the low $20,000s.
The Honda CR-Z’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine is mated to Honda's proprietary Integrated Motor Assist technology and a six-speed manual gearbox. That would make the CR-Z the only hybrid on the market with a manual transmission.
Light, sporty and futuristic are the keywords. The design features an oversized front grille with small openings on each side of the front panel. The CR-Z clearly borrows its overall shape from the Honda CRX sports car, a version of the Civic that was produced from 1984 to 1991. The CRX used a small and light profile to translate directly into sporty and speedy. “CR-Z” stands for “Compact Renaissance Zero,” which is meant to signify the company’s desire to give birth to a new era for compact highly efficient vehicles.
-
n/a MPG n/a L/100km
-
BODY TYPE:
Coupe
-
TECHNOLOGY:
Hybrid
-
BASE MSRP:
n/a
Honda CR-Z Hybrid Photos
Well it does look nice but I am not sure about the overall idea. I would love to buy a two seater for the commute to the office but I just can not consider purchasing a 3rd car for commuting that gets 39 MPG. Now if it could get 60+...
I love it. There's nothing affordable for the green-minded enthusiast out there, and this is a step in the right direction - especially with the manual transmission! Let's hope they actually build it.
Honda has a great idea, just the wrong price point. Low 20's? That's Prius territory, not to mention the Prius gets better gas milage, more room, and more power and storage. Not really seeing an advantage here unless they can get the pricepoint to around $15k.
I'm not sure that the CR-Z will be less powerfull that a Pruis...and the big point with that car compare to the Prius, is that's is gonna be fun to drive and sporty!! Its also a better looking car
39 miles per gallon doesn't seem real impressive. A guy I work with gets a real-world 40 mpg in his Jetta TDI which, as he explains it, produces fewer harmful emissions than a Prius (again, his claim, not mine). Why couldn't this be hooked up to a hybrid system to get even better efficiency?
And to get a little off-topic, I have a question about MPG ratings. I know the the EPA recently revised their methodology for figuring the MPG of a vehicle but I was reading an article on treehugger about how in the late '70s and '80s, there were so many compacts that got MPG ratings between 30 and 50 MPG. So how is it that we're still at that level some thirty years later?
Of course the answer is going to be a combination of several factors, but I would love to understand them a bit more. Is the discrepancy mostly due to better estimation of actual fuel consumption (and if so is there a way to figure out what they old numbers should have been)? The switch to unleaded fuel? Is it the added weight of required safety features? Emissions features?
It's a $20k sports car not a $20k sedan. How many roadsters start of at $20k or get 39 mpg. I'm guessing very few.
With that said, it had better have some serious zip in it or it's pointless.
I also want to mention that Honda said the Insight would start at $17.5k and it's actually starting at $19.8k. So when they say the CRZ will start at $20k, I think we all ought to expect somethin around $25k.
My buddy had a 70 something Datsun B210. He got 51 MPG on the highway. I would say the added weight of all the stuff required now along with the weight af expected accessories.
Ditto that J Bob.
I'm not sure how much of a marketshare they'd get with this car at that price point. They're competing against the Prius and the Insight at that point.
Also, I'd hope they'd have an automatic as an option. This car would be perfect for me. But for a hybrid that only gets in the high 30's (when the Prius/Fusion gets in the low 50's) it may end up losing my business to that or another hybrid (especially since I'd prefer a domestic-made vehicle).
Wow I can't believe every new hybrid doesn't get the same mileage as a Prius or a 20 year old car with no modern safety features (i.e. death trap). Seriously folks, realize that if it were so easy to make a safe hybrid that gets 60 MPGs, it would have been done already. And with 5(!) trim levels on the ugly Prius why should any other maker even bother???
I do expect this car to have some serious zip to it. A manual + electric motor should be a lot of fun. If it were permanently stuck in CVT eco mode it would probably post mileage in the 40's. Booring...
I can't believe someone hasn't accused Honda of copying the Prius, when in fact they are borrowing cues from their own CRX, much the same way the Prius copied the original Honda Insight. Ouch!
Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A hybrid with a manual transmission!!! Boy I'd be tempted to buy it!!! Way to go Honda! Yeah, I know, the original Insight and Civic hybrids had manual transmissions, but they're gone now... and not nearly as slick-looking as this CR-Z.
Hey great a small two seat car that gets worse gas mileage than my 4 door civic. Why is it that no one seems to understand tha what people want is a small, inexpensive car for commuting with HIGH gas mileage. Is that too much to ask? Give me a small 2 seater for $15,000 and get 60+mpg and I will buy, until then, keep your cars Honda. Honda has now missed the boat with 3 new models, the Insight, the hybrid fit, and the hybrid CR-V, but hey keep trying.
@Tony
The Prius comes with a 1.8 liter engine, giving it 25% more displacement than the CR-Z. Combined its pushing 98hp.
The new CR-Z has 1.5 liter engine. If they compensate with a more powerful electric motor, then you might have an argument. But since they fail to mention that spec, guess we'll have to wait. Since it'll be getting 10mpg less than a Prius, that might be the case, sacrifice range for a more zippy drive.
At $25k however, that car is still overpriced to be a real competitor. I'd get a Jetta TDI with the same gas milage, more space, a 'sporty' appearance, and more power.
well im a good ol fashioned redneckish texan dude and i think that the goood ol 6mile a gallon huge jacked up freakin monster truck wheeled chevy blazer is way better and manlier than a hybrid
well im a good ol fashioned redneckish texan dude and i think that the goood ol 6mile a gallon huge jacked up freakin monster truck wheeled chevy blazer is way better and manlier than a hybrid
FINALLY, something resembling a sports car that is also a hybrid! And you're telling me that someone with an income of less than $200K can buy it? Where do I sign up?!
I've been waiting for a hybrid sports car for YEARS. Even time a company gives us a whiff of a sports hybrid concept model I get excited. It may be surprising, but those of us without children loathe 4-doors. I only started considering getting a Prius after none of the concepts went anywhere.
Alas, now I live in SF and recently sold my car. No matter how bad I want a sporty hybrid, there is just no use for it for me with the public transit here :(
I think that this is a very awesome car. As a young buyer it appeals to me and it isn't all about the gas mileage its about how it is greener for the earth. I'd buy it. but I do agree it should be cheaper.
Honda's proposed CR-Z may help expand the market for fuel-efficient cars -- a good thing for everyone.
For those wondering why current economy cars can't beat older Hondas and Datsuns:
Our office gets two car magazines, which sometimes have articles for those planning to buy fuel-efficient cars. In mid-2009, Car and Driver compared an older Chevy Metro to the new Prius and Insight. As I recall, they concluded the Metro did get respectable mileage, but everything else about the car (ride, driveability, noise, interior quality, etc.) was markedly inferior.
July's Automobile compared an old 1985 Honda CRX with the 2010 Insight, and observed the CRX was considerably more fun to drive and got even better mileage, but the CRX lacked a rear seat and weighed over 1000 pounds less (the CRX weighed about 60% as much as the Insight).
A passenger car like the CRX would probably never pass today's crash testing standards, unless it was made of expensive material, and the older cars couldn't match the interior appointments of today's models. The Insight's extra structural weight may help explain why the newer model cars don't get better mileage than the older models.
Phillip U, just go to www.fueleconomy.gov. There is a good chance that both the old and the new EPA mileage ratings will be there.
I think that for that size of a car I would prefer a Mini Cooper, which costs $18,800 the base model with a manual, they get up to 37 MPG (according to fueleconomy.gov), have a nice sporty look and they do not need and additional motor or bateries that in the long run will cost a lot to replace.
I like the car, but I don't understand why it cannot reach at least 50 mpg. I have a Pontiac Vibe and it gets 33 MPG on the highway with more space and is taller than the CR-Z so buy a new car just to get an additional 6 miles per gallon does not sound like a good deal. I agree with J-BOB on the Jetta TDI comment.
I'm guessing that this is similar to the Accord Hybrid. Primarily running on gas first with a manual transmission and then use the electric engine to give it a boost. The mileage sounds about the same too.
It's not all about mileage for me. I have been driving a minivan for the past 13 years, and now the kids are grown and in college, I want to drive something "fun". I am cross-shopping the CRZ against the Miata and Mini, not the Prius and Insight. If I want a back seat, I would not even consider the CRZ. With that being said, I cannot wait for Honda to bring this car to market. If a fully loaded CRZ is priced in the mid-20's, I will purchase one and retire the ever-faithful minivan to weekend shopping trips and family vacations.
I like the idea of a fun to drive hybrid .The looks of this sport hybrid are just terrific . I just hope it comes with a twin clutch auto option, SoCal traffic and a manual trannys just don't do it for me anymore.
I'll just settle for a 1991 CRX HF it gets almost 20 more mpg
I'm really looking forward to this car. About time an automaker produced a manual transmission hybrid sports coupe. But Honda won't have an easy time selling it if it enters near $25k.
Post a new comment