Honda CR-Z, Production-Ready Concept Car
 

Taken from
Straightline

Quote:
"Here's another instance of Honda calling a car a concept when it's actually mere inches away from production. This is the 2011 Honda CR-Z, and it is a reborn 1983-92 Civic CRX. It goes on sale in Japan in February 2010, with the U.S. following a few months after that.

Compact and sleek, this 161-inch long coupe/three-door hatch was first shown as a real concept at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show. Now two years on, the 2009 show car is "95 percent" of the real thing, according to Honda officials. The final, final production version will be unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Show in January.

We know that the 2011 CR-Z will be powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC inline-4 combined with Honda's IMA hybrid powertrain, tied to a 6-speed manual gearbox -- essentially the sportiest drivetrain setup the company has offered in a hybrid to date. However, we still think it's likely that Honda will broaden the appeal of the CR-Z line by offering several drivetrain options -- perhaps a price-leader base model with just the 1.5-liter gas engine and perhaps, perhaps a CR-Z Si with a slightly larger, revvier engine.

The CR-Z's busy, compact 2+2 cabin is now virtually production ready and it's believed the car's Ni-Mh battery pack lies beneath the rear floor, as per the Honda Insight, on which it's is based. Even the wheels on this "concept" look production-spec, and if the "lack" of exhaust pipes on the CR-Z gives you pause, just have a look at the tail of a production Insight -- the pipes are concealed on that car, too."

I think it looks great aside from a few details like the neon and blue lights. Hondas concept cars usually end up looking alot like the production versions. Considering the current Civic and Accord for example. The show car that Honda had out back in 2005 looked almost the same as the car I am driving now.

Here are some better photos I found.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...i/CR-Z-itf.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9.../CR-z-itf1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9.../CR-Z-itf2.jpg

Im guessing that the fancy show-car interior wont look quite the same and the front and rear lights/bumpers might be different to meet crash standards, but the production CRZ probably will look pretty much like the concept.

A K20 would be great, but with my 150 km drive every day, a hybrid might not be such a bad idea.

Assuming ur driving 150 hwy km's. Hybrid wouldn't be too practical. The electric motor only kicks on for stop n go traffic, the batt's can't handle the hwy driving.

It's true, those types of hybrids are not as good on the highway as they are engineered to be more efficient in stop and go traffic.

Aside from that...

The new CR-Z...As with pretty much all new cars, it'll be heavier and bigger than it needs to be. A step away from the original roots behind the CR-X. But that is the trend these days. I find myself dis-liking new cars and loving older cars more and more everyday...

It looks good, but the size and weight ruins it for me.


My $0.02.

Probably the first/last time I'll ever agree with you lol...

I was getting a soft spot for the new Challenger, compaired to all the others of its new remake of the old type. Then I looked at one close up... much bigger and bulkier than needed, like a chick at the bar when you have beer goggles on... Good from a far, but far from good.

I do like the front of this car (CR-Z) but the rear, notta so much. The lights look nice too in the back. I'd by one with a K24 swap :D

lol that thing is ****in ugly ..way 2 ruin a classic

It's cool, but it is ugly.

x2.
I guess I'll be keeping my EF's for a while .......

new gen crx! about time they made this,seen concept pics of this 2yrs ago.im interested in seeing how the 1.5L ivtec hybird will be.

itd be cool if they made the original crx with a new power plant and updated interior.
but this is just not a replacement for the crx and unless it is absolutely amazing im not selling my crx for one any time soon

i agree,id keep any old honda over any new one. i would like to see a v8vtec honda s2000.i heard rumors of that last yr.

They dont run on batteries. Actually Hondas IMA hybrid engines run mostly like a normal gas engine. They use a 1.5 or so gas engine with a small and light electric motor sandwiched between the engine and tranny. The electric motor acts as a starter and generator and adds a small amount of power and torque to the gas engine and supplies electrical power to the car.

Insight fuel economy city/highway 5.0/4.6
Civic Si fuel economy city/highway 10.2/6.8

I still like the CR-Z, but I guess we all cant drive around in a 10 or 15 year Civic and be satisfied.

Or a 19 & 20 year old civic and crx Lmao

My wifes first car was a an 85 CRX and to this day I still kick myself in the ass for scrapping it. Motor died but the body was solid as it was a southern car. A K20 in an 1800lb car would haul some serious a$$.

or 21 haha. i wonder what the weight of this car will be? a k series swap will probably be in the works as soon as it launches.

I like the look of this car more so than the old CRX.

They better put AT LEAST a K20...maybe Honda has a slight smaller K-series in the making.....

It's so nice...

Anyone know it would come here or not?