Honda unveiled the CR-Z hybrid concept at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show and now two years later the concept that is hitting the stage at again at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. As typical with most Honda concepts, the concept version ends up being very close to the final product. According to Honda officials, the concept that we will see next month is 95 percent of the real thing. The production version of the Honda CR-Z will be officially unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
The spiritual successor to the much loved CR-X, the 2011 CR-Z is a 2+2 coupe powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC inline-4 combined with Honda's IMA hybrid powertrain and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Who knows if Honda may eventually broaden the appeal of the CR-Z with the addition of non-hybrid powertrains.
The interior of the concept is near production ready and features a layout that looks somewhat similar to the Insight. The Ni-Mh battery pack is believed to be under the floor like in the Insight, in which the CR-Z is based on.
The 2011 CR-Z is expected to go on sale in Japan in February 2010 and in the U.S. a few months after that.
Stay tuned for more info from the show...for now check out the photos.
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Comments (8)
Great now in a couple years we get to watch youtube videos of people doing K20 swaps on the CR-Z...
Posted by Brian | September 30, 2009 2:23 AM
Posted on September 30, 2009 02:23
Hate to admit it... but I'm actually starting to like this car.although I'm not a fan of hybrids though.
Posted by patman08 | September 30, 2009 5:40 AM
Posted on September 30, 2009 05:40
A hybrid that doesn't look like it was beaten with the ugly stick, what a novel concept.
Actually it's a really sharp looking car, I usually don't care for Honda's styling but that I would buy assuming it has at least some respectable performance numbers to match the looks of it, if it has the performance of the Prius however then no way.
Posted by Sandra | September 30, 2009 6:39 AM
Posted on September 30, 2009 06:39
I miss my CRX, so obviously I like this.
OTOH, it's way too busy and gizmodic in places. Chrome bits that I don't think belong there, shiny surfaces in places where they can do little except show off fingerprints. And HUGE blindspots from the rear corners.
But over all, I like it and look forward to seeing it in the flesh.
Posted by kw | September 30, 2009 6:45 AM
Posted on September 30, 2009 06:45
This is actually better looking than the first concept of the CR-Z. I like what Honda is doing with their cars' styling.
And I second what Brian said about the swaps.
Posted by pablo | September 30, 2009 9:05 AM
Posted on September 30, 2009 09:05
A MANUAL transmission hybrid... thumbs up!
Posted by gh | September 30, 2009 12:39 PM
Posted on September 30, 2009 12:39
A fun-sounding hybrid worth consdiering buying!
It definitely looks like CRX succesor, regardless of powerplant.
Posted by Kawi | September 30, 2009 2:42 PM
Posted on September 30, 2009 14:42
Let's just see if the production car still looks anything like the concept. These things have a nasty habit of morphing into a boring econo-box look by the time they hit the assembly line.
I'm lookin' at you, Volt.
Posted by Kempai Tai | September 30, 2009 4:23 PM
Posted on September 30, 2009 16:23