Honda CR-Z - The World's First Hybrid Sportscar

Deposits now being taken.

The all-new Honda CR-Z made its world premiere at the North American International Auto Show on 12th January 2010. With sporty looks and agile handling, the CR-Z is the most exciting hybrid yet, promising driving thrills and cleaner exhaust emissions.

The CR-Zs compact 2+2 coupe body and striking design is coupled with a responsive chassis to give nimble handling and direct steering, and a 6-speed manual transmission enhances driving enjoyment. Its clean, efficient petrol-electric hybrid powertrain not only offers good fuel economy and a low exhaust emissions package, but also adds to the nippy driving characteristics of the car and means the CR-Z is well suited for use in urban environments.

Worlds first 6-speed manual hybrid car
Wide track, short wheelbase chassis for agile and responsive handling
All-new, sporty, aerodynamic, 2+2 coupe form
1.5 litre i-VTEC engine coupled to Honda IMA hybrid system
Emissions of 117 g/km** and fuel economy of 56.4mpg**
Unique 3-Mode Drive System to tailor steering, throttle response and IMA assistance as the driver requires
Flexible 2+2 seating arrangement in European models only

"The CR-Z is a great-looking, sporty car thats also a hybrid," said Tom Gardner, Head of Marketing, Honda (UK). "Kart-like handling and direct steering will make it great fun to drive, but the hybrid system means exhaust emissions are kept low. With the torque boost of the electric motor, its ideally suited to point-to-point driving in British towns and cities."

Interior

The manual transmission is complemented by a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine, which is new to the UK and a key component in the CR-Zs unique offering. The eager-to-rev nature of the medium capacity engine, is enhanced by the additional 78Nm of torque provided by the 14PS electric motor, which is situated between the engine and transmission.

The 1.5-litre engine, combined with the power and torque of the IMA parallel hybrid system, gives an overall power output of 124PS and 174Nm of torque. The peak torque figure is identical to that of the 1.8-litre Civic but offers CO2 emissions of just 117g/km** (35 g/km fewer than the Civic 1.8-litre model).

To maximise driver choice and enhance the day to day drivability of the car, the CR-Z has been fitted with a 3-Mode Drive System. This unique feature allows the driver to choose between three driving modes, which alter the responses of the throttle, steering, idle stop timing, climate control and the level of assistance provided by the IMA system.

The European version of the CR-Z has daytime running lights (DTRLs) with eight LEDs that bring out the lower line of the sweeping headlights. This is the first time DTRLs have been fitted to a production Honda, and combined with the front fog lights provide a tailored look to the European specification CR-Z.

Rear view

The shallow raked roofline and sharply truncated tail of the CR-Z are features shared with many Hondas past and present. This slippery design allows the car to cut through the air with minimal disturbance, lowering fuel consumption and emissions. The UK specification CR-Z has a 2+2 layout, enabling customers to carry smaller adults for short distances or children on longer journeys. The rear seats can be flattenned in a simple one-touch motion to increase luggage capacity when its needed.

Compared to the dimensions of the Insight, the CR-Z is shorter in length by 295mm and its wheelbase is 115mm shorter than the Insights. This enhances agility and reduces kerb weight by 44kg compared to its 5-door, five-seat, family car sibling. Forged aluminium MacPherson struts have been used in the CR-Z to reduce weight and increase strength over the pressed steel items used in the Insight. The CR-Z suspension features new springs and damper settings and the tolerances are individual to the compact coupe.

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