FURTHER DETAILS: Hotter 2012 Honda CR-Z

Some speculation has been revealed on the hotter gasoline-hybrid powered CR-Z. Rumors claim that this model will be powered by a 160hp engine and will continue to use an electric motor. Fuel efficiency will not be dampened as Honda engineers will do their best to extract the most out of this engine. Honda decided not to use a turbo because it would create problems with the hybrid drive. Except an improved hybrid motor. Rumors also claim that the hotter model will debut with a revised hybrid engine to come in 2012. More to come...

Hotter CR-Z in the works

Since its launch, the CR-Z's hybrid powertrain has been both a draw and a gaping disappointment for the sporty car. It certainly ain't weak, but it ain't fast either. Heeding on the heels of its critics, Honda has confirmed the development of a more sporty powertrain for the CR-Z. However, and this continues to be a deal-breaker for many, it will be a sporty HYBRID powertrain. Honda's R&D head admits that the CR-Z does not hold to the performance standards some of its customers expect. He also stated that a high-compression gasoline engine would fit best with the electric-propulsion component from the hybrid motor. The next-generation car will supposedly be on par with fuel efficiency, or at least Honda is trying to do so. 

A one-off CR-Z developed by Mugen is said to improve the horsepower and handling of the vehicle, it will be shown later this year. 

Why is Honda's CR-Z most appealing to teenage boys?

It may not be Honda's target audience, or at least somewhat close to it, but it is believed that Honda has found an audience for its CR-Z sporty hybrid car. Who are the only ones to buy the CR-Z? Find out @ http://blogs.forbes.com/hannahelliott/2011/03/02/teenage-boys-are-the-only-ones-who-will-buy-the-honda-cr-z/

Consumer Reports Releases Ratings

Honda's 2011 Fit won Best Value and Best Used Small Car

Honda topped Consumer Reports' annual rankings of automakers for 2011. No Honda product scores less than average in reliability and CR recommends 76% of Hondas it has tested. Recent Honda models including the CR-Z and Insight have been disappointing and have not been recommended due to their low score. The redesigned Odyssey is also down a couple of points compared to the 2010 model.

In other categories, the Honda Fit won Best Value for a Small Car along with Best Used Small Car, the Acura TSX 4-cyl won Best Value for Upscale Sedan, the Acura RL won Best Used Luxury Car, the Honda CR-V winning Best Used Compact SUV and the Ridgeline winning Best Used Pickup Truck.

Toronto Auto Show: Honda models get REMIX treatment

Honda is making a splash at the 2011 Toronto Auto Show with REMIX versions of the 2011 CR-Z and Accord Coupe. These models were developed with the help of the Performance Auto & Sound Magazine, showcasing the tuning potential of the Accord Coupe and CR-Z. The CR-Z REMIX has an AEM cold air intake, Magnaflow exhaust, BC Racing ER-Series coilovers, 18-inch Enkei wheels with high performance Yokohama S Drive tires as well as matte white paint and matte black accents. PASMAG also has inputted a sound system with a 6.1 inch touchscreen, high-end Arsenal amplifiers, subwoofers and speakers. The Accord Coupe received the same treatment except with 4-piston larger front brakes, 19-inchers and Phoneix Gold amplifiers with Energy speakers.

If you're interested in checking them out, they're on display from February 18-27 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Euro NCAP's Best and Worst Performers of 2010

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which is similar to the American IIHS testing regimen, has released a list with the safest car in each vehicle category and the two worst performers overall of 2010. The cars that attained the coveted five star rating and achieved the highest overall score in their respective segment are:

------ Executive category: BMW 5 Series
------ Small Family category: Alfa Romeo Giulietta
------ Supermini category: Honda CR-Z
------ Small off-road 4×4 category: Kia Sportage
------ Small MPV category: Toyota Verso

On the other side of the fence are two models that achieved the poorest results of 2010. These are the Citroen Nemo with three stars and China's Landwind CV9 that received only two stars.

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Silk Blaze Creates 271HP Honda CR-Z with HKS Turbocharger

One of the most striking Honda CR-Z proposals at this year's edition of the Tokyo Auto Salon came from Japanese tuning firm Silk Blaze. The heavily modded concept model boasts a full body kit with a new front bumper and grille assembly, side skirts, a rear wing and a new rear bumper with additional air vents on top, plus a diffuser and three-exhaust pipe openings in the center. The tuned CR-Z rides on deep-dish 19-inch alloys wrapped in chunky 225/30 rubber.

Even more impressive is the beast that lurks under the hood as the tuner said the CR-Z concept model features a HKS supercharged version of the 1.5-liter four-banger delivering 271-horses (202.4 kW). No other details were given about the powertrain upgrades in the firm's spec sheet. You can gaze upon the rest of the pictures after the break.

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VIDEO: Honda CR-Z TS-1X Concept Car Walk-Around

Revealed at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon, the Honda CR-Z TS-1X hybrid concept car is an impressive lil' beast with its stealthy matte-black paintjob and extensive aerodynamics package. The automaker’s initial press release was short on details, but, luckily, a walk-around clip (or shall we say talk-around?) has surfaced on Youtube, detailing some of the innovations developed by Honda.

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Honda CR-Z Turbo Fast-tracked?

A very popular customized Honda CR-Z shown at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon

Honda is fast-tracking the production of the CR-Z Turbo according to Japanese sources. It will likely be available in two versions, a 160hp and a 200hp version. Sources say that buyer feedback have been so strong and sales have been slightly off that Honda is fast-tracking the turbo development. Rumors say to look for the turbo version to debut in December. The 1.6 Turbo reportedly will provide the similar performance of Honda's 2.0L engines but because of forced induction and Honda's i-VTEC technology, will provide better than expected fuel economy.

PR: Honda at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon

Honda's test study on the CR-Z at the Salon

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will present an exhibit at Tokyo Auto Salon 2011 with NAPAC(1), to be held from Friday, January 14, to Sunday, January 16, 2011, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. On display will be automobiles and motorcycles (including display vehicles), power products, racing vehicles, and other products, that highlight the many possibilities that customization has to offer while simultaneously conveying the joy of mobility and motorsports appeal.

At this year's event, Honda Access Corporation(2), the manufacturer of genuine Honda aftermarket parts and accessories, will display a TS-1X test study model based on the CR-Z. 

Also on display are accessorized production automobiles and motorcycles, along with a variety of specially designed vehicles to show the playful nature of customization, such as the Freed Spike caravan car, the Acty Truck and the Enepo generator special coloring editions.

Racing vehicles on display will include the HSV-010 GT machine, which won both the driver and team titles for the the Super GT Series GT500-class races, and the RC212V, which competed in the MotoGP class races, the pinnacle of world motorcycle road racing competition.


Honda vehicles on exhibit

I. Display vehicle - test study model

Automobiles (1 unit)
- TS-1X (base model: CR-Z)

II. Display vehicles - competition models

Motorcycles (1 unit)
- MotoGP: RC212V (Repsol Honda Team)

Automobiles (3 units)
- Super GT: HSV-010 GT (Weider Honda Racing)
- Formula Nippon: FN09
- Indy Car Series: 2011 Indy Japan 300 mascot car

III. Accessorized vehicles

Motorcycles (5 units)
- VT1300CX
- CB1100
- VT400S
- PCX
- FORZA

Automobiles (4 units)
- Sports Modulo NSX (display vehicle accessorized with genuine Honda aftermarket parts that is scheduled to go on sale at the end of May)
- Modulo STEPWGN
- Modulo CR-Z
- Modulo Fit Hybrid

IV. Other display vehicles and products

Motorcycles (1 unit)
- Super Cub 50 (Love Cub 50 Project specifications)

Automobiles (3 units)
- "Running Station ASICS x Honda" Freed Spike caravan car
- "Camping Station Coleman x Honda" Freed Spike caravan car
- Acty Truck (Tokyo Auto Salon special color)

Power products (2 units)
- Enepo (Tokyo Auto Salon special color)
- Pianta (Tokyo Auto Salon special color)

Honda to Debut CR-Z TS-1X Concept at this week's Tokyo Auto Salon

With the conclusion of the press days of the 2011 Detroit Motor Show, the automotive world is now shifting its focus on the Tokyo Auto Salon 2011, which will be held from Friday, January 14, to Sunday, January 16, at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

At this year's event, Honda will be presenting several vehicles including the TS-1X concept study based on the CR-Z hybrid. The prototype model is the work of Honda Access Corporation, the Japanese carmaker's in-house aftermarket division.

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Honda Germany Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Special Edition Models

Honda has launched a new series of special edition models in Germany to celebrated the company's 50th anniversary in Europe. The first Honda store in Germany opened in 1961 in the city of Hamburg. The lineup of special edition models includes the CR-Z hybrid sport hatch, the Civic, the CR-V, the Accord and the Jazz, all of which feature additional standard equipment such as larger alloy wheels and upgraded audio systems (depending on the model) without a price increase. More details on the 50th Anniversary specials can be found on Honda's German website.

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Honda CR-Z: Honda so excited about winning Japan Car of the Year that gets special edition

The 2011 Honda CR-Z may not exactly be sailing to success here in the U.S., but it has managed to walk away with the coveted Japan Car of the Year title. In order to celebrate, Honda has decided to work up a new special edition version of its tiny sport hybrid.

Only available in a special "Pearl Dipusafaiaburu" blue paint, the hatch makes use of unique 16-inch alloy wheels and premium metal pedal pads inside. If the color and the wheels don't make this one easy enough to spot, Honda has also gone through the extra effort of placing a "Japan Car of the Year" commemorative sticker on the rear quarter glass behind the driver's side door.

Otherwise, the Japan Car of the Year Edition CR-Z will remain completely stock. Neither fuel economy nor power has been upped in any way. Not surprisingly, it looks like this one will remain a Japanese-only offering. Still, if you like what you see, chances are you could recreate the special edition CR-Z without breaking a sweat – or your bank account for that matter.

Honda Releases a CR-Z Special Edition in Japan

Following the CR-Z's win of the 2010 Japan Car of the Year, Honda has decided to celebrate this win in Japan by introducing a special edition of the CR-Z. It's available only in a special "Pearl Dipusafaiaburu" blue paint, contains unique 16-inch alloy wheels and has premium metal pedals inside. Honda has also placed a Japan Car of the Year sticker on the rear quarter glass behind the driver's side door. Other than that, the CR-Z remains entirely stock and will probably be a Japan-only model. 

Honda CR-Z Hybrid Sport Hatch Noblesse Wings Up

Honda CR-Z Hybrid Sport Hatch Noblesse Wings Up

Japanese tuner has been continuously releasing the Noblesse many aftermarket pieces for the new Honda CR-Z was always his hybrid sport hatch opened. Among other parts, the company developed the basic aero kit with front and rear bumpers, side skirts, rear diffuser and large roof wing. This may be due to mild carbon hood, aero parts, chassis, larger alloy wheels and sport exhaust system added. You can look at the photos dealing with the Noblesse Honda CR-Z, a video from a bike test circuit to make the car right after the jump.

Source: Noblesse Via: Mind Farm

Noblesse Wings Up Honda CR-Z Hybrid Sport Hatch

Japanese tuner Noblesse has been steadily releasing numerous aftermarket bits and pieces for the new CR-Z ever since Honda launched its hybrid sport hatch . Among other parts, the company has developed a ground aero-kit with front and rear bumper aprons, side skirts, a rear diffuser and a large roof wing. These can be complemented by a lightweight carbon fiber hood, underbody aero parts, larger alloy wheels and a sport exhaust system. You can check out photos of Noblesse's Honda CR-Z offerings along with a video of a test car doing a circuit round right after the jump.

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New Honda CR-Z JCOTY Memorial Award Edition Shows off with Special Paint...and that's About it

To commemorate its "Japanese Car of the Year" award, Honda will release a limited edition of its CR-Z sport-hybrid hatch in Japan. Billed as a "Memorial Award Edition", the car will be coated in a hue called Pearl Deep Sapphire Blue and will roll on unique Dark Pewter Gray 16-inch rims.

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CTV.ca's Honda CR-Z Review

REVIEW COPYRIGHTED BY CTV

Brent Jamieson, CTV.ca News

Date: Wednesday Dec. 15, 2010 7:16 AM ET

This year Honda unveiled its brand new 2011 CR-Z Sport Hybrid – one of their most anticipated 2011 models, with the looks harking back to the CRX of old.

With its sloping nose and high rear end, this car is definitely a head turner, as proved on the drive back one night as I caught glimpse of Acura owner looking over his shoulder as he slowly passed me in rush hour traffic.

Available only in one trim level, the CR-Z has two unique tricks up its sleeve. It is the first Hybrid car to offer a 6-speed manual transmission, in comparison to Honda's current Hybrids (the Civic Hybrid and the Insight) which only come in an automatic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). It also has three different driving modes -- Econ, Normal and Sport. Each mode gives you a different driving experience. Starting at only 23,490, this is the cheapest Hybrid currently on the market.

Options: The CR-Z comes well equipped with 16" Alloy Wheels, 7-speaker audio system, HID (High Intensity Discharge) Headlights, fog lights, audio controls on the steering wheel, cruise control, Bluetooth handsfree connectivity, air conditioning, power doors, power mirrors and power locks.  For an extra $800, you can equip the CR-Z with the CVT, which comes with steering wheel paddle shifters – so, even if you don't know how to drive a standard, you can at least have some fun.

Safety:  The car comes with 6 airbags, 4-wheel ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Brake Assist, Hill Assist Start for the manual transmission and Creep-aid System for the CVT– both of which prevent the car from rolling backwards from starting on a hill.

Mileage: Advertised fuel economy of the CR-Z manual is 6.5L/100km for City and 5.3L/100km for highway and a combined fuel economy of 6L/100km.

The fuel economy of the CVT is 5.6L/100km for City, 5L/100km for Highway and a combined economy of 5.3L/100km. The model I had was equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission and I was able to get, with my daily commute of a combined winter rush hour traffic and city driving, 7.2L/100km. With its 40 litre tank, and 122HP Hybrid engine, this car can get you from A to D and be able to have lots of fun in between.

Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde

When starting the CR-Z, the first thing I picked up was the three buttons just left of the steering wheel marked Econ, Normal and Sport. Those were the clear identifiers of what mode you could put the car into. Every time you start the car, it starts in Normal mode, which I found a bit of annoyance, because if you pulled into your local grocery store in Sport Mode, you'd like to be able to leave in Sport Mode Instead, when you turn off the car, it automatically reverts back to Normal Mode, which is like having your radio programmed to your favourite radio station, and then every time you turn it back on, it sets itself to stations only your grandparents would listen to.

This was annoying, but not hard to change, especially when driving. While driving the car in Econ or Normal mode, I found its standing start and acceleration a little sluggish -- kind of like driving a minivan. But as soon as you hit that Sport mode button, the car transformed itself like a car from a 1980s cartoon into the sport coupe it is designed to be.

The handling, acceleration, and Hybrid system changes with each setting. In Econ mode, the car is as close you can come to a Hybrid. It relies heavily on the electric motor, and when you shift into neutral as you come up to a stop, the electric motor kicks in, shutting off the gas motor so that you are not wasting fuel as you wait your turn to go. The light around the RPM gauge changes from blue to green as you drive in an economical fashion, and you get a shift reminder.

In Normal mode, the acceleration is a little more responsive as the car isn't relying so much on the electric motor, and I found that I was driving in an economical fashion, even at 401 highway speeds, as the blue light changed to green with a slow and steady acceleration. The car will still switch to the electric motor at a standing stop, with the transmission in neutral, like the Econ mode – but it takes it a longer time for that system to activate, especially in the winter, and you still have the shift reminder.

But it's in Sport mode where you have the most fun. Putting the CR-Z in that mode, not only changed the acceleration, but also firmed up the steering, allowing the car to be more responsive to quick directional changes – making it easier to move around Christmas traffic. Not only that, but the car relies more on the gas motor than the electric motor, giving the batteries a chance to charge up with the hybrid system. Display wise, the blue light changes to red and stays red, and the shift reminder -- which you can glance at while driving in Econ and Normal mode -- is shut off, and it is now fully a driver's car.

On the exterior, the car is designed for absolute aerodynamics. From the front grill, to the back bumper, every curve and angle has been considered for not only looks but also performance. Driving straight into a head-wind, and with just a little bit of extra pressure on the gas, the car cut through it like a hot knife through butter without having to grip the wheel with a death-like grip.

But aerodynamics come at a price. With the unique design of the windshield, if you get a rock chip or crack, it could be costly to repair. And with the straight back end of the car, the designers installed a straight back window, to allow you to see clearly out behind you. Which is great, if it comes with a wiper. But because the tinted window at the back is so small, there is no wiper on it, and because it's a straight window, it gets covered in road spray, which makes it difficult to see out of in the winter.

Comfort wise, the CR-Z is planted on the road, and very surefooted, even in the worst conditions. The suspension is like driving a luxury sedan, as not even the harshest of bumps throws off the car. With standard fog lights and HID Headlights, this car is not blind on the road. Inside, the controls are easy to access and clearly marked. The two cup holders are not in the way of the shifter, making it possible to shift without having to reach around, or accidently hit, your coffee that you just picked up from your favourite drive thru -- making this a car that was designed for the manual transmission, before they installed the automatic.

The transmission is very easy to shift and there is no way that you could accidently put it into reverse, or the wrong gear.

With its small size, the designers put in many cubby areas, so that even though you don't have a back seat, you at least have a spot to place your laptop without having to go into the trunk. That being said, because the batteries are right behind the seats, they sacrifice extra leg room making it a tight squeeze for someone over 6 feet.

Cargo capacity, though, is pretty good. The hatch-like trunk allows you to load in a full-size travel bag width wise, plus others without having to fold down the divider between the seats and the trunk. With the divider area down, you gain enough space to load in two sets of golf clubs so that you and a buddy can go golfing. And without a passenger, you can carry something 6 feet in length with the passenger seat moved as far forward and folded as far forward as possible, without a problem. One of the things you need to watch out for when loading the trunk, is that the liftgate doesn't go as high as you think, so you might hit the back of your head on the latch mechanism.

Parking the CR-Z is easy. With its size and tight turning radius, you can park it with the same ease as a sub-compact. Because of its size, you're able to pull into a parking spot beside someone who doesn't know how to park, without having to worry about them hitting you car, or the back end sticking out beyond the end of the yellow lines. And if your work or mall has Hybrid Parking, you aren't wasting your time trying to find the best parking spot and ending up in a "valley of death" overflow lot.

Overall, this car definitely looks to the past for its design and to the future for its technology.

2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid

• Type: Two door Sport Hybrid Coupe
• Price Range: 23,490 – 27,857
• Engine: 1.5 Litre, four cylinder with 10 kilowatt Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)
• Horsepower: 122 HP
• Transmission: 6 Speed Manual / CVT
• Drive: Front wheel
• Competitors: None at the moment

[CTV.ca, full link can be found @ http://autos.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Autos/20101214/honda-cr-z-sport-hybrid-101215/?s_name=Autos] 

That's More Like It: Tuner Powers up Honda CR-Z with K20 i-VTEC Engine Swap

If there's one major complaint to be had with the Honda CR-Z, it's the lack of power. Florida-based tuning firm LHT Performance decided to address this problem by replacing the CR-Z's standard hybrid powerplant with a far more potent 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit from Honda's own K20 series. This is not the first time that LHT Performance has made the switch on a Honda hybrid as the tuner previously pulled a similar stunt with the Insight. Unfortunately the company has not released any specific details on the K20 engine swap, but it did not that "everything works 100%". Watch a static video of the car after the break.

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Guest Post - Honda CR-Z Scoops Top Gear Award

Honda scoops Top Gear’s Green Car of the Year

By Ant Bradshaw

Top Gear has awarded their Green Car of the Year award to the Honda CR-Z.

This latest award takes their award tally up to four in as many weeks for the sporty hybrid model, in a list which also features the What Car? Green Award for Best Sports Car and Japan’s Car of the Year 2010-2011.

The Top Gear judges were won over by the CR-Z’s ability to cope with anything thrown at it, including busy back streets of the Third Ring district in China as well as a sporty look, responsive handling and excellent fuel efficiency.

In a statement, Top Gear said: “Of all the cars we’ve brought to Chinda, CR-Z is far and away the one I feel most at home with – and most excited about. Compact, accessible and responsive, it’s a breeze to drive in this hectic and distracting place.”

Managing Director for Honda (UK), Dave Hodgetts said: “To be recognised for a publication as well respected as Top Gear is a great achievement for the CR-Z and for Honda.

“We’re so please with the reception the CR-Z has received from the press, especially when you consider the strength of the competition out there. The car has only been on sale for nine months but we’re already looking for a bigger trophy cabinet!”

And who can blame them? With the recent success that the CR-Z has had – it is no wonder Honda are looking to the future.

The new CR-Z starts at £16,999 OTR and combines a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine, six-speed manual gearbox and Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist system.

About the Author

Ant Bradshaw is currently working for Askaprice.com which can provide you with a great deal of information on a range of car manufacturers and models as well as all the latest news and reviews from the car industry. Askaprice.com can also provide you with completely free, no obligation http://www.askaprice.com/new/cars/honda.asp”>new Honda Quotes.