Honda CR-Z Hybrid
A hybrid sport's car?
That's what many are calling the 2012 CR-Z hybrid, Honda's latest offering. But, to be fair, the CR-Z is more like a sporty compact, not a sports car.
What's the difference?
The CR-Z is a fun to drive hybrid, but it doesn't offer the performance that hardcore sports car fans covet, that was an apples to oranges comparison in the first place.
Instead, the CR-Z hybrid offers a sporty design and sporty handling, in a fuel efficient hybrid package.
Hot
CR-Z Stories
-- Honda CR-Z hybrid recalled
-- Honda hybrid supplies limited through the summer
-- Hybrid car servicing: Dare to leave the dealership?
-- Bigger, more powerful CR-Z hybrid on the way
Anyway, Honda's latest hybrid is the first hybrid to be offered in two transmissions: an automatic CVT and a 6-speed manual transmission.
Likewise the the Honda CR-Z hybrid comes in 3 different trim levels, starting at just under $20,000 for the base package and $24,000 for the top level, which includes navigation, although as of November a 2012 Honda CR-Z hybrid can be purchased for up 9 percent off the sticker price.
According to Honda the CR-Z hybrid, which stands for Compact
Renaissance Zero, is a "unique value" as a sporty hybrid coupe.
And Honda is right, there just isn't anything out there that compares the the CR-Z.
So, is a two-seat sporty hybrid coupe just what the American market needs? Hey, it can't hurt and it helps scale Honda's hybrid technology -- that could help bring down the costs on all Honda hybrids.
Anyway, the new CR-Z
hybrid utilizes Honda's current Integrated Motor Assist
powertrain, pairing a 1.3-liter
four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, like the
rest of Honda's hybrid vehicles.
In any case, the
Honda CR-Z hybrid is just the the first many hybrid
sports cars, or at least sporty-like hybrids. Lest we forget, these are still hybrid cars, and the reason for hybrid technology is efficiency. At some point, that is always going to limit hybrid potential as sports cars, not that they can't be sporty, but sporty fuel efficiency costs more. And that isn't really the focus of fuel efficiency-minded Honda.
Ultimately, the CR-Z hybrid is small, fun commuter car, ideal for the urban dweller.
Why you should buy a CR-Z hybrid?
Awesome fuel economy in the sportiest, funnest, cheapest hybrid package available. How's that for a hybrid, sport?
For more information on
the Honda CR-Z hybrid, Click here.
Read more about
the CR-Z hybrid on Hybridcarblog.com. |
