If you’re like me, you were more than a little disappointed in Honda’s CR-Z hybrid coupe. The sharp looking hybrid two-seater, a spiritual successor to the CRX of the late 80′s/early 90′s, lacked both sportiness and the fuel efficiency of its predecessor. With just 122 horsepower on tap, a 3,900 pound curb weight, and MPG ratings 31 city/37 highway, it was a major let down for lots of people.
But Honda seems to be listening. AutoExpress is reporting that Honda is working with in-house tuning company Mugen to produce a sportier, more powerful CR-Z Type-R. But will fuel economy suffer?
The CR-Z certainly is a hot commodity, and with the demise of the S2000, Honda is lacking a fun performance model. The standard CR-Z isn’t going to change that, with a 102 horsepower petrol engine and a 20 horsepower electric motor, for a total power output of just 122 horsepower. But AutoExpress claims the Type-R CR-Z would have a 150 horsepower petrol engine, and a 50 horsepower electric motor. Yes, the Type-R would still be a hybrid.
As Honda fanboys already know, the Type-R moniker is reserved for Honda’s performance models. Aside from increased horsepower, the suspension will surely get tweaked and improved, and a body kit is likely to be added as well. AutoExpress claims that since the CR-Z was designed from the outset as a hybrid, it will be unable to take the Civic Type R’s 2.0 liter petrol engine. It will have to maintain a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain. AutoExpress also claims that the 0-60 time will be under 6 seconds, and a top speed of 140 mph. Alas, the Type-R may only make it to the UK, Japan, and Europe, and not here in America. We won’t know until the CR-Z Type-R is officially unveiled, likely, at the Tokyo Auto Show next year.
The potential for a hybrid-performance coupe is immense. I’m hoping Honda puts a torque-dump button on the CR-Z that will give it an immediate boost to torque from the electric motor. That would surprise a lot of people who otherwise wouldn’t expect performance from a hybrid… including me. They just need to make sure it still gets good gas mileage. Otherwise, why bother making it a hybrid?
Source: AutoExpress | Image: miroslav (via AutoExpress)
PDF 
About Christopher DeMorro
3900lbs? Really? Every referrence I find in the internet indicate a weight of 2800ish.
G.L.
3900lbs? Really? Every referrence I find in the internet indicate a weight of 2800ish.
G.L.
I’m a Honda fan, as much as anyone can be a “fan” of a corporation, but the way the company has waffled on the Insight is discouraging. When they launched the original Insight in 1999, I was ecstatic. I bought one in 2000 and was thrilled with the car. One problem: where was the marketing?
You’ll recall that all magazine or newspaper articles on hybrids at the time used the Prius as the prime example–a technology that was ~33 percent less efficient. At the same time, strangers walked up to me all the time and asked “How does it run? Does is use gas? Can you buy it at a regular dealership? Do you have to plug it in?” etc., showing that the company had done an epic job of not educating their prospects.
The result was a discontinuation of the car. Now they come back with something that’s about as green as a Ford Escape. What in the world are they thinking? If they want to continue to squander their brand equity and customer good will, they should absolutely promote the product manager for this sheep in sheep’s clothing. Otherwise, Honda, would you please find someone who understands that the success of the Prius, though undeserved, was not anomalous, and that the big winner in hybrids will be the company that comes out with the first plug-in, attractive, 130 mpg+ vehicle–not the company that comes out with another yawn-generating compromise.
I’m a Honda fan, as much as anyone can be a “fan” of a corporation, but the way the company has waffled on the Insight is discouraging. When they launched the original Insight in 1999, I was ecstatic. I bought one in 2000 and was thrilled with the car. One problem: where was the marketing?
You’ll recall that all magazine or newspaper articles on hybrids at the time used the Prius as the prime example–a technology that was ~33 percent less efficient. At the same time, strangers walked up to me all the time and asked “How does it run? Does is use gas? Can you buy it at a regular dealership? Do you have to plug it in?” etc., showing that the company had done an epic job of not educating their prospects.
The result was a discontinuation of the car. Now they come back with something that’s about as green as a Ford Escape. What in the world are they thinking? If they want to continue to squander their brand equity and customer good will, they should absolutely promote the product manager for this sheep in sheep’s clothing. Otherwise, Honda, would you please find someone who understands that the success of the Prius, though undeserved, was not anomalous, and that the big winner in hybrids will be the company that comes out with the first plug-in, attractive, 130 mpg+ vehicle–not the company that comes out with another yawn-generating compromise.
Honda need to do something to start selling more cars. They haven’t come up with anything innovative for a while now.
Honda need to do something to start selling more cars. They haven’t come up with anything innovative for a while now.
Just put a TDI in it—-POWER and Ecomomy!!!!
yeah, “3,900 pound curb weight” seems *way* off.
http://cr-z.honda.com/specifications/
“Weight (lbs., preliminary estimates): Approximately 2,670 (MT) to 2,725 (CVT)”
yeah, “3,900 pound curb weight” seems *way* off.
http://cr-z.honda.com/specifications/
“Weight (lbs., preliminary estimates): Approximately 2,670 (MT) to 2,725 (CVT)”
Opps!
Whose bright idea was it to put the 2 key next to the 3…
Opps!
Whose bright idea was it to put the 2 key next to the 3…