What made the CRX so great in the 80’s was that it was a lightweight car with a rev happy engine. Combine that with precise steering and a nimble suspension and you had a fun little pocket car that got over 40 MPG. Well today’s Honda car has exchanged the sporty feeling for mundane commuter duties. Well not anymore with the upcoming release of the CR-Z hybrid upcoming in 2010.
The CR-Z will reportedly get a 1.8 liter high-revving 140 horsepower engine with a
hybrid Integrated motor assist system borrowed from the new Insight. Numbers on the electric motor are not available but a small boost will do wonders for this little 2-seat car. So combine a light weight chassis, Honda iVTECH engine, and electric motor assist; and this should make for one great ride.
With the S2000 discontinued, Honda has some big shoes to fill and the CR-Z should be capable enough. The outside is nice and sporty; a welcome departure from the boring wedge shape now synonymous with hybrid cars. Big rims and a manual gear box round out the needs of every young driver out there. It should only be a short wait for the CR-Z to hit the pavement.
Source: http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0904_2011_honda_crz/index.html
The fuel efficient Honda Fit will become even more frugal next year when Honda releases a hybrid version of the fit. The Insight sells for about $3k more than the fit in Japan, so just imagine a $16k hybrid on the market next year! One can only dream. As gas is back on the rise, Honda Motor Co. sees a huge market for fuel efficient hybrid cars.