Honda officially unveiled the Honda CR-Z Concept at the Tokyo Auto Show last fall. The car that has been labeled by many as the spiritual successor to the Honda CR-X is going to enter production by the end of 2009.
Although the production version of the CR-Z will be released sometime by the end of the decade, Europeans will get the car first, since it is going to be the vehicle's most important market. Honda's UK product manager Mark Turner recently told reporters that the car will start at €25,000, with a high-end model near €28,000. Since the CR-Z is going to be aimed at the European market, Honda UK was tasked with designing and engineering the car. Turner also added that if the demand is there a gasoline version of the CR-Z could also be produced. The CR-Z will join the Civic Hybrid and the upcoming global hybrid in Honda's lineup.
Although the CR-Z is being designed with European tastes in mind, it should also make it to the US to help Honda reach its goal of selling half a million hybrids by 2011.
Full Story: Motor Authority
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Honda is Going to Release Two New Hybrids...Finally a CRX Successor!
Honda CR-Z Concept Unveiled...Finally a Successor to the CR-X?
Comments (25)
I'm liking the front.
The back? Not so much.
Posted by Karma | February 20, 2008 9:02 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 21:02
The back looks like a Mushroom, that is some funny sh*t.
Posted by Travis | February 20, 2008 9:15 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 21:15
I use to own a 91 CRX and this reminds me soooo much of it. I would love to have this as a work car. Come on Honda sell me one over here!
Posted by Christopher | February 20, 2008 9:57 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 21:57
Great the wedge is back.....
Posted by Brian | February 20, 2008 10:03 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 22:03
extremely lame.. looks like some kinda spaceage pile of junk.. go honda! like a tampon in the car racing world, every p*ssy's gotta have one..
Posted by chris | February 21, 2008 1:55 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 01:55
Honda engineer 1: Let's make a sportscar.
Honda engineer 2: But sportscars need to have good styling.
Honda engineer 3: Look how incredibly uninspired, generic, yet ugly the last sportscar we made was (S2000)!
Honda engineer 1: Yeah no shit, obviously we need to just copy other designs and then try to make them look Japanese.
Honda engineer 2: That Saab Aero-X was a million times better looking than any car we've ever come up with lets just copy that.
Honda engineer 3: I have an even better idea -- let's copy the Saab AND the Maserati Birdcage.
H e 1: Wait, but then the car would be good looking and thereby have nothing in common with any other cars in our lineup. It won't "look like a Honda".
H e 2: Let's just put the little "Asian twist" on the themes. You know, give it that Pokemon look.
H e 1,2,3: Brilliant!
Posted by miko | February 21, 2008 3:57 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 03:57
yes, the front looks like a swedish pokemon, called sven
Posted by rene | February 21, 2008 6:01 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 06:01
... and again the US is left out in the cold when it comes to anything with 4 wheels that is cool. I am getting so fed up with who ever decides that the US market isn't interested in cool cars. Honestly though... they can keep the hybrid version. Should they decide to grace us with the CR-Z, I would definitely prefer a gasoline engine.
Posted by James | February 21, 2008 9:03 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 09:03
The sketches show how the back must have looked in the designer's mind, but then reality and engineers took over.
I have to agree with Karma. When you move around this car from the front to the back, about halfway it turns from beautiful to ugly.
Posted by DrFruit | February 21, 2008 9:14 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 09:14
The US could see this come over as the replacement to the Acura RSX.
Ever since Acura dropped the Intergra, the RSX couldn't hold a candle to it...
Posted by Andrew | February 21, 2008 10:18 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 10:18
miko:
[Honda engineer 1: Let's make a sportscar.
Honda engineer 2: But sportscars need to have good styling.
Honda engineer 3: Look how incredibly uninspired, generic, yet ugly the last sportscar we made was (S2000)!
Honda engineer 1: Yeah no shit, obviously we need to just copy other designs and then try to make them look Japanese.
Honda engineer 2: That Saab Aero-X was a million times better looking than any car we've ever come up with lets just copy that.
Honda engineer 3: I have an even better idea -- let's copy the Saab AND the Maserati Birdcage.
H e 1: Wait, but then the car would be good looking and thereby have nothing in common with any other cars in our lineup. It won't "look like a Honda".
H e 2: Let's just put the little "Asian twist" on the themes. You know, give it that Pokemon look.
H e 1,2,3: Brilliant!]
i assume you didnt see any JAPANESE MANGA......
Posted by Jettto | February 21, 2008 11:26 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 11:26
I always thought that Pokemon was really corny and kinda fruity. Anyway, this car isn't too bad but does look a bit akward and reminds me of the dead Honda hybrid that failed to be competetive with the Prius. I also don't like how Honda tends to stay a little bit too conservative with their styling. But then again, you have to wonder how they have always been such a highly profitable automaker and how they went from being as lame as a Daewoo or a Kia to becoming on par with other automakers like Chevrolet and Dodge.
Posted by Saheed | February 21, 2008 11:52 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 11:52
Why are you hating on the S2000?
It's an awesome car. Some people enjoy conservative styling. I for one don't like huge wings, ground effects kits, loud exhausts, daring designes and lots of badges Remember it came out almost a decade ago. It was pretty revolutionary at the time.
And the NSX was an amazing (looking and driving) car that showed the world what Honda was capable of.
Honda does make lots of very boring, very utilitarian, FWD people movers though. I hope they come out with another awesome RWD (mid engine?) sports car after the s2000. This new front-engined, all wheel drive, v10powered acura car looks like garbage. I'm sure it'll weigh over two tons too. It's not a real sports car.
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | February 21, 2008 3:02 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:02
This car will fail in the US because it will get more than 10 MPG and isn't huge and important.
Posted by deadly | February 21, 2008 3:13 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:13
The CRX's successor should be:
under 1900lbs curb weight
1.6-2.0L engine
manual tranny, with a traditional clutch pedal and shifter
2+2 seater, with hatchback cargo ability
The parts and methodology are already here for this... 1992-1995 Civic hatchback, and the K20A2 engine from a 2002-2004 RSX Type S. Hasport sells a motor mount kit for this. You'll get at least 35 mpg on the highway and killer performance. You'll also be able to carry plenty of stuff from Home Depot, carry bicycles, or go camping for a few days
You can gather all the parts and a Civic hatch shell in good shape for under $10k USD. Keep the exterior stock and thieves won't look at you twice.
Screw the automotive industry. I'm assembling my own beast next time.
Posted by Dan | February 21, 2008 3:35 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:35
The front looks kinda nice (if those headlights make it into production, which they won't).
From the back, it looks like a 2-door station wagon with horrible blind spots.
I still kind of like it; I think it has potential. If they rounded the rear more it might look better.
If that's 25K GBP, thats about $50K US.
Posted by Kell | February 21, 2008 3:57 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:57
@Saheed what are you smoking, you think honda is on par with dodge and chevy? you need to get out of that cave you have been in for the last 20Years and smell the daylight, honda hasnt had a vtech power plant die in tha last 20+ years...
Posted by dennisil | February 21, 2008 5:26 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 17:26
I like it, and it doesn't surprise me that it's for EU and not the US, because it's a daring and fresh design.
Here if it is sporty looking, then it has to have a V-8, and if it gets good gas mileage it has to make a statement saying "LOOK AT ME I LOVE TREES"
This is a brilliant design, like the insight, but done correctly.
I agree with everyone the back looks a little ugly, but realize that any vehicle that is tuned for coefficient of friction is going to have a slow drop from maximum height, and a very tall, sharp cutoff. Resembling a teardrop is ultimately what they try to do to improve hwy mpg. It's still not pretty, but way better than the back of the prius.
I really hope Honda builds this. Even better if they offer it as a non-hybrid, but with a ~2L tdi engine
Posted by Jeff | February 21, 2008 9:21 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 21:21
To Dennisil
What do you mean?! I think you are the one that has been living in a cave because Honda still uses their signature Vtech engine on many of their Acura counterparts and their own sedans, compact cars, and the CR-V. That shows how much you know!!!
Posted by Saheed | February 22, 2008 4:03 PM
Posted on February 22, 2008 16:03
That also includes their civics i-vtech, and Acura TSX
Posted by Saheed | February 22, 2008 4:06 PM
Posted on February 22, 2008 16:06
The sketches of it look bad ass, like of some really cool Hotwheels car.
Posted by Tommy Boy | February 25, 2008 3:58 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 15:58
Um... visibility? What's up with the tiny rear side windows? make those like 3x as big.
Other than that I love it.
What's up with all the people hating on hybrid? Hybrid = more torque with less fuel consumption. That's what a hybrid system essentially is: a way to increase torque without wasting fuel. Electric isn't more efficient than gas for running at a constant RPM. If morons weren't so obsessed with hating on hybrid maybe someone would make us a nice sport hybrid. Actually, the CR-Z might be just that... need some specs. Electric motors give you way more torque than gas any way you wanna measure it.
Posted by flasher702 | February 28, 2008 8:10 PM
Posted on February 28, 2008 20:10
Honda is planning on production of the CR-Z this summer out of Ohio according to a few corporate Honda executives!! The CR-Z will be out in the states this year!!
Posted by jsed | April 17, 2008 6:10 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 18:10
Oh, I forgot, the CR-Z will be available with a diesel engine.
Posted by jsed | April 17, 2008 6:13 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 18:13
What have we done here in the states to get the leftovers from most of the car manufacturers (domestic and foreign)? You should see the Honda Civic that they sell in Europe. I really like the redesigned Civic here in the states, but it looks like a grocery bag compared to the sleek design in Europe. Hell, it even has a diesel engine that gets even better mileage. The CR-Z looks excellent, and I am definitely interested in the hybrid. I hope that Honda makes the decision to bring this to the states, and soon.
Posted by Mike | August 21, 2008 6:43 AM
Posted on August 21, 2008 06:43