Click above to view high-res gallery of the Honda CR-Z Concept
More news from the front lines of Honda's hybrid offensive. Honda CEO Takeo Fukui revealed in January that a production hybrid based on the CR-Z Concept shown in Tokyo last year was on its way. Looks like Europeans will be the first to partake of the spiritual successor to the much missed CR-X when it goes on sale there first around the end of the decade.
The original CR-X was a small, lightweight hatchback that by virtue of its size was a fun car despite its small, efficient engine. Likewise, we expect the production CR-Z coupe to be small, fun and efficient, but this time utilize Honda's updated Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system to make it happen.
Honda UK manager of product planning Mark Turner told Automotive News Europe that the production CR-Z hybrid would be priced around €25,000, with a high-end model cresting €28,000. Since Europe will be the car's most important market, Honda UK will have a voice in the car's development, including its design. Engineering for the car is also being carried out at Honda's R&D facility in Germany. Turner added that a gasoline version of the CR-Z would be considered if there were demand for it. The CR-Z will join Honda's upcoming ground-up global hybrid, as well as a new Civic Hybrid, in late 2009 or early 2010. If Honda hopes to sell half a million hybrids by 2011 like it claims, expect all three to also be available in the United States.
[Source: Automotive News Europe, sub. req'd, Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dustin @ Feb 20th 2008 1:37PM
A European-built CRX successor? Sign me up!
geo.stewart @ Feb 20th 2008 2:35PM
at 25K pounds, thats about 31K US. thats steep for a CRX and I dont think its any S2000 replacement.
get that back down to the 20K for a Civic hybrid and your in much better waters.
Dustin @ Feb 20th 2008 3:24PM
Actually I believe they're showing Euros. And seeing as how the European Civic Hybrid sells for 23,000 Euros and is the same basic car that the US gets for $23,000, we can assume that the CR-Z could be around $25,000 or so. Which is a lot for a "CRX," but maybe not too much for a modern day hybrid CR-Z. I guess we'll wait and see.
MixiM @ Feb 20th 2008 3:52PM
Hum, don't like the idea of a hybrid powertrain... Adds weight and batteries degrade anyway! Not so good for this type of vehicle.
John Johnson @ Feb 20th 2008 1:39PM
Do what you want, just make it light and with an engine bay big enough for a K20 and a turbo and you'll have a real winner. People do it to a Honda Fit, no doubt they'll do it to this.
Dave T. @ Feb 20th 2008 1:45PM
Those prices would be the same as a Prius in Europe. I thought this was supposed to be a low cost hybrid? or the lowest yet? Or is that for another vehicle altogether?
Prius prices in the US are $21-$24K. Would folks buy the CR-Z hybrid for that? One problem with hybrids is there isn't a sub-$20K model out there that would sell like hotcakes.
Dustin @ Feb 20th 2008 3:27PM
Yes you're thinking of a different vehicle, the one linked to in the article. That one could be as low as 16,000 Euros, in other words nicely under $20,000.
Vintage @ Feb 20th 2008 1:50PM
That looks about as 'small' as the current Civic SI, which is larger than my 89 accord. Hence: It isn't small. At all.
MemphisNET @ Feb 20th 2008 2:06PM
Insight part 2?
Franz @ Feb 20th 2008 2:55PM
I was actually hoping to see the production version of this with a high winding engine like the K20A. Oh, well.
Huecifer @ Feb 20th 2008 3:24PM
A CR-X successor called the CR-Z. I wonder why they didn't go with the CR-Y....oh wait, nevermind.
psarhjinian @ Feb 20th 2008 11:12PM
Hybrid = off-the-line torque.
A light car (let's say ~2600lbs, given that the mid-size, five-seat Prius is ~2900lbs) that uses the hybrid powertrain to supply 250-300ft/lbs of torque at **0rpm** to offset the traditionally weak small-displacement Honda engine sounds good to me.
Red @ Feb 20th 2008 4:57PM
I really wish people would stop referring to this as the "CRX successor". It shares some styling cues and it's fuel efficient, but that's pretty much where the similarities end.
naggs @ Feb 20th 2008 5:03PM
the guys running honda are officially retarded
ruining what should have been an excellent car by making it hybrid only
naggs @ Feb 20th 2008 5:06PM
"Turner added that a gasoline version of the CR-Z would be considered if there were demand for it."
just read that part. if this thing can truly be called a crx successor, then greenlight the good version NOW!
celeritas @ Feb 20th 2008 6:58PM
I'm surprised this is being offered in Europe first. The Prius and hybrids in general don't sell well in Europe because diesel motors can get similar fuel economy without the complexity and weight of the hybrid powertrain. Well I guess all that really matters is that its cheap, lightweight and fun. I hope Honda gets the styling right with this one unlike the Pilot and Acura RL they showed recently.
Rick @ Feb 20th 2008 7:27PM
Large Mouth Bass. Seriously.
Mi key @ Feb 20th 2008 8:35PM
"The Prius and hybrids in general don't sell well in Europe because diesel motors can get similar fuel economy without the complexity and weight of the hybrid power train."
Isn't Diesel cheaper than Regular Gas in Europe? Maybe that’s why the Prius doesn’t sell so well in Europe. Or does Europe have more Hwy. than congested Rds.; I just find it hard to swallow that a Hybrid can’t be beneficial in Europe. I can't believe Europeans would be so gullible as to believe that kind of BS.
Anywho, as this is about the CR-Z coming to Europe I think that is great. Hasn’t there been rumored that the Global or Low Cost Hybrid will be coming to the US in 09-10 about the same time as this will be sold in Europe. As to the CR-Z pricing in Europe it will be different that what we again in the US will be paying.
Colin Smith @ Feb 20th 2008 9:19PM
Ummm...
well, Diesel is certainly cheaper in Europe, but more expensive in the UK, if that matters. However, in the real world, a good modern Diesel does indeed deliver better mileage than a complicated and expensive hybrid. Which is why most Europeans buy diesels. Toyota hybrids certainly are bought here, in small numbers, but by people who line up their pencils and worry if a spoon finds its way into the knife drawer, if you know what I mean...
navin @ Feb 20th 2008 10:30PM
I like the face, but thats it.