The new NSX is a goner and there won’t be another S2000. But all is not lost for fun Hondas. Foreman has been getting answers about the new CRZ coupe. It’s a hybrid, but it should be fun.
See what Clarkson and Co make of the competition here
It goes on sale late next year. And it’s more than just a dollied-up Insight. I spoke to a Japanese engineer involved. He looked at me very seriously, like his honour was at stake, and said they want people like us to want one not because it’s green but because it’s fun.
They even thought about building a non-hybrid version of the CRZ, but decided against it. Honda is royally cheesed off that Toyota gets seen as the king of green car companies, so to rebuild its tree-hugging image Honda wants to build a set of hybrid-only cars. The Insight and CRZ are the first two.
The CRZ’s engine is spunkier than the Insight’s. It’s a 104kW 1.8-litre. The ‘integrated motor assist’ system – that is, the hybrid gubbins of motor, battery and electronics – will be as per the Insight.
Our engineering mole went on: ‘It must be fun to drive. Must remind you of the original CRX.’ I said it couldn’t really be like that with the dull CVT transmission. He began to crack a smile, looked at the bottle of wine we’d drained, and said: ‘CVT is fine for the most people. But we are Honda! We must have manual!’
What’s it look like? Not far from the lovely little Tokyo show concept, we’re promised.
With that light body, lots of electric-assist torque and a revvy petrol engine, we ought to end up with something well worth a steer in.
Eeeew. It looks like a smiley emoticon on 4 wheels! (And it reminds me of a Stephen King short story.)
Yuk. Not if it was the last car on earth…
in relation to the crz im rather intrested as to how it performs to see if it matches its styling.compared to the 08/09 body styling of the latest generation imprezza which to me is puss, as i own an 07 limited edition wrx with a few mods equating to 750nm of torque at all paws i rather fancy the crz
six or seven speed gearbox diesel is the only way to go everthing else is a flash in the pan waste of time.
how can you say “reminds you of the crx”. Blasphemy.
now I among your readers
Yeah they have the right idea just not the right car.
We probly don’t have the technology to make a hybrid fun.
Earth Lover’s new favrite car the Sporty new Hybrid
see even that has no ring to it i’m sorry Honda just make a good hydrogen converter so Normal petrol cars can be converted to Hydrogen same as you do for gas except for the i just feel like catching on fire attitute that gas cars have.