Hybrid Honda tries to be hip
When Honda showed the CR-Z concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007, it appeared alongside some of the wacky Japanese design exercises that the biannual show is known for. One difference between the CR-Z and the Nissan Pivo 2 (with a pivoting cabin), the Toyota Hi-CT (with styling akin to a shrunken Zamboni) and other flights of fancy is that the CR-Z actually goes on sale Aug 24, looking pretty much as it did on stage.
The CR-Z doesn't resemble anything else in the Honda (or Acura) lineup.
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When Honda showed the CR-Z concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007, it appeared alongside some of the wacky Japanese design exercises that the biannual show is known for. One difference between the CR-Z and the Nissan Pivo 2 (with a pivoting cabin), the Toyota Hi-CT (with styling akin to a shrunken Zamboni) and other flights of fancy is that the CR-Z actually goes on sale Aug 24, looking pretty much as it did on stage.
The CR-Z doesn't resemble anything else in the Honda (or Acura) lineup.(NYT Photo) -
Honda clearly intended the CR-Z to evoke warm, fuzzy memories of its CRX, a vaguely similar two-seat slice of hatchback that Honda sold in the 1980s and early '90s. With the CR-Z, Honda is also targeting a young demographic with what it says is a first: a sporty, fun hybrid.(NYT Photo)
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The dashboard display is concentrated on a circle that projects the speed with a 3-D effect. A ring of light behind the digital speedometer ranges from neon green (when the car is in its efficient Eco mode) to bright red (when it's in Sport mode).(NYT Photo)
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The CR-Z combines a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve gas engine making 122 horsepower with the automaker's Integrated Motor Assist system — Honda shorthand for the electric motor and computer control unit.
This is essentially the same mild-hybrid system used in the Insight; unlike the Prius, which has a more capable full-hybrid powertrain, the CR-Z cannot be propelled by its electric motor alone.(NYT Photo) -
In Eco mode, the CR-Z conserves fuel by relying less on the gas engine. As with most hybrids, there is a display that shows your fuel economy level. There is also a guide to help you time your shifts for optimal fuel economy. There is a meter for the battery charge level and a display that shows when the battery is being charged and when it is providing an assist to the engine.(NYT Photo)
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On the road, Eco mode makes for a laborious driving experience. The CR-Z barely registers a pulse, especially on the highway. It doesn't matter if the pedal is to the metal; the car feels as if something has gone wrong. Fortunately, Normal mode seems, well, more normal.(NYT Photo)
