Wednesday 30th September 2009

Official Pics: Honda CR-Z Hybrid Sports Car

World's first hybrid sports car set for Tokyo debut - and it's got a manual gearbox

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The first fun hybrid? Could be...

This is the Honda CR-Z concept, the first hybrid with seriously sporting pretensions.

Honda is set to unveil it at this year's Tokyo motor show in late October and, despite the 'concept' tag, Honda sources tell us that it's nine-tenths production ready and will be in UK showrooms by the summer of 2010.

So is the new CR-Z the first hybrid that you'll actually want to drive? Honda certainly hopes so. With lines that echo the classic CR-X of the 1980s, and a look that's changed impressively little from the design study that Honda wheeled out at Tokyo back in 2007, the CR-Z certainly ticks the correct visual boxes, but it's what's under the skin that will prove crucial.

CR-Z gets modified Insight platform

Fortunately, the CR-Z continues to tick away at all the right boxes. The powertrain is related to the IMA hybrid system in the insight, but the breathless 87bhp 1.3-litre is likely to be ditched in favour of a 1.5-litre unit from the Japanese-market Honda Jazz. That unit gives between 110bhp and 120bhp, so expect a power output of close to 140bhp once the electric motor has its say.

The best news of all is that the CR-Z will also be the world's first hybrid with a conventional manual gearbox, the six-speed unit being chosen in favour of the more usual CVT transmission.

The 2007 Tokyo show car

The batteries are rumoured to be nickel-metal hydride rather than more modern Lithium-ion items.

When it goes on sale next year, the diminutive front-drive coupe (it's said to be 115mm shorter than an insight, whose platform it uses) will be pitched to compete with the lower end of the VW Scirocco range and the Volvo C30, so expect a price tag of £17k-£19k

[JohnQPublic]

Actually, that isn't the first Honda Hybrid with a clutch manual multispeed transmission.

A clutch manual tranny was an option on the first-generation Honda Insight and Honda Civic Hybrid.

[Ali_T]

I see Honda still doesn't think people ever need to reverse into parking spaces....

[appletonn]

Really like that, strangely enough. As long as it is light enough, it should be nice and nippy to drive too.

Agree that reversing sensors will be an absolute necessity though!

[TheRoadWarrior]

Wooo 140 horse + heavy electric motor and batteries... I predict its not going to be spine-tingling

[Leicesterdave]

Looks decent for a change.

[JumpinJack]

Looks ok, but reminds me of a prius... so doesn't really float my boat!

[ceriw]

appletonn said:

Really like that, strangely enough. As long as it is light enough, it should be nice and nippy to drive too.

Agree that reversing sensors will be an absolute necessity though!

reversing cameras......

[kambites]

Looks quite nice. Not sure that 140bhp in a car which will probably weigh over 1400kg is particularly "sporting", though.

[kambites]

appletonn said:

Agree that reversing sensors will be an absolute necessity though!

It doesn't look like it will have much worse rear visibility than my Elise, and I've never found parking that difficult. It's really not difficult to park entirely from the view in your wing mirrors.

[Insight]

What does it weigh? That's the most important issue.

[Domingo Bash III]

I'm not really a fan of Japanese cars, FWD cars, torque-less wonders or shopping trolleys.

But that looks fantastic!

[RobCrezz]

Gah, why not use the K20a+ a elec motor. Lame.

[KrazyIvan]

It at least shows Honda are trying to make hybrids with mass apeal rather then the aiming at the pompas(?) prius howner types, think i'll wait to see what the "others" offer in response before parting with golf GTI money, for somthng that will be slower then the entry golf diesel.

Edited by KrazyIvan on Wednesday 30th September 09:43

[DJC]

I think it is great.

The important issue though is what mpg are they expecting from it? Will the ride be better than in the Mk1 Insight, which humerously enough they actually gave a sporting interior and ride&handling to.

With regards to the wider context of "sporting", wtf are you expecting people? 250BHP, RS rivalling, Integra replacement? That would have to cost £30k and newsflash, that isnt going to get your ball rolling in the market place. You have to go lower as more ppl spend more money at the lower end of the scale. Its the most popular market for a reason. So it is a warm hatch and as warm hatches go it is fine. It will go nippy enough, it looks great, will be well built, come with toys and no doubt be fairly funky and stylish inside and out. That is 75% of the selling done. The next 20% is the fuel economy. That is also the bit Im interested in, if it does 60mpg at 80leptons on the M-way and 50mph around town then fantastic!

Im sure numbnuts will start whinging about "green" and "eco" soon to which I can only point out that the only thing every vehicle consumer in the world gives a crap about on the "green" front is "what will it cost me in terms of cold hard cash?" Be that tax band, emissions, road tax or mpg. Green/eco = cheap. It does not equal saving the world. Ergo, pretty much the main ethos of this car, why it is launched at the segment it is launched at is because Honda knows that the first question in every customers mind of this target will be "whats it going to cost me?". And this will cost less money to run than every single one of its rivals. THAT is the point of this car.

[lonefurrow]

You're absolutely correct, DJC. Looks good - reminds me of the CRX, incidentally the only front driver that the late Paul Frere owned in his later yrs (a good recommendation if ever there was).

[Teutonic_Matt]

Front end a bit Volvo C30ish?

[leon9191]

I think its looks like the off-spring of an unholy union between a Civic and a Volvo C30.

Its been said before but weight is the key, and why are they using the old gen batteries?

[DJC]

leon9191 said:

I think its looks like the off-spring of an unholy union between a Civic and a Volvo C30.

Its been said before but weight is the key, and why are they using the old gen batteries?

No, mpg is the key.

How hard is this to grasp?

Edited by DJC on Wednesday 30th September 10:54

[pSyCoSiS]

That is actually good looking for a 'sensible' car!

[little bill]

First?

What about the Lexus A3/1 series concept launched at Frankfurt

Edited by little bill on Wednesday 30th September 11:00