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Honda CR-Z hybrid concept  (Source: Honda)

  (Source: Honda)
Honda revives the CRX's spirit with a small hybrid concept

In early February, DailyTech first brought you news that Honda was working on a small sports car to take some of the "green" spotlight that has been hogged by the Toyota Prius since 2000. Honda later unveiled the vehicle as the Small Hybrid Sports Concept (SHSC) in March.

The radical-looking concept was powered by an efficient 4-cylinder engine, Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system and paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The SHSC's powertrain was rather conventional, but its design was a bit too far reaching to be taken seriously as a production model.

Honda is at again and today showcased a new small hybrid sports car in the form of the CR-Z. The CR-Z recalls the lightweight CRX hatchback and features more production-worthy styling than the SHSC.

Honda simply describes the CR-Z as a "design research model of a lightweight hybrid sports car," and notes that the powertrain is a carryover from the Honda Civic Hybrid. Given the compact dimensions (and hopefully light weight) of the CR-Z, its fuel economy could end up being even greater than that of the Civic Hybrid which is rated at 40 MPG/45 MPG city/highway.

If the CR-Z were to reach production, it would join Honda's Global Small Hybrid (GSH) which is due to arrive in 2009 with a $22,000 price tag. The GSH will be a five-seater with unique styling to tackle the ubiquitous Prius.

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By Chris Peredun on 10/9/2007 10:33:34 AM , Rating: 2
Pardon my skepticism, but the combination of a 1.3L hybrid four, a CVT, and FWD (assumed) do not a "sports car" make. It could be quite a perky little "sport compact" if Honda doesn't let it suffer from the same bloat that bemoans most modern vehicles, but a "sports car" is stretching the truth. (Mind you, should the CR-Z hit production, the tuner magazines will be in a mad race to stuff a 200hp-plus K-series motor in it to address those first two problems.)

In its current iteration, the CR-Z seems like it will be a replacement for the aging two-seater Insight, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The SMART cars have proven that there is a market - albeit a small one - for the efficient commuter car.




By Black69ta on 10/9/2007 11:05:58 AM , Rating: 2
Was the same 1.3l in the insight? I thought it was a smaller 1.0l I3. This would actually be peppier than you think. My father owns an Insight and its acceleration surprised me. but this seems to be a larger displacement and maybe K series derivative and thus I'm sure the IMA is larger too so it should be Fun. Also remember that if the IMA delivers 50hp for example it does it instantly not like a gas engine, or even forced induction.


By Chris Peredun on 10/9/2007 12:19:11 PM , Rating: 2
Correct, the Insight has a 1.0L I3. The 1.3L I4 is from the Civic Hybrid line. In the current models it delivers about 110hp and 123lb-ft when used in conjunction with the IMA.


By Tsuwamono on 10/9/2007 12:41:35 PM , Rating: 2
ya. peppy and sports car are too different things... for example...

Honda Civic.. peppy...

Mazda RX7... Sports car

Pontiac G5.. peppy..

Pontiac Solstice .. sports car...

Chevy Aveo... peppy...

Chevy Corvette.. sports car..

seeing the difference in the naming yet?


By onelittleindian on 10/9/2007 12:50:41 PM , Rating: 4
Anyone who calls the Solstice a sports car should have their head rescrewed on. Its a "sporty" car, and thats it.


By MADAOO7 on 10/9/2007 12:58:08 PM , Rating: 2
Are you serious? I'm not a fan of anything Pontiac, except may be that GTO, but seriously if a Solstice isn't a sports car, than a Corvette is a station wagon.


By MADAOO7 on 10/9/2007 12:58:46 PM , Rating: 3
and no, cheerleading is still not a sport...=)


By Adonlude on 10/9/2007 2:36:03 PM , Rating: 2
May I offer an additional classification: The Solstice is a "roadster", you know, somewhere in between sports car and motorcycle.


By Chris Peredun on 10/9/2007 1:05:37 PM , Rating: 4
I'd grant the Solstice GXP "sports car" status, but not the stock trim.

And cheerleading is a sport.

A spectator sport.


By onelittleindian on 10/9/2007 1:46:56 PM , Rating: 1
Are *you* serious? A wimpy 170-hp engine (ok not bad, for a four-cylinder, but still way below true sports-car standards), cheap "tuned for sport" suspension (even with the FE3 option), and a top speed of what, 140 mph?

Admittedly, its got nice aggressive styling, but it takes more than looks to make a sports car.


By Chaser on 10/9/2007 2:57:59 PM , Rating: 2
Isn't there a turbo model also that puts it over 200HP? For such a light car thats not bad at all.


By nitrous9200 on 10/9/2007 3:44:15 PM , Rating: 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Miata
The renowned MX-5 only has 170 HP. Still not enough power? Try this on for size: http://www.caranddriver.com/features/13723/mallett...
That'll get you going places!
Car and Driver also says that the "[The Solstice and the Sky] still love to run and are blessed with gifted handling and decent steering..."
Not quite a true sports car, I agree, but it's a sports car for the common man who doesn't need to blow $45K on a Boxster to get a "sporty" convertible. I do think it's more of a sports car than you give it credit for.


By onelittleindian on 10/9/2007 4:15:39 PM , Rating: 2
Sure, spring for the turbo-charged GXP version, along with the Club Sport suspension and 18" tires, and you're getting *close* to sports car territory. But you're still not there yet...and you're even further from the base Solstice.


By Samus on 10/10/2007 6:16:09 AM , Rating: 2
You know, most front-wheel drive vehicles outperform most rear-wheel drive vehicles in day-to-day tasks, such as fuel efficiency, weight savings, cost savings, safety, stupid-proof operation, maintenance, etc.

The only reason anyone needs rear-wheel drive is if they know how to drive and need it for a specific purpose (towing, performance, etc)

I've driven hundreds of front and rear wheel drive vehicles and my heart lies with rear-wheel drive for performance applications, but I would certainly rather have a front-wheel or all-wheel drive over my Mustang any day during the Chicago winter's. For those lucky enough to drive a Ford with a control-blade suspension (4th Gen Focus/British, Ford Puma, Volvo C30) you may realize what I mean when I say front-wheel drive can be amazing, even for performance with 200+ wHP.


By FastLaneTX on 10/9/2007 2:36:15 PM , Rating: 2
This is not a sports car. Honda's sports car (at least under that brand) is the S2000, a 240hp 2.0L VTEC engine that can do 0-60 in 5.3 secs and beats a Boxter in the slalom -- at half the cost, and over 30mph in typical driving. Until they get close to that kind of performance, they have no business calling the CR-Z a "sports" car. It's a sporty compact at best...


By dajeepster on 10/9/2007 6:18:41 PM , Rating: 2
for the 2004+ model year, they switched to a 2.2L VTEC engine with a lower redline... I owned a 2000 and 2002... really fun to drive.. just wasn't able to afford the lawyer when I went back to school :(

as much as I hate linking to wikipedia.. here you go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_S2000


By DeepBlue1975 on 10/9/2007 11:12:32 AM , Rating: 2
Today a 1.3L engine could go past 150bhp (I doubt that would be the case for a hybrid, though).
CVTs can give a slightly better acceleration than manual transmissions (much more so about normal auto shifters)
But well... In the end it'd all depend on weight, you definitely can get "sport car" acceleration times with "low powered" engines provided they weight is low enough.

What you don't get with "low hp" is "high" maximum speed, though (there's only so much you can do about aerodynamics... 150bhp could get you at best 140mph in a small sized, very low riding car with a great drag coef.)

The thing that puzzles me is that hybrid powertrains are not too weight friendly, so all the power you can harvest from a 1.3L is potentially to low to make a sports hybrid car.

Bottom line: I agree with all you said, but I think this could hold promise.


By theapparition on 10/9/2007 12:35:45 PM , Rating: 2
Any way you slice it, this will not be a "sports" car. It may be a sporty hatchback, but no sports car.

There's so much more to a sports car than just hp/weight ratio.


By Amiga500 on 10/9/2007 4:04:10 PM , Rating: 2
Your all too worried about the engine under the bonnet instead of focusing on what will put a smile on your face when driving it - the ability to thrash it around corners on a back road.

You don't [i]need[/i] 200+ bhp to do that! In fact, you don't really want 200 bhp to do that.

There are far too many car manufacturers that focus on bhp and miss out on the more important things, namely balance, steering feedback, brake feedback, pedal position, gearchange and seat supportiveness. Those make a car fun to drive, not squirting off at the lights.

*well, at least they do to me.


By Amiga500 on 10/9/2007 4:05:07 PM , Rating: 2
Feck sake - every other site in the world uses [i] and not :-D

D'oh!