Japan Report: Honda CRX To Be Hybrid, Pushed Back To 2011
Honda has now decided to make the new CRX a hybrid. That's according to latest word from inside Honda Central Command.
For years, if you recall, Honda absolutely refused to countenance the idea of a new CRX. Lately, however, the resistance has softened and a design specifically recalling the classic, tiny, revvy 1983-1992 CRX coupes has been approved.
Now the thinking has changed again, and the product planners have decided it must be employ a hybrid drivetrain (like a modern day Insight), albeit still called CRX.....
The program has been pushed back from 2009 to 2011 as a result, but has raised renewed doubts in the meantime as to whether Honda really understands (or wants to understand) what CRX is really all about, and the passion the nameplate still engenders in the car enthusiast community. Can a hybrid coupe really be a true CRX?
No, the Small Hybrid Sports Concept shown at the Geneva Salon is not the next CRX, and neither is the Los Angeles Show’s Remix. Unless plans change yet again, a concept version of the real thing will appear at October's Tokyo Show.
What do you think... is making the next CRX a hybrid a good idea? Have your say in 'Comments.'
+ WINDING ROAD: Japan Report: CRX Successor In The Mix At Honda
Comments
john
wow. i'm all for hybrids, but the CRX is like honda's RX7, or Supra (though never as high performance). it's that one truly inspired and awesome car they've built despite everything else, and they're gonna give it a CVT and electric motor. moronic.
Steve S
Umm that would be Mazda RX7.
ryan
steve- john was suggesting that the CRX was the sporty, definitive car of the moment for honda, not that honda made RX-7s, nor supras.
i agree with john's point about how it could kill the excitement surrounding the renewal of the iconic CRX, but i think that by 2011, the hybrid systems will be more apt at carrying both acceleration and fuel economy, especially if they start packing in an electric motor on the driveline to provide a bit more acceleration.
Greg
I only had my '89 Si for two years (it was stolen, returned, and never quite right), but it was a fantastic car to drive. It looked good, handled like a go-cart, and was fast for its cost and the time.
I think Honda could do it right, but it can't be another Insight or Prius. They have to inject some sporty performance into it for the car to claim the CRX moniker. If they do it right, it might just be my 2nd CRX...
Greg
One more thing - I had one in banana yellow, and I got 3 speeding tickets in that car, but none since (even though all have been faster!)
New CRX won’t show until 2011, but will be a hybrid-- Ride C
[...] [...]
Jim
I miss my black '91. No power steering, only two seats. My dad always wondered why CRX drivers drove like they were in Ferraris. I let him borrow my CRX while I used his pickup truck to move. When I got it back, he said, "I understand now..." :)
bil
CRX three simple letters that mean so much. I think a hybrid CRX could work. Use the 2nd. gen Fit chassis and a turbo 1.6L with direct injection. Instead of heavy batteries use capacitors.
winter
i think with all the recent advancements in electrics and hybrids, it will be totally possible for honda to faithfully resurrect the crx as such. i am a current crx owner and i love the car. sure, it isn't out of this world fast but there is just something to it that makes people fall in love with it. if anyone can pull it off it will be honda, let's just hope they listen to their buying public on this one.
André
I'm sorry, I was never fond of the CRX and I wouldn't compare it to any of Japan's iconic sports cars. Wasn't the last Si a hatch? All that was different was the name. I wouldn't be opposed to a nice Honda hatch like the Civic Type-R from the UK hitting these shores. In the meantime, the Si coupe will be just fine for me.
James
I think you are all missing the point. The CRX was great because it was just about the most upgradeable car around. I have a few friends that were able to squeeze out close to 300bhp from theirs. To turn this effectively into a toy with batteries would alienate the people that made the CRX famous. I'm not talking about a bunch of punk kids putting spinner rims and stapled on spoilers, I'm talking about real remodeling enthusiasts that want to spend more money on upgrading the car than they did on the car itself. I think it would be a sin to put a hybrid solution in a CRX. They should trick it out the way VW did with the R32, GLI, or GTI. They did the right thing with the Civic Si. I agree with Andre, in that, Europe gets all the really hot cars. Even the Fords are better there. The Ford Focus is one of the hottest cars in Europe but it is completely different than the one they sell in the US. Apparently the US market isn't interested in hot high performance cars. We like boxy POSs that fall apart every few years or so.
naggs
this is aweful news. a 2200 lbs crx with the fit 1.5 would get great milage as it is. who wants a 25% increase in fuel economy with a 25% increase in price and a 100% decrease in fun?
honda has totally lost its way
mo
I never tried this car (because it doesn't fit me, no ... I am not overweight, just big 6.1). but I can tell for sure this thing is neither a supra nor an RX7. maybe it handles well, but the 92 bhp (or even with the top of the line engine with 130 bhp found in Euro markets) engine is no match for the RX7's and supra's 200-240 bhp.
Still, since cars like the miata and the solstice (and its brother the sky) are having great success, then resurrecting this car is absolutely a good step for honda. this way they will have a good line of sports cars (small= CRX, medium sized= S2000 in case honda continued its production, and the high end= the new NSX)
naggs
i totally agree that the CRX is to honda what the rx7 is to mazda. it is by far the best fwd sporty car ever made and it is the ultimate expression of honda's more with less way of thinking.
if they were smart, they would just make it as small as possible. if they could get the weight down to what the gen 2 was with modern powertrains and aerodynamics, it should get excellent milage, be super affordable and one of the most fun to drive cars ever.
but honda will screw it up, they are lost, they have forgotten why anyone bothered to care about hondas in the first place. now they are simply toyota-light
Ron
I think it can be done right. If you look at the Lexus GS hybrid it actually puts up better performance #'s than the regular petrol version. If honda follows the same design philosophy and uses the electric engine to supplement performance at low rpm (i.e. when the petrol engine has the least power), you can actually end up with superior performance. the hard part will be keeping the weight down with the batteries and all.
naggs
the problem is that hybrids add weight and crx only works because it is as small as possible. making it a hybrid sacrifices that for 25% better fuel economy.
the hybrid crx will flop as will all 'sporty' hybrids because the best way to go faster while increasing effeciency is to make the car smaller, lighter and simpler. makeing it a hybrid is the exact opposite of what they should be doing.
ive heard that some honda execs thought of the insight as the crx replacement, what are these guys smoking?
Don
Why the hell does it need to be a hybrid when the HF got 50 mpg?
We're getting hosed.
André
I disagree with naggs on the RX-7/CRX analogy, with the CRX being the best FWD car ever made, and with trashing the Insight. The Insight would have a logical gas-electric replacement to the CRX. Besides having a similar hatchback layout, the Insight's superb mileage was due to a low-drag, lightweight body. Curb weight was around 1,800 lbs.; the Civic CRX weighed over 2,000. Had more been done to squeeze out extra power from the engine, the Insight could have been an effective two-seat sport compact. The Insight's target audience was the economical and environmentally conscious driver.
Jay
I had a '91 Si myself for a short while until I upgraded to a Miata. (I loved the Si, but really wanted a ragtop and RWD.) I don't see anything wrong with making a hybrid sports car per se, as long as it feels right. There's nothing intrinsically unsporty about hybrids.
Also, only the Si could properly be considered a sports car. The HF and regular models were just good commuters.
New CRX won't show until 2011, but will be a hybrid | Review
[...] [...]
naggs
andre, the crx was fun to drive, the insight had a cvt...
the two cars may have had some aspects in common but the driving experience was totally different. it was the strong point in the crx and the weak point in the insight.
IN BRIEF: The new Honda CRX will be a hybrid, but will ... |
[...] The new Honda CRX will be a hybrid, but will not be out until 2011. [Winding Road] [...]
myles
I love my insight, and have always said that it would be one of the most desireable cars on the road with just a b16 under the hood. I drive the 5spd and it's a wonderful drive. It weights under 1900 pounds with fluids, with a longer wheelbase and better weight distribution than the crx. If they can build on this by keeping the instant (completely instant) torque of an electric motor and add a solid high revving honda four, this could seriously be the best road car ever made. Seriously.
André
Actually naggs, the Insight had a five-speed manual tranny standard with the CVT added later on. The Insight was a much more efficiently designed automobile than the Civic or Accord Hybrid. The Accord is quick, but weighs 200 lbs. more than the regular V-6 sedan. I don't think myles is all that off. Okay, not best car ever--but best the second-best Honda after the NSX.
fantasyfreddy
First of all, the S2000 and Insight are really just differently named versions of the CRX..
Second of all, it would be even better as a diesel/hybrid... for mileage and vegetable-oil purposes...
Third of all, in general, hybrid is a good idea, because it will have better better mileage with equal performance than non-hybrid..
Finally, and most importantly in the real world, a hybrid will get a boost from the battery, meaning the engine has to work less for equal performance, meaning LESS NOISE AND LESS TICKETS/LOST LICENSES!! Believe me, i used to own an S2000, and the cops did not leave me alone in that thing!!!!! While less thrilling, SILENCE IS GOLDEN!!
fantasyfreddy
all of that said, the car might be just as good as a straight diesel, with a factory-included switch to burn pure veggie oil!!
Honda baraja desarrollar un nuevo CRX en Motorspain
[...] Alcance de la noticia: Internacional Más sobre la noticia: winding road Comparte el artículo:Estos íconos enlazan con webs de marcadores sociales que permiten a los lectores compartir y descubrir nuevas webs. [...]
Honda CRX híbrido para 2011
[...] Vía: Winding Road Etiquetas: Honda CRX, Honda Re Re REMIX Concept, Honda Small Hybrid Sport Concept [...]
naggs
"First of all, the S2000 and Insight are really just differently named versions of the CRX."
what the hell are you talking about? the only thing those 2 cars had in common is the H on the front.
Turbo
"Hybrid Crx thats retarded"
Here are the reasons the OLD CRX's made bad ass cars.
1 You could buy a used Crx back in the Mid to late 90's for cheap. (1988 Crx Si $3000.00) Even Cheaper today
2 You could fit a DOHC VTEC B-Series motor into the Car. ($5000.00 Fully Built motor + $5000.00 Custom Turbo kit)
3 $600.00 Dyno tune (461WHp @ 18 PSI)
4 a Set of Slicks and you will Smoke Most if not all the Rx7's, Supras, Solstices, Saturn Skys, Honda S2000's, Evos, Sti's, Mustangs, Corvetts, M3's, M5's, Camaro's, Etc that you run into on the street on the freeway any freaking day and all for under $20,000 in a discontinued ECONO BOX. Love spanking rich old guys in thier new sports cars.
SUCKERS COME AND GET YOU SOME
So if any of you losers want to run I'm located in SO CAL hit me up post up your emails. bring your $$$ "Straight line only"
Rusty
Lets pray Honda dont go and stick the CRX badge on another ugly, overweight, power assisted everything car for hairdressers.
All the safety features required nowadays along with expected comfort levels are going to turn any new "CRX" design into a flop in my eyes. Look whats happened with the Civics... Type R, my ass. Type RR... gimme a break.
The CRX has been done. It cant be repeated. The public and Honda need to forget this silly idea... Before it drives the value of my proper CRX right down! Mind you... the S800 replacement aint half bad... just be careful Mr H, please.
» The CRX will be back
[...] From the last we heard, the CRX was supposed to be re-released in 2009. But latest news reports that the release will be pushed back to 2011 and according to latest word from inside Honda Central Command, they have now decided to make the new CRX a hybrid. For the full article, click HERE [...]
NO2RICERS
TURBO, YOU SIR ARE A RICER.
Turbo
NO2RICERS,
GO SUCK A FAT ONE, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS LOL
TURBO
naggs
he may be a ricer but only an idiot thinks that a striped out crx with a built turbo b series on drag radials is not going to smoke what ever you have.
crx's still do really well in autox too. not just straight line cars.
nemsr
you know i think we should have choices on a hybrid or a gas ran CRX. the CRX has so much potential in so many different areas i t can do almost anything. if honda ever made a crx that was purely hybrid i would never buy a new honda again due to the fact that they neglected to make the crx truely an inspiration and like no other. honda customers dont look like hybrids. they look for jdm enthusiasts. and i think it is an insult thate the insight looks so much like the crx. PLEASE DONTN TELL ME YOUR GOING TO HYBRID A CRX SO I HAVE TO SPEND TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PUT A BETTER ENGINE IN IT. you know what i really think a honda lover likes about their car is the way the engine sounds and the quality and integrity it puts out no matter how old it is. unlike a hybrid which you have to jucie up every night
nemsr
you know i think we should have choices on a hybrid or a gas ran CRX. the CRX has so much potential in so many different areas i t can do almost anything. if honda ever made a crx that was purely hybrid i would never buy a new honda again due to the fact that they neglected to make the crx truely an inspiration and like no other. honda customers dont look like hybrids. they look for jdm enthusiasts. and i think it is an insult thate the insight looks so much like the crx. PLEASE DONTN TELL ME YOUR GOING TO HYBRID A CRX SO I HAVE TO SPEND TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PUT A BETTER ENGINE IN IT. you know what i really think a honda lover likes about their car is the way the engine sounds and the quality and integrity it puts out no matter how old it is. unlike a hybrid which you have to jucie up every night.
nemsr
and for all you kids that think a rx7 looks anything like a crx get back in your moms womb and have her recreate your dumb ass. honda will never be like mazda just like a crx will never be a hybrid because it will never be a crx like it should be
nemsr
turbo i'd like to get more info about your knowledge on crx's. i was really inspired by your speech on rich men and their sport cars. please hit me up. i have a 89 crx with a b18b frankeinstein swap. my email is nemsrone@yahoo.com
nemsr
turbo i'd l ike to get more info about your knowledge on crx's. i was really inspired by your speech on rich men and their sport cars. please hit me up. i have a 89 crx with a b18b frankeinstein swap. my email is nemsrone@yahoo.com
nemsr
turbo i'd l ike to get more info about your knowledge on crx's. i was really inspired by your speech on rich men and their sport cars. please hit me up. i have a 89 crx with a b18b frankeinstein swap. my email is nemsrone@yahoo.com
lubon
It’s some joke, how somebody could make crx hybrid. They lose mind!!! Propably in 2017 we will see Ferrari F70 ;P with electric motor :D:D:D really stupid idea!!!
Alex Broskey
I drive a 2006 Insight and I like it better than the 2004 Civic Si, but not as much as my former 2007 Honda Civic Si, that I had to sell for financial reasons.(one of the most painful things Ive had to do) I love my Insight and will never sell it. It rides smooth and you can feel the road and its so low that I take corners very hard and people are scratching their heads. The car has comfortable seats too. If a hybrid crx came out I would purchase one immediately. I really love CRX's hopefully it will have some pep, although my car is as fast a Civic LX with the AC off of course. Exciting News!
mpgomatic
I've been fortunate enough to own an '86 CRX si and a pair of S2000s over the years. I still miss that little CRX and hope to one day build another one for kicks.
Honda should look at the wicked cool wicked fast Tesla as inspiration and make the new CRX a full-on electric. No gas. No diesel. Just pure electric. Make the new CRX the screaming fast silent commuter sport car for average Joes.
ken
Hi,
took me a while to find this site. I own a 91 CRX si, bought it used for 3 grand in 1998. I agree with your idea of going electric. In fact, I checked out some Porche site that they will install two electric motor and the rest for 50 grand. Got me thinking, why don't I convert the CRX into electric. The hatchback will be great for the batteries. Once the engine is removed, there are plenty of room. I need help on this because I am not too keen on car engines. About the only task I ever preformed was change the alternator. If you know places where I can purchase reliable electric parts, please let me know. Want your opinion?
Thanks
Ken
Al
Guys lets be serious... for the new crx to be what it once was we need a Civic TYPE R motor (k20z3) that is when I will buy it...
CRX TYPE S (with the 1.8 liter)
CRX TYPE R (with the 2.0 liter)
Both in stick
Offer both motor selections
and if possible offer a third choice the crappy hybrid
Rob
The CRX HF got the best mileage of any car on the road for mroe than 10 years. It would be fine if there was a hybrid HF model. That is almost required for honda to bring the name back, however the SI should be as light and as powerful and nible as possible for the price. Going the hybrid route is a mistake for those things.
Also honda is probably having a hard time doing an HF that will out perform the original at the pump. 60MPG is still a feat few have matched even in the hybrid market.
Chuck McCloskey
All Honda has to do is bring the CRX HF model back. My 1991 cost $9,999 new with stereo & air, got 55 - 60 mpg even after 13 years and 176K miles, still had original brakes,& exhaust. It was the greatest car I ever owned. I doubt that Honda can match that car with a hybrid. Just bring it back as is.
Chuck
Bill Kunze
The car that I learned to drive in was an rusted out '89 CRX DX. If it wasnt for the fact that it was missing about 200lbs of metal because of rust I would have kept it. I loved that car, and have yet to drive another that is anywhere near as good. I say go ahead and build a hybrid CRX, just so long as you build a 2200lb Si version with the engine and transmission from the Civic Si in it along with double wishbones at all four corners. Heres to hoping that they build the front wheel drive Miata alterative again.
Ryan
I think hybrid crx makes no sense. Does honda seriously think they will get more mpg then the old ones (50mpg or so). Honda keeps making there cars bigger and bigger. Look at the 2006 civic compared to a 89-95 civic. Why do you have to go bigger. The only reason why people have respect for honda is because even though they have little hp they are so light you can still make them a race car. Just make the crx like it used to with a small engine like it used to. If they can squeeze 200hp out of a 2 liter, Then imagine what they can do when they put technology in an old 1.6L. That would be a cool car. It needs to be the classic light car with small engine. And make it so people can actually soup them up. Not a shi@@@ hybrid.
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