Autoblog

Click the image above for live and press shots of the Honda CR-Z concept.

Honda's CR-Z concept has plenty of enthusiast potential. Small, lightweight, and packing a hybrid powertrain, it's all about striking a balance between performance and sustainability. While the first round of press shots sent warm tingles down our neck, seeing it in person did little to excite the senses. It's attractive, and the combination of a powerful stance and sloped profile is the business, but the CR-Z struck us as a bit anonymous.

There's plenty of pics in the gallery below and head on over to our original post for the full press release.



All live photos ©2007 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.

Looking kind of like a cross between a Ferrari 550 Maranello and a Daihatsu Copen, this unique 1991 Honda CRX Si is the creation of Tabor Lovasz, the owner of Gulf Coast Motors in Toronto. The project involved a full upgrade to the original car's mechanical package including H&R springs with Koni adjustable shocks and a Ractive Superflow intake, but the focus of the car's development was its unique body.

According to its developers, the paint is the same silver used by Mercedes and the back window and electronic sunroof is borrowed from a Mazda Miata. The wheels look they came from a Porsche, as well. Other than that, the car is basically stock. There's roughly 78,000 miles on the clock and the original four-cylinder and five-speed manual is the same as when it was bought new.

Thanks to David for sending in the tip.

[Source: eBay]

click above image for 15 high-rez pics of the Honda CR-Z Concept

Honda will have 18 different vehicles gracing its stand in Tokyo, and one of the more accessible is the CR-Z Concept. The pseudo-acronym is an obvious play on the Godfather of the sport compact movement during the late 80s, the glass-hatched CRX, but Honda insists that it stands for "Compact Renaissance Zero." Fine by us, as we've been looking fondly on the past when it comes to the automaker's small-sized offerings.

The CR-Z finds it inspiration with a balance of entertaining driving dynamics and a hybrid power train that fuses lightweight chuckability with a clear environmental conscience. And it's doable to, as the hybrid power train sounds as if it's the same one found in the Honda Civic Hybrid.

The exterior styling is some of the more dynamic and attractive we've seen come out of Honda's design department in recent memory, eschewing the bulbous and boring with more aggression and vitality. The oversized grille and raked hood are mildly reminiscent of a fully formed Se7en, and the upkicked swage line tapers into powerful rear haunches, ending with tube-shaped tail lamps.

Inside, Honda was shooting for an airy atmosphere that marries high-tech with high-style, something that seems to have been handily achieved.

We're looking forward to seeing the CR-Z in person when it debuts less than two-weeks from now, and if the concept is as handsome in person as it is in the pics, we hope that it'll reach dealers sometime after the turn of the decade.

[Source: Honda]

The Scooper of Cars seems to have it on good authority that during Honda's press conference in Tokyo, the Big-H plans to take the wraps off a new compact, rumored to be a successor to the CRX.

Originally, it was thought that the Remix concept that debuted in L.A. would foretell the future of Honda's hatch revival, but due to the chilly reception afforded both it and Geneva's Sports Coupe Concept, Honda designers were sent back to their respective cubicles to hone the shape further.

We'll be on hand in Tokyo when Honda rolls out its debuts, but until then, we're still looking for a yellow 1989 model, preferably with an Si logo on the glass hatch.

[Source: Carscoop]

Our brethren over at Winding Road have it on good authority that Honda is in the midst of developing a new CRX, based off the current Fit's platform. The decision to bring back the much-loved hatch was spurred on by vehicles like the MINI, whose size and sportiness has been attracting consumers of all stripes.

The demise of the CRX in 1991 was a blow to those who loved its small size and chuckability, but its descendent, the Del Sol (CRX in Japan), didn't garner much love from enthusiasts. Because of past fits and starts, Honda hasn't made a serious attempt at bringing back a suitable successor, however, a dedicated group of gearheads within the automaker may finally get a chance at returning the CRX to its former glory. Peter Nunn at Winding Road maintains that a "serious design proposal is underway" and that an internal decision is expected in the next few months.

[Source: Winding Road]

Thanks to Jalopnik for sharing this clip. Because of it we were able to rekindle memories of our youths, when kustom kreations filled our matchbox collections and Ed "Big Daddy" Roth had Rat Finks driving around in massively overmotored rods with giant rodents behind the wheel. Not sure about the driver of this particular CRX, but this thing can probably steal the cheese in any compact tuner showdown. If anybody has any info about how fast this thing is, let us know.