Tokyo Preview: Near-production Honda CR-Z "Concept" unveiled
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Sep 30th 2009 at 12:19AM 
2009 Honda CR-Z Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
One of the most highly-anticipated new model releases scheduled to debut at next month's Tokyo Motor Show would have to be the production version of Honda's CR-Z hybrid hatchback. That's not happening. Instead, we're getting a concept version of the production car. First unveiled at the Tokyo show back in 2007 in pure concept form, the sporty two-passenger CR-Z is slated for production early next year in Japan. We expect the CR-Z to hit the States sometime thereafter.
Underhood will be a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to Honda's proprietary Integrated Motor Assist technology. Also on the menu will be a six-speed manual gearbox that will surely be a more entertaining partner for driving enthusiasts than the CVT used in the Insight hatchback.
While Honda is still calling the Tokyo-bound 2009 version of the CR-Z a concept, it's clearly one of those concept-in-name-only deals. Don't expect the attractive sheetmetal to be altered before the car hits the showroom floor, and that interior is pretty much the same one you'll be able to sample in 2010. That's fine by us – the car's wedge-shaped lines are very attractive and call to mind the seminal CRX from the early 1980s, though with a modern flavor reminiscent of the current Insight. See for yourselves in our gallery below.
Gallery: 2009 Honda CR-Z Concept
[Source: Honda]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
allaman 12:23AM (9/30/2009)
is it just me, or has does Honda need to work on getting it's design groove back?
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AC 12:29AM (9/30/2009)
yea.. the design groove pretty much ended with the 2002 Honda Accord... (or 2003 Acura TL)
BMW pretty much sank at the same time with Honda...
zamafir 12:41AM (9/30/2009)
rear: good. front: good. side:fugly. interior: civic cheap so you KNOW this is the production car. I'm with you guys, the concept flowed. this, I dunno, its another car that feels like they cut a pair of cars in half and combined the front end of one with the rear of another.
thomas 1:22AM (9/30/2009)
@AC
tell that to all the people who keep buying them.
i think aside from the over-sized grill its great looking.
but what do i know.
daleam 3:13AM (9/30/2009)
Keep it up, Honda... you're gonna die with crap like this.
MemphisNET 9:05AM (9/30/2009)
Agreed, but this is the first Honda product in a while that I find stylish. Very nice overall.
Polly Prissy Pants 9:17AM (9/30/2009)
I don't know what you guys are talking about, I think it looks awesome.
maz_alsamadi 9:51AM (9/30/2009)
It's amazing how jaded people become...a few years of unattractive Hondas followed by what I think is a very nice looking car and it still gets slammed.
This CR-Z is an attractive car. Well done Honda.
Chris 12:11PM (9/30/2009)
I love it.
craighead 12:24AM (9/30/2009)
Hows about a "Type-R"?
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fmwso 1:56AM (9/30/2009)
Oh yeah, I'm sure it's on the way. Then Mugen will have their fugly version, just like what they did with the Honda Insight. After that you will start seeing it everywhere with cheap aftermarket parts.
naggs 3:55AM (9/30/2009)
i would settle for a normal engine, there is no way that IMA crap doesnt get in the way.
this car with the civics single cam 1.8 would be so much fun
Aki 4:01AM (9/30/2009)
At least in Japan, Type-Rs have been in a slow sales decline over the years. Consumers there are shifting away from sport sedans and hatches, and are gravitating towards... sporty hybrids. It's totally foreign to people stateside and elsewhere (and I shake my head in shame with it too), but that's why you see Mugen putting out parts for the Honda Insight, Tommy Kaira for the Prius.
As for Honda plopping a K20Z3 (better yet K20A) in there, I suppose there's a slim chance of it happening in the US, but I wouldn't hold my breath for it. In Japan I highly doubt they'd move in that direction, given that they're focusing on fuel efficiency for the next-gen Civic.
High 12:25AM (9/30/2009)
Sad Honda is sad.
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James 2:27AM (9/30/2009)
Exactly what I was thinking.
...My, I don't want this at all. You hear me Honda? Not at all!
At least they got the EV-N concept right...
Cornholio 12:26AM (9/30/2009)
Hmmm. A bit too much front overhang, but certainly better than most other recent Honda styling efforts. And a manual gearbox with a hybrid powertrain? Interesting....
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Farmboy 12:47AM (9/30/2009)
Agreed on the overhang, but nothing a smart body kit wouldn't fix (hopefully). But hey at least it looks better than the Crosspuke.
ugg.tryptophan 10:19AM (9/30/2009)
yes yes yes, front spoiler to even things out a bit, and I'll take mine in blue!! this is the first honda ive wanted in a long time...
Patrick 12:27AM (9/30/2009)
Hmmmm interesting. I don't like the blacked out A-pillars though.
Thoughts of getting that crap Hybrid drivetrain out of there, instantly started flooding through my head.
B18 swap, F20C/RWD conversion, K20 etc.
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Mehdi Cheddadi 12:31AM (9/30/2009)
a two seater hatch? counter-intuitive much?
hatch = practical
twoseater =unpractical
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