Tokyo Motor Show: Honda Announces Production Plans for FCX, CR-Z, and Global Hybrid Family Car
We almost thought the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show was all about weird concepts that won’t ever see production, but then we went to the Honda press conference and learned that the FCX and CR-Z are production bound.
The FCX will debut in production form in just a few weeks at the Los Angeles Auto Show. No word on when the CR-Z will debut, but the concept looks very production ready and Honda’s certainly got the hybrid technology to power the production car. A global hybrid family car will also reach production in 2009.
If the CR-X drives as well as it looks, it could be a hit.
NEXT GENERATION 'GREEN' CARS CONFIRMED FOR PRODUCTION
Honda has confirmed plans to bring its most exciting 'green' cars into production. The FCX hydrogen fuel cell car and a lightweight, hybrid sportscar will both be built – with a production version of the FCX making its debut next month.
Speaking today, Honda's President and CEO, Takeo Fukui, announced plans to unveil a production version of the FCX Concept at the LA Show in November. The car will then go on sale in the US and Japan during 2008.
Honda also revealed that a car based on its CR-Z Concept – a compact, lightweight sportscar powered by a hybrid powertrain – would also enter production. This stylish coupe will join Honda's forthcoming 'global hybrid' family car, which is due to launch in 2009.
The announcements mark the beginning of the next generation of environmentally-friendlier vehicles, with both cars boasting sleek, sporty designs likely to appeal to a broader audience.
"Hybrids have always been seen as niche products, and hybrid car design has mostly been based around practicality and versatility," says John Kingston, Environment Manager at Honda (UK). "The CR-Z Concept looks stunning, and shows that green cars can be sexy and exciting – but also minimise environmental impact.
"The fact that we will be producing cars like this – and the global hybrid – proves that hybrid cars are becoming key volume products within our range. All of this means that Honda will be selling over 1/4 million hybrids a year by 2009."
The CR-Z Concept follows in the tyre prints of the Honda Remix Concept (seen at the LA Show last year), and the Small Hybrid Sports Concept (debuted at Geneva in March) all of which explore the potential of a compact sportscar that's exciting to drive, but has minimal impact on the environment. The launch timings for a production version of the car are yet to be announced.
Comments
fstst56
Better buy some more stock in Honda, looks like winners to me!
Scratch
No kidding... they are actually ready to sell a fuel cell car? That's amazing! Detroit ought to be shaking in their boots right now.
Ducati Minor
I think so, too. What made the Prius a hit was that it stood out as an alternative. By developing products for a green future that look for the future (I know I'm going to take crap for the styling here), Honda will have vehicles that make the full statement green shoppers want to make.
Paul In Jersey
You might want to buy stock in the company who is selling the hydrogen, too.
Kenny P
If the CR-X drives as well as it looks, it could be a hit.
I was thinking the same thing.
Jonathan Fung [Gotakon]
I think Ducati nailed it.
There are buyers of green vehicles who really care about the environment, and after volunteering at the Eco Fair here the other week (doing parking detail) I got to see a LOT of these people. Then there are the those who want the fuel economy, but haven't been introduced to the diesel engine. And finally, there are just those who want to make a statement (and hope to get the aforementioned fuel economy.) And if the CR-X looks like that, it'll be unmistakable for a hybrid, and the driver will be unmistakable for a hip greenster. You don't even have to put the Hybrid badge on it.
fantasyfreddy
As Honda is currently the only company that has developed a clean diesel that does not need a urea additive, they will probably make this hybrid a diesel hybrid, and bring mpg into the stratosphere!
LJ
fantasyfreddy October 26th, 2007 7:07 PM Link
As Honda is currently the only company that has developed a clean diesel that does not need a urea additive, they will probably make this hybrid a diesel hybrid, and bring mpg into the stratosphere!
--------------------------------
You Are Wrong about the Diesel; ever hear of Volkswagen? Think Daimler also has same deal.
Clean diesels/no urea needed.
I suggest you look @ old articles from here, and other websites...for the 2009 Jetta Sportswagen and Sedan... coming out in March of 2008.
I would look it up and post links, but not sure of this sites regs about posting links.
sorry.
Thanks. Have a good one.
LJ
PS: fantasyfreddy... hope you did not take my 12:11(27 october) post(reply to you) personally, or as being offensive... not meant to be.
The Jetta is going to be around a few dollars short of 20,000 dollars(according to a salesman I spoke with).
My only problem is that VW has a bad record for reliability the past few years.
This CR-Z, or sedan( heard they will have a version of both, same platform)....will be interesting, and from earlier rumors I heard, 17-20K msrp's for hybrid... less costly than the Civic Hybrid.
Sounds good to me.
Have a good one.
Ducati Minor
I disagree completely on Honda making the CR-Z a diesel hybrid. That is HIGHLY unlikely.
smokefreak2003
It looks like it is going to be quite big, possibly Civic Size. They have been making these 2 door cars pretty big in the past couple of years, some of these late model 2 door cars put shame into some the 4 door models that are the same size.
-Always Drive Foreign,
Less Customers Will Teach the Big-3
How to make real cars again
SoFlaLude
YES. Thank you, Honda, for resurrecting the CR-X.
Now, don't lose the spirit of the original - inexpensive, stylish (DO NOT CHANGE THE DESIGN ONE BIT, it's PERFECT!), and sporty. Not for nothing, but this car ain't gonna be diesel; I'd wager on something along the lines of a 1.8L K-series engine, with a more aggressive hybrid system than the current Honda "mild hybrid", something more similar to Toyota's design. Don't romp on the pedal and it'll scoot off electric power, maybe using the engine to recharge as necessary; launch aggressively and it'll use the electrc system to add a nice flat torque/powerband, where Honda's small displacement engines are typically anemic (as a Honda junkie, I say that with love, look at my name if you need a clue). I think a system like this is very probable, what with Honda's drive-by-wire systems becoming the norm.
This very well could usher in the new era of car tuning.
Winding Road » Archive » Japan Report: More Details on Honda
[...] As displayed at the Tokyo Show, Honda would only say the CR-Z – which will be both a new CR-X and replacement for the Insight – had a gas/electric hybrid powertrain. [...]
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