Japan Report: More Details on Honda’s CR-Z

blue-coupe November 6th, 2007 3:40 PM Link

Or $28,000 by the time the dollar reaches it’s low….

I’m a fan of both the CRX & the Insight, but I hope this gets toned-down a bit in the transition from concept to reality.

davido November 6th, 2007 3:51 PM Link

I have a ninety mile roundtrip commute everyday. This is a trip I didn’t have when I bought my current car. I walked to work then. So even at 32mpg highway in my current car (Mazda6i), I’m spending way too much on gas.

Assuming the mileage is anywhere close to that quoted in the article and that the car is reasonably fun to drive, this is my next ride.

Bill November 6th, 2007 5:39 PM Link

Looks great. I have become a skeptic about prices in my time (the EX35 from Infiniti is a case in point), but this could open up the sporting market to hybrids and those of us who aren’t wealthy!

Ducati Minor November 6th, 2007 5:43 PM Link

Looks good.

Scratch November 6th, 2007 5:59 PM Link

I’m not sure if I should be disappointed by the hp number or not… the available torque looks good, price is right, but is 118 good for a hybrid?

Bart November 6th, 2007 7:46 PM Link

If the price can hold near your estimate, and the interior is not as blandly depressing (the upholstry and colors)/offputting (the instrumentation) as the present Civic, this is a definite buy for me. I’m waiting for the next big mileage/packaging advance before I buy a new car and this looks like it. It would offer a good balance to my current fleet of ‘07 Element AWD, ‘98 A4 Quattro Avant 2.8, and ‘04 Jetta wagon (all keepers).

The styling fits the nature of the car and the powertrai, and looks like fun. No need to tone it down for me. Even the Jetson’s interior on the showcar would be acceptable, but I wouldn’t expect that to reach production. I don’t even care if it is automatic trannie only if it delivers on the mileage with some CRX or earlier generation Civic character and tossability.

Eric November 6th, 2007 8:21 PM Link

Leave it to Honda to be the first to get into the sport-hybrid market. I really want a car that does well in mpg but I need it to be fun to drive. . .Please, please Honda make it fun to drive, big brakes, tight steering, and great torque and I’ll trade in my WRX.

Jonathan Fung [Gotakon] November 6th, 2007 8:22 PM Link

With oil getting closer to $100 a barrel, that 66 MPG number is looking pretty decent. But I don’t know about the way the actual car design looks.

Rex November 6th, 2007 9:07 PM Link

This would be sort of a Civic coupe if all the numbers are correct. Sign me up.

Doug November 6th, 2007 11:40 PM Link

Hmmm, I think I see an Acura RSX Coupe replacement there if it isn’t badged as a Honda in the States. Some parts from the current Civic, the dead RSX, the honorable CRX & even some ’92 Prelude looks from the interior [spaceship dash display that goes all the way across to the passenger side]. I think it is something to look forward to from the Land of the Rising Sun!

Hmmm. November 7th, 2007 12:43 AM Link

That price sounds high, since the Larger Civic Hybrid cost 22K, and this is smaller, Plus, I had heard elsewhere (autobloggreen, in June of 07, iirc,and maybe when this was introduced, on autoblog.com..can’t recall 100%).. 17,000K msrp to 20K(LESS costly than the current Civic Hybrid) was the price range.

This is all I can find now, for some odd reason, when I research this MSRP

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/Honda_plans_low-cost_hybrid_in_2009_999.html

(hope links are ok).
So, this 22,000 dollar claim sounds a bit high, IMHO, unless the 4 door “hybrid”(unseen/un-named… we have heard about, besides the CR-Z hybrid)… is a Civic Hybrid replacement… then I do not see any 22,000 dollar Hybrid here.

Most sources I have read, or heard from(dealership) said 17-20K, maybe 21K tops.

It’s the internet… hard to determine facts w/o Honda telling us exactly what they are.

have a good week.

Luke November 7th, 2007 10:52 AM Link

Awesome.

66mpg? That’s spectacular. It’ll probably a very immersing driving experience - if not the most sporty - and I really love the way this thing looks. This seems like the car of the future…finally…

JohnD November 7th, 2007 2:01 PM Link

66mpg, and fun to drive?! Sign me up!

naggs November 7th, 2007 2:28 PM Link

i would much prefer 120 hp 1.5 and a price around the fit, 40 mpg is plenty and the drop in weight and price would more than offset its loss in greeness

i was excited about the crz, but if it is only a hybrid, i will not be looking at it

Jorge November 7th, 2007 2:30 PM Link

“HMMMM” post above sounds right, from what I too have heard on the internet over the past few weeks.
This 3 door(should be) Sport CR-Z is Rumored to have 1) a normal gas -small- engine,version, and
2) the Insight hybrid system.

This thing is nearly 160 inches long(or short).
Think Hyundai Accent SE sized(maybe taller, and wider, though?).
The Hybrid Civic is the next level car/size up from these smaller cars, so why should it ocst as much as the current Civic Hybrid, when it’s smaller/cheaper(less materials) to build?
Honda wants Toyota’s hybrid customers(or some, you know, Conquest Sales) and what better way thatn to build a car, say, 20,000 dollars, or less, than can seat 4 adults…and is fun to drive, and get better-than-Prius MPG?
This looks good, w/o being “nerdy” looking.

I too have spoken to my local dealership, here in Ohio… and was told by a salesman that this car might make it( he said they were told that there Might be a small, hybrid sedan, or CR-Z like car, showing up, NLT NY autoshow next April…then another time, by Chicago/Feb 08) to an autoshow in NA next year.
Let us all hope so. The sooner the better.
Gas isn’t getting any cheaper.

fantasyfreddy November 7th, 2007 2:35 PM Link

Awesome! If they build it in Ohio, they should be able to keep the price down!

Oollyoumn November 7th, 2007 2:45 PM Link

Some pictures I’ve seen indicate a back seat. If it will take 4, even if for just short trips, I’m ready to give up my Supra. I wish it was RWD, but certainly that’s too much to ask.

SweeneyJ November 7th, 2007 3:03 PM Link

If they make it a manual tranny, I’m sold. Period. How come hybrids have to be boring? Honda used to have a manual option on the Civic hybrid, what gives? If this is to be a spiritual heir to the CRX, you’ve GOT to be able to row-your-own, otherwise it’s game over.

Kevin November 8th, 2007 6:37 PM Link

I tend to doubt 1.3. I would guess 1.5 or maybe even 1.6. The 118hp is all relative as it hopefully would be around 2500lbs. If heavier then not so good.Spectacular torque though. If 66pmg, and if under 22k,and if 2+2 seating similar to Civic SI then this is a contender for me if out by say summer 08. I am considering the new Audi2.0TT, Mini Cooper S Works,BMW 128 or 135. The styling is superb as is the (quoted) mileage. The CRZ would be cheaper than all the above,looks as good(IMHO)and beats all in MPG. Honda ,add LSD as STD as well as 6spd manual as well as DSG like auto. Keep fabric seats like the SI and keep it simple to keep cost down. I cant wait for more info on this one. If I could drive in the HOV lane with this then no contest, I’m sold.

JesZCCRX November 11th, 2007 12:45 AM Link

All I have to say to start is… It’s about freaking time.

I am a CRX purest. If American Honda does anything less than make a 197hp K20Z3 6 speed manual equiped Si version available, they will be shooting themselves in the foot. That version should top out at $19K. Otherwise, they will not be doing the CRX legacy any justice.

The original USDM models were anemic at best even for Si’s. If anyone does there research they will come across hundreds if not thousands of CRX’s on the net with various stages of motorswaps and mild to radical suspension setups. The CRX is the grandfather of all the other sport compact iterations.

People like me discovered a car with imense potential and went to work tapping it. Just a mere example of this is at http://crx.honda-perf.org/ So, Honda needs to repeat history if they want this model to really succeed.

Don’t forget, the USDM CRX came in three flavors towards the end of its initial lifespan: CRX DX (a standard run about model), CRX HF (the “green” fuel efficient model), and CRX Si (the “high” performance model). If I am not mistaken the Si could be had for between $12K and $14K. It also only weighed 2000 lbs with 105 hp.

So, I think it only fair to demand an Si version of the new CRX especially one weighing 2500 lbs and quite a bit longer to have a much upgraded power train than the one spec’ed above. And, it better if I am going to even consider shelling out $22K+ for it.

Take note American Honda don’t “EF” this up!

alex December 26th, 2007 6:19 PM Link

when it’s gonna be on the market?? i would definetly buy the CR-Z at that price man..!!

David December 29th, 2007 11:18 PM Link

I totally agree with Sweeney about the manual transmission. It’s a must. It’s the reason I sold my Prius and bought a 5-speed Insight. Honda, do it for the mileage bragging rights and for the 25% extra sales that you will get.

OTTOMAN March 8th, 2008 8:17 PM Link

I LIKE IT. GOOD LUCK

Irv March 22nd, 2008 11:41 AM Link

If this car will do zero to 60 in under 6 seconds, and can come in a plug in hybrid version, it will be a phenomenal success! So far hybrids have equated to odd looking and underperforming, so all of the young sports minded green thinking types will just eat this one up.