Honda CR-Z TS-1X : DigInfo

Honda CRZ Japans Car of the Year Award Winner, Memorial Edition

The Honda CR-Z got a lukewarm welcome in the international automotive media, or should I write confused welcome : cool and lame in equal proportions, nice to look at, entertaining on the inside, almost fun to drive… but not quite : it is not easy to give it thumbs up, or thumbs down.

The Japanese press, on the other hand, likes it much. So much that it gave it the coveted Japanese Car Of The Year 2010. That made Honda feel proud, and they decided to make a CR-Z “α Japanese Car Of The Year Memorial Award Edition” which is also a good way to put the CR-Z back in the news as the sales are slowing somewhat.

Besides winning the 7Tune award of the longest model name of the year, this CR-Z features a special “Pearl Deep Sapphire” color and special 16 inches alloys.

In the cockpit the changes are limited to a set of aluminum pedals… and the obligatory commemorative plate, as well as a uprated satnav with hands free calling, and that’s pretty much it.

1000 cars will be produced and sold between January and March of next year, available as a 6 speed manual or CVT transmission, at the hefty price of 2,794,000 yen. It might look a little steep for a slab of blue paint and a self-congratulating plate, but you also get the super-connected top of the range navigation system that a lot of customers put in anyway, so I guess Honda know what they are doing.

What was your Japanese car of the year ?

7tune – The Ultimate JDM Experience
Words – Pierre-Laurent RibaultSource and Photos – Honda

Source;

http://www.7tune.com/news-honda-cr-z-jcoty-memorial-edition/

Honda’s CR-Z hybrid named ‘Car of the Year’

Honda’s newest hybrid model, the CR-Z has been been voted Japan’s Car of the Year by a panel of the country’s top motoring journalists.

Priced from £16,999 in the UK, Honda took the award for its sporty coupe model which has been widely praised for showing a fun side to hybrids and matching performance with economy. The world’s first ‘sports hybrid coupe’ wins the 2010-11 award, having narrowly missed out last year to the Toyota Prius.

The model beat off competition from the BMW 5-Series, Jaguar XJ, Mazda Premacy, Suzuki Swift and Volkswagen Polo among others to claim the prize. Launched earlier this year, the CR-Z combines hybrid technology and stop-start function to achieve impressive fuel economy of 56.5 mpg on a combined cycle while producing just 117g/km of CO2.

Takanobu Ito, President of Honda commented: "We are very proud that the CR-Z has been selected from the strong contenders of new models as the Car of the Year Japan 2010-2011.

“This award shows that the public has accepted Honda’s aspiration to supply exceptional environmental performance in a fun-to-drive hybrid car at an affordable price, as well as Honda’s desire to spread the joy of owning and driving a car."

Source;
http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/11/11/hondas-cr-z-hybrid-named-car-of-the-year/

Honda Takes Over Times Square for First-Ever 3-D Launch of All- New 2011 CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe

09/23/2010 - NEW YORK
Honda held the first-ever takeover of Times Square in 3-D technology today to support the launch of the all-new CR-Z sport hybrid coupe. Spanning five blocks of Times Square, the event marked the first time 3-D footage was broadcast to the public space. As a part of the takeover, Honda ran 3-D CR-Z commercial footage on the Times Square HD Spectacolor screen (located on Broadway between 46th and 47th Street), displayed several CR-Z's and sponsored a special performance from chart-topping hip-hop trio, N.E.R.D. An estimated 250,000 people attended the CR-Z event in Times Square today.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-takes-over-times-square-for-first-ever-3-d-launch-of-all-new-2011-cr-z-sport-hybrid-coupe

AMS Terra Brings the Space Invader Theme to Honda's CR-Z Hybrid Coupe

This is AMS's take on the new Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe/hatch, and it's called the Terra. The CR-Z, which already looks nice as a cute little sporty hybrid, has been dropped on 19-inch RAYS Versus Torismo Rechente one-off rollers that have been finished in piano black and pearl white.

The front of the car gets a new front bumper - with or without a license plate holder- and some "eyeline garnish", while both front and rear fenders have been widened (15 mm and 70 mm, respectively). Also, the side sills get their WIDE on to the tune of 30 mm.

Up above, there's a roof lip and rear hatch spoiler. The rear of the car is where the magic really happens, though: the Terra gets an alien-inspired rear diffuser with twin center exhaust outlets for the sports muffler.

Although the performance of the car hardly requires such aggressive and excessive styling, it's nice to see people at least taking a stab at it.

Interested in taking your sporty hybrid to the next visual level? Expect a full painted kit (including exhaust bezels and the diffuser-mounted tail light) to run well north of $5,000.

By Phil Alex

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/09/ams-terra-brings-space-invader-theme-to.html

Honda CR-Z Hybrid Gets Youth-Oriented Promotion in Europe

Just the Facts:
Honda CR-Z marketing campaign launches in Europe.
The assault includes a 60-second TV spot and a "crowd-sourced documentary."
CR-Z hybrid is already on sale in Japan.

LONDON — The Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe, already out in Japan, is underlining its launch across Europe with a pair of youth-oriented marketing campaigns. The gasoline-electric hybrid with a six-speed manual gearbox is targeted at hybrid buyers who are looking for a sporty car, and Honda Motor Europe is marketing it across Europe as a fun-to-drive alternative.

The CR-Z's three-mode drive system is highlighted with a 60-second TV ad, called RGB, which shows each driving mode as a different color that changes the environment around the car. The system, with Normal, Sport and Econ modes, tailors steering and throttle response to the driver's needs

To underscore that Honda is looking for the youth market, the automaker will release its Live Every Litre "crowd-sourced documentary" across Europe to coincide with the CR-Z's launch. It will be shown in real and virtual premieres on July 21 at 8:00 p.m. London time.

The Europe-market CR-Z has a flexible two-plus-two seating arrangement.

In Japan, more than 10,000 people placed orders for the CR-Z in its first month on sale — which Honda says is 10-plus times more than the automaker's original monthly sales target.

Source;
http://www.insideline.com/honda/cr-z/honda-cr-z-hybrid-gets-youth-oriented-promotion-in-europe.html

Me too!: 2012 Hyundai Veloster expected to breach the 40 mpg barrier

I can't help but think that what Honda and Toyota took 50 years to achieve, Hyundai is trying to accomplish in a short amount of time, alot of this seems rushed, only time will tell. Their cars are sure looking nicer, I'll give them that, and only time will really tell if they are on the right track. Competition's healthy though.

Hyundai’s upcoming small sports coupe will pierce the 40 miles-per-gallon barrier, according to Hyundai Motor America president John Krafcik.


In an interview at Los Angeles, Krafcik told reporters that with this figure, its coupe will be able to beat the new 2011 Honda CR-Z, which, which despite having a hybrid powertrain, achieves only 36/39 city/highway when equipped with a CVT and 31/37 with a manual gearbox. The Hyundai coupe, which could be named either Veloster or Tiburon, will be able to achieve those figures with a conventional four-cylinder engine, avoiding the additional cost, complexity and weight of a gas-electric system. Krafcik gave assurances that this model will beat the Honda in fuel economy and will also perform better as well as provide added utility, including rear seats and better access. Krafcik explained that since its coupe isn’t powered by a highly expensive hybrid drivetrain, it’s likely to be priced lower. Krafcik told Autoblog that the coupe will appeal to the world’s younger generation and increasingly auto-ambivalent consumers with additional technology. All Velosters are fitted with a large screen on the dashboard as standard equipment to manage connectivity features aside from the more conventional vehicle functions.



Source;

http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2012-hyundai-veloster-expected-to-breach-the-40-mpg-barrier/

2011 CR-Z SI or electric versions not in Honda’s plans

Honda’s 2011 CR-Z model will start selling on August 24 in the US. Honda revealed that pricing is estimated to range from under $20,000. (US)

Honda also said that it isn’t planning to produce an Si variant or an electric version of the CR-Z and that a federal tax credit will not be offered with the sporty hybrid coupe. In response to an e-mail query, Honda spokesman Chuck Schifsky said that the CR-Z will not qualify for an alt-fuel federal tax credit because each company is limited to only 60,000 hybrids and Honda hit this number “a long time ago.”

Earlier this month, Honda confirmed during a press conference that a CR-Z Si will not be launched this summer. John Mendel, Honda’s US executive vice president of sales, was asked pointblank if there is a Si variant currently being developed. Mendel replied, “Nothing official.” With regards to the idea of an electric CR-Z, Mendel commented that he “[doesn’t] think” that there are plans to make a purely electric vehicle.

He also said that the success of the pure EV or BEV [battery-electric vehicle] will depend upon the application, charging times and range. Formal pricing information on the CR-Z has not been released yet but Honda executives have said that the CR-Z will be priced from under $20,000, including destination.

A fully equipped CR-Z EX with a navigation system will cost at under $24,000. Honda said that the pricing of the vehicle was kept low because it is equipped with a nickel-metal hydride battery rather than a lithium-ion battery.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2011-cr-z-si-or-electric-versions-not-in-hondas-plans/

First Look: Honda's CR-Z Hybrid Is a Blast to Drive. No Really

Hybrids are many things. Efficient, yes. Practical? Sure. Attractive? Hmm, well, maybe. Sporty? You're kidding, right? No one in their right mind would call hybrids sporty.

Until now.

Honda delivers much-needed excitement to eco-friendly driving with the CR-Z, an attractive, affordable hybrid that's a genuine hoot to drive. It isn't, contrary to the buzz, the second coming of the venerable CRX and you aren't going to see it tearing up any tracks, but the CR-Z is, dare we say it, sporty.

The thing is, the CR-Z doesn't feel like a hybrid. There's no lag when the 10-kilowatt electric motor hands off to the 1.5-liter engine. The responsive antilock brakes lack the mushiness found in other hybrids, and the continuously variable transmission is smooth.

There's a paddle-shifting slushbox available if you want to row through the gears, but the six-speed manual — a first in a hybrid — is the way to go. It's much more fun. Trust us on this.
We spent several hours exploring some of our favorite back roads north of San Francisco, and the CR-Z showed its athletic side with nimble handling and reasonably brisk acceleration. The chassis is tight, the suspension is firm and there's a hint of understeer. The car feels a bit heavy — the six-speed model weighs 2,630 pounds — but most of the bulk is down low, and the CR-Z is fairly easy to toss around.

You've got a choice of three driving modes to suit your style. Sport — where we spent most of our time — gooses the output of the electric motor, optimizes throttle response and gives the electric power-steering a tighter feel. Econ shifts the equation toward maximum fuel efficiency. Normal splits the difference.

The gasoline engine does most of the work regardless of the mode. The small (5.7 ampere-hour) nickel–metal hydride battery and 10-kilowatt electric motor are there to boost acceleration and ease the load on the engine when cruising. The gas-electric combo gives you 122 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque.

Set the car in normal mode and it'll get 35 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway (37 combined) with the automatic tranny. Chose the six-speed and you'll see 31 city, 37 highway, 34 combined. Yeah, you might expect a hybrid to do better, but the CR-Z skews ever so slightly toward performance end of the spectrum over efficiency. Still, Honda says it's among the top-five fuel misers in America (based on combined fuel economy figures of 2010 models).

Around town, the CR-Z trudged through an afternoon commute without complaint. The cabin is relatively spacious and nicely appointed. Our car had the optional seven-speaker, 360-watt audio system and the optional navi (with 6.5-inch screen). Both were easy to use and performed reasonably well.

The seats are supportive, and there's plenty of leg and headroom for all but the tallest people. You've got up to 25.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats, and a huge hatchback makes it easy to use it all.

When Honda unveiled the production version of the CR-Z at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, it all but called it CRX 2.0. It has toned down the comparisons, but the Z bears a strong resemblance to the X. It's wide and low, and at 160.5 inches long and 54.9 inches tall about the size of the Honda Fit. Honda claims it's more aerodynamic than the Toyota Prius.

The car is not without its flaws. The instrument cluster, though comprehensive and easy to read, is laughably futuristic. "Aluminum-style" interior trim always looks cheap. The shifter feels limp — a mortal sin in a car with sporting pretensions. And the rear quarter windows are useless, with blindspots about the size of an SUV.

But those are minor quibbles in a car that'll run less than $20,000 or so when it goes on sale Aug. 24. Choose all the options that came with our test model, and Honda says you'll pay less than $24,000. (Honda hasn't finalized pricing.)

As nice as the CR-Z is, those who truly enjoy driving will want a bit more power and handling prowess. Honda has "nothing official" to say about whether we'll see a sportier Si version, but the tuner crowd already is developing parts. If the CR-Z isn't the second coming of the CRX, it might soon be.

Until then, Honda has done something remarkable. It's made an affordable hybrid that's actually fun to drive, even sporty.

Source;
http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_honda_crz?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29

Report: There will be no 2011 Honda CR-Z Si or electric-version

During a press conference held earlier this month for the 2011 Honda CR-Z, the Japanese automaker confirmed that there will be no Si version or an electric-version of the company’s new sporty hybrid hatch.

When asked whether Honda would be interested in doing a high-performance version of the CR-Z with an Si badge on it, Honda’s U.S. executive vice president of sales, John Mendel, said that there is “nothing official.” As for as an electric-version or electric-car segment as a whole Mendel said “I don’t think that there’s plans to make this vehicle a pure electric. I wouldn’t say that we believe that the pure EV or BEV will flop in the U.S. It depends upon the application. If you talk about longer charging times and limited range, it speaks to a different usage than a 150-miles-per-day commuter would require.”

Pricing for the 2011 Honda CR-Z will start under $20,000 when it goes on sale in August in the U.S. The hybrid hatchback will not qualify for federal tax-credit since Honda has already passed the 60,000 hybrid limit per car company.

Refresher: The 2011 Honda CR-Z is powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC mated to Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system. It produces a total of 122-hp and a maximum torque of 128 lb-ft when mated to manual transmission (123 lb-ft for CVT models). Fuel-economy is estimated at 31/37 mpg (city/highway) for the manual model and 36/38 mpg for the CVT model. Sales begin in the second half of 2010.

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/06/18/report-there-will-be-no-2011-honda-cr-z-si-or-electric-version/

All-New Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe Makes E3 Expo Debut

The all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe made its Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) debut today.

Evocative of many video games, the two-passenger CR-Z introduces a number of interactive features including a new three-mode drive system that allows the driver to select between Sport, Econ (Economy) and Normal driving models.

The CR-Z will go on-sale later this summer.

"E3 Expo is the perfect venue to showcase the all-new CR-Z", said Steven Center, vice president of marketing operations for American Honda. "The engaging and sporty driving experience found in the CR-Z feels like something out of the latest racing video game. Gamers will feel at home behind the wheel of the CR-Z - whether it be in front of a console or on the open road."

Along with the CR-Z debut, Honda also announced that the sport hybrid coupe will appear in several video games including:

Car Town by CIE Studios (Online, PC and Xbox Live) Nitto Legends 1320 by CIE Studios (Online and PC) Gran Turismo 5 by Sony (Sony PS3 and PSP)

While at the E3 Expo, attendees can check out the CR-Z along with a component-revealing cut-body on display in the Honda booth located outside the West Hall Lobby (booth F7).

At the booth, attendees can get information on how to download an exclusive, custom CR-Z* for Car Town and win an Apple iPad®.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at www.honda.com.

Source;
http://www.offalyexpress.ie/express-motoring/AllNew-Honda-CRZ-Sport-Hybrid.6365771.jp

Could Honda CR-Z Be The World's First Sexy Hybrid?

Honda’s new CR-Z hybrid coupe is schedule to hit dealerships in the UK and USA at about the same time this summer. But while the Honda CR-Z has so far remained under the radar in America, the small sporty hybrid is garnering a lot of positive press on the other side of the pond.

We can’t imagine that Honda Motor Europe’s project in group filmmaking, Live Every Litre, is the reason for the extra attention. The marketing effort—hypothetically designed to promote the CR-Z as hip—yielded a set of YouTube road trip vignettes that induce equal parts confusion and boredom. Nonetheless, a trio of British auto reviewers recently reported a much better time from behind the wheel of the CR-Z.

Quentin Willson of The Mirror was nearly ecstatic about the car. He wrote that the CR-Z “is set to become one of the most desirable cars on the planet.” Willson added, “Looking like nothing else on the road, with a wonderful swooping roofline, it's a lulu to drive.”

He praised the CR-Z’s handling and steering. “This is one of Honda's best cars yet, and the world's first truly sporting hybrid coupe…Sustainability never looked sexier.”

Jason Barlow of BBC’s Top Gear—usually no fan of hybrids—agreed with Willson. “By sticking the Insight's hybrid tech into something that doesn't look like a slapped arse,” Barlow quipped, “Honda might finally have made eco motoring sexy.” Barlow also praised the CR-Z for its handling. “It's proper fun to drive,” Barlow wrote.

Andrew English of The Telegraph was generally positive, but not as effusive as the others. English dinged the CR-Z for poor visibility in the corners and through the back, for limited space in the rear seats, for braking that feels “wooden,” and for too much body roll. Yet, he granted the CR-Z as “sporting by hybrid standards” and concluded that it’s “a likeable little car.”

Small and Sexy in America As Well?
Meanwhile back on home turf, American Honda Motor Co.’s John Mendel, executive vice president of sales, said the CR-Z will appeal to tuners, who modify and tweak their rides for maximum performance and individual style. He told Automotive News that Honda research showed that tuners are excited about the CR-Z because it’s reminiscent of the old Honda CR-X, one of the ultimate tuner vehicles.

In other words, the CR-Z might inadvertently create a whole new market of hybrid buyers. Forget about the traditional hybrid puritans, who have expressed disappointment in the CR-Z because it averages merely 37 mpg. The people most likely to buy the car probably won’t give a damn one way or the other if it’s hybrid. It just looks cool and is fun to drive. Full stop.

As far as we're concerned, anything that adds pizzazz and sex appeal to hybrids is a step in the right direction.

Source (via autoblog);
http://www.hybridcars.com/decision-process/could-honda-cr-z-be-worlds-first-sexy-hybrid-27959.html

2011 Honda CR-Z: the car for today’s and yesterday’s tuners?

Regarding the Honda CR-Z sports hybrid coupe, the Japanese manufacturer’s main target are today’s and yesterday’s tuners. How is that?

Well, according to John Mendel, executive vice president for automobile sales at American Honda Motor Co., the research shows that the “young people and guys my age, because it’s reminiscent of the CR-X, which was the ultimate tuner vehicle.” “We thought maybe the hybrid would turn the tuners off,” Mendel said. “Basically, they just say, ‘It’s 20 extra horsepower — what the hell.’ ” In order to reach younger buyers, the Japanese manufacturer is planning to use social media but sponsoring the concert tours of musical acts with a multigenerational appeal might work with both groups. For those who don’t know, the Honda CR-Z is powered by a 1.5-liter petrol engine delivering 102 hp and an electric motor capable to deliver 20 hp. This means that the car has a total output of 122 hp and 128 lb-ft. of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm (123 lb-ft on CVT-equipped models). P.S. You may also want to check the Mugen CR-Z and the CR-Z ZF1 by C-West!

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2011-honda-cr-z-the-car-for-todays-and-yesterdays-tuners/#more-8160

2011 Honda CR-Z *Canadian Info*

Here are the 2X trim levels that appear to be available for launch

2011 Honda CR-Z Automatic Transmission
2011 Honda CR-Z 6 Speed Manual Transmission

The 3X Colours that will be available at launch for both Trims will be;

NH-624P White exterior with Black interior
NH-642M Grey exterior with Black interior
BG-57P Blue exterior with Black interior

Expected Release Date;

Late June/early July

That's all for now....

Source;
Honda Canada

DRIVEN: HONDA CR-Z

Has Honda really made the world's first genuinely sporty hybrid?

I really want to like the Honda CR-Z. Whatever you think of hybrids (and I can think of plenty of unpublishable but appropriate adjectives), they are here to stay. So if we have to put up with their existence, then making them sporty can be no bad thing.

Question is: can you really make a truly fun hybrid, or is the CR-Z too much of a compromise, a car that's neither sporty enough nor green enough?

Honda is certainly keen to talk up the CR-Z's sporting CV. "During the development of the CR-Z the Lotus Elise kept on inspiring us throughout the whole development process", says Terukazu Torikai, the CR-Z's chief chassis engineer. That's big talk.

Still, despite the Norfolk-sourced inspiration, Torikai-san says the CR-Z is really aiming at slightly less extreme rivals. "The base concept of this car is the fun-to-drive," he says. "We therefore wanted to realise the agile handling of the Mini and easy to drive performance for daily use."

But the CR-Z's development team are naturally going to be biased - we're not going to just take their word on the CR-Z's abilities as Gospel. Which is why I find myself at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport - to get the PH-eye view on the CR-Z. Is it indeed a Lotus-inspired Mini-beating hybrid coupe or, er, something else?

Visually the CR-Z seems to set the right tones, to these eyes at least. The bold nose has an aggression to it that telegraphs its sporting intent, while the wedgy profile will put those with long memories in mind of the chunky, nippy and well-liked 1980s CR-X. It can look a little gawky from some angles, though - whether you can forgive that is the key to whether you will like the way it looks.

The CR-Z's on-paper credentials are definitely a bit mixed, however. There's a six-speed manual gearbox (a first for a hybrid - although the original 1999 Honda Insight hybrid had a five-speed manual), which is a good thing, as is the relatively light 1198kg kerb weight.

Less exciting on paper is the 122bhp power output engine, which comes from a combination of a 113bhp 1.5-litre four-pot and a 14bhp electric motor, both driving the front wheels. This translates to a 0-62mph time of 9.9secs (10.1secs if you go for the equipment-laden top-spec version) and a top speed of 124mph - the CR-Z is not a car that is going to set the Tarmac alight.

On the road the CR-Z begins impressively. The gearchange is a typically light, accurate and direct Honda shift, while the zippy engine provides a pleasingly sharp throttle response, especially with the 'sport' mode engaged (the usage of which also tweaks the exhaust for a sportier note and firms up the electric power steering). The 6300rpm red line is disappointingly low for a company famed for its revvy motors, but the extra shove of low-down torque (available from 1500rpm) that the electric motor provides helps to make up for the absence of a stratospheric top end.

Find a decent bend or two (which we managed to do once or twice on our Dutch drive - the Swiss Alps the Netherlands is not), and the CR-Z does reveal a light-on-its-toes agility and an essentially neutral, balanced chassis. Perhaps there's something in this Elise inspiration, although the accurate but numb electronic power steering is hardly the stuff of Lotus dreams.

Push on beyond the grip limits of the modest 195/55 R16 tyres with the ESP off, however, and you'll soon experience pretty terminal understeer. Keep the electronics working, though, and the understeer is unobtrusively kept in check.

The CR-Z's brain works equally hard to keep the brakes controlled, too. A perennial problem with hybrids is how to effectively remove the electric power from the driveline, with the result that brake feel is often an unpredictable affair. The CR-Z deals with this by constantly monitoring braking pressure from both the pedal and the engine and creating a braking curve of how the driver will expect to stop. The result is a predictable, if wooden brake pedal.

The CR-Z is so close to being a modern day Ford Puma with a green twist that it hurts - a lively chassis coupled to a lively if not super-fast motor. Ultimately, though, the hybrid drivetrain forces the CR-Z to make too many compromises. Oh, and at £20k for the top-end model and £17k for the cheapest version it's hardly the bargain of the century either. Like I said, I really want to like this car. It just won't let me.

Source;

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=21797

Honda's Hybrid Shatters Sales Target in First Month

By MARIKO SANCHANTA And HIROYUKI KACHI

As Toyota Motor Co. attempts to rebuild its reputation around the world, Honda Motor Co. on Wednesday said orders for its new hybrid sports car exceeded its forecast by 10 times, quietly stealing the march from its main Japanese rival.

Honda Motor Co. unveiled its CR-Z model in Japan roughly a month ago, making it the first mass-market hybrid sports car to hit dealerships. The company said cumulative orders for the car had exceeded 10,000 vehicles, far surpassing its monthly sales target of 1,000 vehicles.

Japan's second-largest car maker plans to introduce the model in the U.S. and Europe after June, with a combined annual sales target of 40,000 to 50,000 in the three markets.

The move comes as Honda has quietly benefited from its chief rival's woes. Toyota has recalled more than eight million vehicles world-wide, denting consumer confidence in its brand in the U.S., its biggest market. Though Honda has publicly said that it wouldn't offer special incentives for drivers to buy its cars over Toyota's – unlike U.S. rival Ford Motor Co. – its brand has steadily gained more fans over the past few months. In ALG's Spring 2010 Automotive Consumer Attitudes Survey, Toyota fell from first to sixth place in its perceived quality score, and Honda jumped to first place with a score of 83.2, followed by Nissan Motor.

"If [Honda] can gain sales, they are going to promote the brand at the expense of Toyota. They are not blind to the situation," said Chris Richter, automotive analyst at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. Honda is the second-largest hybrid car maker by volume after Toyota, and its Insight hybrid car was the first mass-produced hybrid automobile sold in the U.S.

Honda's new CR-Z is the successor to its Honda Civic CRX, a two-seater coupe that was introduced in 1984. In Japan, the CR-Z costs 2,498,000 yen ($27,630) for the high-end model. Honda said 90% of the orders had been placed by men, with most purchasers in their 30s and 40s. Honda has nearly reached its domestic annual sales goal of 12,000 in just under a month.
Still, Honda has a long way to go to catch up with the popularity of Toyota's Prius hybrid vehicle, which is still the best-selling car in Japan. More than 27,000 Priuses were sold in February, making the Prius the best-selling model for the 10th straight month, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

"It might be too small for Americans," said Mr. Richter, referring to the fact that the North American model of the CR-Z will only have two seats. "The Prius is a bona fide family car."

Honda expects net profit to soar 93% to 265 billion yen in the current fiscal year ending March 31. The company said Tuesday that it expects to sell around 100,000 units a year in India and Thailand of a new, low-priced model slated for launch in 2011. The new small car will be priced around 500,000 rupees ($11,000) and based on popular four-door Fit model.

Source;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703312504575141221683837004.html?mod=WSJ_auto_IndustryCollection

UK AutoExpress Review: 2011 Honda CRZ

Exclusive verdict on Honda’s revolutionary new performance hybridBritain’s love affair with hybrid cars is growing ever stronger – but until now, our obsession has been built on machines that offer low CO2 and high mpg, rather than great performance. So, can this bullet-shaped new 1.5-litre hybrid coupé be the car to put that right?

The daring Honda CR-Z will hit UK roads in June, and with prices set to start at £16,999, the CR-Z is aiming to reinvent the sector. It has a 0-60mph sprint time of less than 10 seconds, and an emphasis on performance that has been missing from petrol-electric rivals.

To find out more, we headed to the scenic southern Japanese island of Shikoku foran early first drive.

Under the skin, the new CR-Z is loosely based on the latest Insight – but as you soon discover, the car is much sharper, quicker and, most importantly, more entertaining.

Away from the line, you can feel a tautness in the suspension that isn’t evident in the family-oriented Insight saloon – which is a good thing. As you start to slip through the manual gears and up the pace, the newcomer quickly proves itself to be well balanced and very responsive.

Up front, the 1.5-litre hybrid feels punchy, while the six-speed manual box – the first in a hybrid since the original Insight was sold – is quick, precise and fun to use.

All of which comes as a bit of a revelation, a relief even, when you consider how things could have turned out. At motor shows and preview events, rumours had spread about the model’s likely weight and a power shortfall.

But the CR-Z is proof that a car can be much more than the sum of its parts. Many expected Honda to deliver a hard-edged, high-rev performance machine, but the CR-Z is anything but.

Although it’s sporty, that focus on balancing pace with a green nature hasn’t gone away. With combined fuel economy of 56.4mpg and a 117g/km CO2 output, the CR-Z is about more than thrills.

The formula this time sees a Jazz-based 1,496cc i-VTEC engine coupled to a small electric motor. Total power is 125bhp, while torque peaks at 174Nm.

As you drive, you find the CR-Z’s star act is its easy, low-rev urge, with that extra boost from the electric motor providing a helping hand, especially below 2,000rpm. And this driveability is key, because the 1.5-litre engine starts to get loud as the revs climb past 5,000rpm. Keep the throttle to the floor, and you soon reach the 6,500rpm limit. So this car is no modern-day successor to the brilliant late Eighties VTEC CR-X, with its 8,000rpm maximum.

Still, as with the Insight, the hybrid drivetrain is seamless and smooth. With Honda’s IMA hybrid system as it is here, you can’t run on electric motor alone, which will hamper the new car’s appeal to some motorists.

Credit to Honda, though, for the way the CR-Z handles.

It’s shorter and wider than the Insight, set lower to the ground, and gets its own stiffened chassis and suspension set-up, plus a set of 16-inch sports tyres.

Through the twists and turns of some entertaining mountain roads, the car felt nimble, and there’s a consistent, linear feel to the steering and turn-in. Yet ultimately, it’s predictable and safe rather than thrilling. There’s a fair degree of understeer and body roll on the limit, and the ride is firm but well controlled.

Honda will be more interested in telling you about the wealth of modern technology on board, such as the clever 3-Mode Drive System. Dashboard buttons give you the choice of Sport, Normal and Econ, which alter settings for the throttle feel, transmission and electric power-steering depending on how you want to drive.

The speedometer ring also changes colour to suit (red, blue or green). This is just one of several neat facia gizmos that monitor your driving style.

The CR-Z’s cabin is a mixed bag. It offers a superb, sporty driving position and impressive seat support. But not everyone will appreciate the busy cabin design, with its large, retro-style pods either side of the wheel. The overall finish is good, bar some cheap plastics inside the doors.

Unfortunately, the minimalist back seat area is barely usable for adults, while for the driver, rear three-quarter vision isn’t great. On the plus side, there’s a reasonable load space, with the hybrid battery housed beneath the boot floor.

When it hits dealers in the UK, the CR-Z will come in three model grades (S, Sport and GT), with prices ranging from £17,000 to £20,000.

On Japanese roads, the car acquitted itself well, even if it’s not quite the performance model some might have hoped for. In its home market, orders are flooding in – and Honda’s pitch for the car, as a new “hybrid café racer”, sums up the CR-Z well.

Source;

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/249544/honda_crz.html#ixzz0iFizGUfZ

2011 Honda CRZ Video

Honda hybrid sports car reportedly in high demand

Interesting....
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Honda Motor Co.'s /quotes/comstock/!7267 (JP:7267 3,300, +30.00, +0.92%) /quotes/comstock/13*!hmc/quotes/nls/hmc (HMC 36.52, +0.20, +0.55%) CR-Z hybrid sports car has drawn more than 7,000 orders only two weeks since its Feb. 26 debut, according to a report Friday. The Nikkei business daily reported that the orders represent about 60% of the annual sales target for the car of 12,000 units. The CR-Z, a gasoline-electric hybrid, can travel up to 25 kilometers (15 miles) on a liter (0.26 gallons) of gas, according to the report.

Source;
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/honda-hybrid-sports-car-reportedly-in-high-demand-2010-03-11

2011 Honda CR-Z: First Drive

Here is a nice review from a UK site, really good read....
What is it?
The CR-Z is an unlikely hero for Honda, the car that could restore at least a little of its sporting image after its withdrawal from F1 and the axing of both the NSX supercar project and the S2000.

The CR-Z is a sports hybrid coupe, the first car with this type of powertrain to get a six-speed manual gearbox. Its styling has strategic cues from the CR-X of the early 1980s, but it also looks modern. In fact, what's appealing about this coupe is that it looks like nothing else on the road; it's instantly recognisable as the CR-Z.

Sitting on a slightly shorter but wider Insight platform, the CR-Z uses a wheelbase that’s shrunk by 115mm, while it has also lost 30mm in height and is 44kg lighter.

The CR-Z does not just employ a revised version of the Insight’s platform, its Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system and a modified Insight rear suspension set-up. Wanting to enhance performance, engineers replaced the Insight’s 1.3-litre petrol engine with the 1.5-litre i-VTEC motor from the Jazz, then mated that to a revised six-speed manual transmission lifted out of the European-spec 1.8-litre Civic.

The combined power output of the CR-Z’s hybrid system is 122bhp at 6000rpm, while combined torque is 128lb ft at 1500rpm. Our Japan-spec car offered a combined 58mpg. Oh, and by the way, the CR-Z still employs nickel metal hydride batteries.

What's it like?
Slip into the driver’s seat and you'll sense how much lower you sit in the CR-Z than in an Insight. There’s plenty of headroom for driver’s up to 194cm, but forget the rear seats, which would struggle to hold a 12-year old. Interior trim and quality are superior to the Insight's, and the instrumentation boasts more design flair. Flatten the rear seats and you create 401 litres of luggage space, enough for a couple of suitcases or two golfbags.

The IMA system offers three driving modes: sport, which uses the electric motor to aid acceleration, and normal and econ, which retard throttle response to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions.

The first thing you notice is the CR-Z’s beefy bottom-end torque. With maximum torque on tap from just 1500rpm, the coupe jumps from rest and reaches 60mph in 9sec, as you clear the 6300rpm redline in second. It's noticeably faster than the Insight.

Keep the engine spinning between 4000rpm and 6000rpm and the CR-Z will reward any right-foot extension, while the specially tuned throatier exhaust adds to the all-new sporty hybrid experience.

After trying all three modes, we found ourselves leaving the CR-Z in sport; it offers quicker response at both low and high speeds and suits the characteristics of this car perfectly.

With world-beating manual gearboxes like those in the S2000, NSX and Civic Type R, the CR-Z had a lot to live up to. And thanks to some inspired revision on the European Civic’s gearbox, the CR-Z’s six-speed delivers deliciously short throws and a firm, precise linkage action.

Honda paid special attention to steering too. It's superbly weighted, has excellent feel and turns in on a penny. Combined with enhanced rigidity throughout the chassis and bodyshell, a significant revision to the torsion bar set-up on the rear suspension is another reason why the car handles and rides so well. The CR-Z is stiff but compliant.

The CR-Z’s main braking system is hydraulic, and it uses the regenerative braking only as an ‘assist mechanism’. The result is refreshing; unlike the current crop of hybrids, which deliver a somewhat synthetic feel, the CR-Z offers sure-footed stopping power every time.

Should I buy one?
Honda is convinced that it has launched this coupe at the right time, and it may have a point. With its low-slung, sporty looks, high interior quality, good performance and fuel economy, great gearbox and low price, the CR-Z should spice up interest in hybrids, and force a wider cross-section of the motoring public to pay attention to this type of vehicle. Watch out for the high performance Mugen version in 2011, too.

Peter Lyon

Source;

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Honda-CR-Z-1.5-i-VTEC-GT/248133/