The long-awaited 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe made its world premiere in production guise at Detroit Motor Show today. Compared to last year's Tokyo show concept, the U.S.-spec model seen here has remained more or less the same with changes limited to the different alloy wheels, the larger exterior mirrors, the Honda logo that has moved from the grille to under the bonnet and the revised tail lamp crystals.
The strictly two-seater CR-Z also retains the concept model's lightly futuristic interior boasting a multi-layer dashboard and three-dimensional instruments with a blue color scheme.
The coupe also gets a mid-ship console behind the front seats to optimize cargo space while a hard-shell separator can be closed to create additional hidden storage.
At the heart of the coupe is a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with Honda's compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system.
The CR-Z's 10kW electric motor assists in acceleration and also acts as a generator during braking or coasting to capture kinetic energy that recharges the 100-volt IMA nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The gasoline engine can automatically turn off during vehicle stops to further improve efficiency.
The hybrid system delivers a combined peak output of 122 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft. of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm with the standard six-speed manual gearbox and 123 lb-ft when combined with the optional CVT.
The CR-Z also gets a three-mode drive system that allows the driver to select between individual modes of performance for Sport, Normal and Economy driving styles. The system, which affects the settings for steering, engine response, motor assist and air conditioning, is activated through three backlit buttons to the left of the steering wheel.
While Honda did not announce performance figures for the U.S.-spec model, a leaked brochure of the JDM CR-Z makes word of a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of 9.7 seconds, which if true, isn't exactly what you'd expect from a car that's the spiritual successor of the CR-X.
What the Japanese automaker did reveal are the preliminary fuel economy estimates. Honda anticipates that the CR-Z will achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 36 city/38 highway mpg for the CVT-equipped models and 31 city/37 highway mpg (7.6 lt and 6.4 lt/100km respectively) for the manual cars.
Again, nothing to be excited about. For example, the latest Toyota Prius that is powered by a 134HP hybrid powerplant and can sprint from 0 to 60mph in 9.8 seconds returns 51mpg city and 48mpg highway. Heck, even the BMW 335d sedan with its mighty 260HP diesel achieves 36mpg on the highway.
When the CR-Z arrives at Honda's U.S. dealers later this summer, it will be offered in two trim levels, base and EX.
Standard features on the base model include Vehicle Stability Assist, an audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry and cruise control.
The CR-Z EX will add High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights with Auto-On/Off, fog lights, a 360-Watt premium audio system with seven speakers including subwoofer and Bluetooth, and perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel.
33 Comments:
If you are trying to go sport, put a real engine on it, if you are trying to make it green 36mpg is not enough from where ever you look, why Honda? why?
hoping honda will offer an "upscale" version with a chrome grille. i love the shape of the car, but the black plastic (or rubber) black grille cheapens this pretty sharp little car. The rest of the vehicle (interior included) looks right on!
I could live with the mpg figures with the sportiness of this cool looking coupe. I do hear what the 1st person posting wrote. It would be better for marketing and perhaps sales to go fully "sports minded" or totally "green", yet the blend could (and probably will) work for many small car shoppers.
any word on the curb weight?
^ 2,670 lbs or 1,211 kg for the manual, and 2,725 lbs or 1,236 kg for the CVT model
The prototype was so beautiful.... this is quite ugly
This is a disaster, a total sales disaster waiting to happen. Who is going to pay a hybrid premium for a tiny, heavy, slow, poor mileage, that doesn't handle? At 2700+ lbs, a 95 inch wheelbase and with puny all-season tires, this will never be "fun" by anyone's definition.
It's sad to see Honda losing their way so badly, time after time. This doesn't give me hope for their future and it sure doesn't inspire me to buy their cars anymore.
With a weight like that,that isn't exactly channeling the spirit of the old CR-X,and those mpg figures aren't in lieu of the 1st gen Insight either.So,to review,it's slow,heavy,not all that much useful(no rear seat),and really not all that economical either.With this and the Crosstour,I guess Honda is now short for Half-assed Obsolete Nonsense Dreary Automobile for 2010.Soichiro spins in his grave...at 9800 rpms no less.
It looks kinda of odd but that is what makes Honda unique! The styling will take some getting used to but it will sell because it is a Honda. It is a true successor to the old CR-X it has a 2 seat configuration but that back seat looks not pleasing, not even for kids.
nothing but a return of the original honda insight
badged as a crx
concept to prototype...............loved it. but this, y hybrid its a sports coupe. and the back look hideous, its just way to big. not happy honda. hopefully a mugen version will appear soon
theres just no way around it, as it is now its a failure at least on paper... Only a miracle can save this car now. Dam i was planing on buying this car DAM YOU HONDA IAM REALLY REALLY MAD
I was fully ready to buy this and had enquired at the dealer about getting the first one shipped. And then today happened. WTF? It gets terrible mileage AND is slow? It's tiny AND bloated? C'mon Honda, pick ONE.
I guess I'll buy a Fiesta now. It's a 4-door hatch and gets 40 mpg without a hybrid. Hear that Honda?
Thank you John.
The power to weight ratio is appaling.
Loks even better than the show car!
Hope there's a cheaper non-hybrid version as well.
--JORGE
how is this a sports car can honda offer a petrol and more powerful version
Guys relax , they've already announced a more powerful ( non -hybrd ) version in Japan. This is probably the entry level model . I still have faith in Honda
Piece of crap Honda is getting really useless in making cars,the the crosstoure is a joke this is ridiculous.
EVOC FRD
The front says im awesome. The rear is quite good. We have to wait for advancements in hybrid tech. to see improvements in thier power to weight ratio in Hybrid sport cars. But someone has to start.
There must be something wrong with the mileage figures or this is almost a non-starter. My 16 year old Mazda MX3 gets way better mileage and is a bit faster.
3Deuce27
ugliest shit I've seen for quite a while!
hahaha, FAIL
i like it. i bet it will be a real hoot to drive. i could see my wife falling for this. however, she is extremely happy with her honda hit. i am a sucker for sunroofs and you cannot get one in the insight. you can on the 2010 prius. it is not just about the great fresh air. i like the light shining through. due to the shape of this coupe's roof, i doubt it will be available with on open roof option, unless it is a pop-up, removable panel. that would be ideal. also, the toyota is available with leather seats, while they cannot be had in the insight. i am willing to pay a decent price for a small car with all of the frills. are you listening honda? i am not alone.
somebody actually said "fail". i wish all of these vehicles success. with the state of the economy, failure means loss of sales, loss of revenue, loss of jobs... best wishes on a cool car, honda. i think this would make a wonderful first car for my daughter about ready to graduate. i brought the family to detroit for the show this year and we all agree that most of the cars look far better than they photograph. my pics included.
As an satisfied owner of a Euro Civic Hatch (2008 diesel version -140 bhp; 340 Nm torque (8.6 sec 0-60mph)) I am very disappointed with this CRZ. Looks OK, but will not appeal to green consumers because of surprisingly low mpg values for a marketed hybrid and disapointing performance values for it to be marketed as sporty. And it's unpractical (a two-seater??? with those values????).
My Civic looks better, is probably much more fun to drive, does a good job environmentally-wise and is very practical. Next car: BMW 320d
^ good point, but with no diesel version sold in the united states at this time, i find this show car to be pretty cool. i cannot wait for our all new civic due out in a year or two, i believe. until then, i favor the roomy for it's size honda fit, but this little number will definately catch on, especially in california (target area) and as a city car. the fit and insight are all over new york city. better than the smart car! hands down...
Nice job Honda, this car will become iconic in its own right. For the folks who waste their time commenting on vehicles they have not seen in person, please calm the f%6k down. :)
Wow - a LOT less fuel efficient than the ORIGINAL it's the 'spiritual successor' to.
you're coming out with this POS that's the latest Hybrid technology that can't even get the 41/50MPG of the 30yr old Gasoline engine
Yes this is pretty but give me a break.
If you take a gas engine that you can get 41-60 or more MPG (can you say Geo (not Chevy but the orig) Metro) or this or a good VW and mate it with a Electric engine with much higher production costs and much higher maintenance - HOW ON EARTH DO YOU GET LESS FUEL EFFICIENCY
HOW
ON
EARTH
Last anonymous : honda doesnt use turbo on their gazoline engines. (so much better reliability, that's a BIG difference compared to VW)
Glad they offer a CVT, now let's test it in reallife to see if it's worth it or not.
"Last anonymous : honda doesnt use turbo on their gazoline engines. (so much better reliability, that's a BIG difference compared to VW)"
Acrua RDX?
Shut your hole.
It is hideous!
WOW, so now Honda is coming out with TWO hideous vehicles that the average person wouldn't want (CR-Z Hybrid & Crosstour). This thing is slow as hell, yet has a sport mode? Why? It's slow... And WOW, that is actually pretty weak gas mileage for a hybrid. Jesus Honda, WHY ARE YOU FAILING SO HARD LATELY?
I think I get it. This is Honda's new marketing strategy. Ignore the actual dismal performance specs (ie. 0-62 in 9.7 seconds, 122 horsepower) and just call it the intersection of Sport and Hybrid and we all will buy so many of them that the Honda factories will not be able to keep up with the demand. I can see it now--the 2011 Odyssey the intersection of Sport and Minivan. I get it Honda, as long as your car can do at least 0-62 in 9.7 seconds you can attach the "Sport" label to it. This is brilliant, instead of actually making a true sportscar, by using this criteria Honda can claim that they have more sports models then any other car company
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