Honda CR-Z May Return In 2018, But Not As A Hybrid

Remember the Honda CR-Z? It was the hybrid car that was going to put the fun back in driving an environmentally friendly car, except it didn’t. It had swoopy styling but it’s performance was tepid and that’s being kind. Sales started slow and got worse. While it is still available in the US, it has been quietly dropped from foreign markets.

But now, Car & Driver reports the CR-Z may make a comeback as a 2018 model. It will have an updated body and forget all about being a hybrid. Instead, it will have a hairy chested turbo 4 cylinder similar to the engine found in the mighty Civic Type R and cranking out 280 horsepower. The original CR-Z was a featherweight at 2200 lbs. If Honda can keep the weight of the new model down, the new CR-Z should be a screamer.

“The two reasons that forced Honda to phase it out [in Europe and Australia], namely its weak street cred and lack of performance thanks to its ho-hum hybrid power unit, have been addressed. The new coupe will be a force to reckon with,” insists C&D’s source deep within Honda’s R&D center in Tochigi.

Honda really doesn’t have an answer for the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ twins. Maybe it feels a need to get back into the high performance, affordable sports car game it practically invented with the Civic Si and then abandoned. In fact, it may position the CR-Z in the US market as the sports coupe version of the next generation Civic sedan. It reportedly will be built on a shortened Civic chassis instead of the Fit chassis the previous CR-Z was based on.

Rumors suggest a concept of the new car may surface at the Detroit auto show in January of 2017, which raises this question: who is steering the ship at Honda and why would it take almost a decade to get the CR-Z right? Another question car enthusiasts may have is: will there ever be a hybrid or electric car that rivals the original Civic Si for spirited, fun per dollar driving? After all, not all of us can afford $110,000 or more for a Tesla P85D. Apparently, if such a car ever gets built, it won’t be a Honda.

Source: Gas2

Honda Concept B is the New CRX the CR-Z Should Have Been

Earlier this week, Honda introduced the world to its new Concept B. It’s a sporty little four door coupe in the currently-fashionable Mercedes CLS/Volkswagen CC/Audi A7/BMW Gran Coupe mould, and- being based on the new Honda Fit’s mechanical bits- it promises to punch well above its weight in terms of driving fun.

Of course, Honda has no plans to bring the thing to the US.

That’s the way things usually go with next-level awesome stuff from Honda. They listen to what enthusiasts want, build it, then refuse to sell it in the US- and it doesn’t matter if that awesome thing is a sporty electric convertible or a sikk, big-engine power cruiser …

… if it’s making the dollar bills in your pocket burst into flames (like the retro-tastic Honda CB1300 Super Bol D’or, above) you probably can’t buy it here in the US.

Honda expects to have a production version of the actually-kinda-looks-like-an-Insight Honda Concept B on sale in China in time for the 2016 model year, leaving the North American-built Fit to be the playful Honda of choice here in the ‘States. For those looking for a sporty Veloster alternative or new-age CRX, however, you won’t find it the Honda store. For now.

Source | More Photos: Paul Tan.

Honda Insight, CR-Z Axed In Europe, Threatened With Extinction?

Sales of the Honda Insight and CR-Z hybrids have fallen so low in Europe, that the Japanese automaker is cutting its losses and ceasing sales. But it’s not just Europe where Honda hybrids are doing poorly, and both the Insight and CR-Z could face the chopping block if sales don’t improve.

There have already been rumors that the Insight was facing extinction, with sales falling below 5,000 units for all of 2013 in the United States. In Europe the situation is even worse, with just 1,242 Insights sold across the Old World. Numbers for the two-door C-RZ are even worse, with just 695 sales across the whole of Europe. The Honda Jazz Hybrid, meanwhile, racked up 4,500 sales in 2013, down from 7,500 in 2012 but still better than either other option.

The problem is the growing popularity of diesels in Europe, and in America it’s sales of the Honda Civic Hybrid that are cannibalizing Insight and CR-Z sales. Honda even updated the Insight two years after its 2009 launch, adding a cheaper base model to boost sales, but to no effect. Meanwhile, the new $29,945 Honda Accord Hybridoffers a fun-to-drive 50 MPG, and even non-hybrids like the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Corolla are matching the fuel economy of this pair of hybrids.

It might be time to cull to hybrid herd over at Honda, and I think this is just the first step. While I’ll not mourn the loss of the Insight, the Honda CR-Z was a fun little experiment that never seemed to catch on with the masses, though sales have been marginally better than that of the Insight. Is it too much to ask for Honda to keep the CR-Z but let the Insight go?

Source: Automotive News

2013 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe - Quick Look

Honda launched the CR-Z hybrid coupe in 2010, aiming to defy the assertion that all hybrids are slow and boring.

It has to be said that as defiant acts go, the CR-Z hasn't been entirely successful. Gearhead circles have criticized its so-so performance, while hybrid fans decry its average economy ratings.

The 2013 CR-Z gets some changes to address those concerns, and we've had a week with a UK-specification Honda CR-Z to see if they work.

Equipment levels and styling may differ slightly between our UK car and those available in the U.S, but mechanically it's the same 1.5-liter, hybrid-assisted engine you'll find worldwide.

More power

Combined power from the engine and electric motor is 133-horsepower, 11 horses up on the old car. Officially, that's enough for a 9-second 0-62 mph sprint--around 7 tenths quicker than the previous model.

It still isn't a fast car, but feels peppy enough, and the little four-cylinder is as willing as ever. Hit sport mode, carried over from the previous model, and engine response is improved further, with an extra boost from the electric motor.

Even more boost is available if you press the new Plus Sport (S+) button on the steering wheel. When pressed, it gives you everything the electric motor's got for up to ten seconds, which is useful for freeway merging or overtaking.

A snappy manual gearshift and nimble handling also make the CR-Z a lot of fun to throw around, even if the ride feels a little firm sometimes. Refinement is good around town but some wind and tire noise does creep in at higher speeds.

Eco driving

Press the Eco mode button and things are a lot more relaxed.

Too relaxed, on occasion. We liked the engine's eagerness to shut down at lights (even if its criteria for doing so seemed to vary hugely--sometimes it would, sometimes it wouldn't), but we were less keen on the soft throttle response.

It can actually make pulling away quite difficult, particularly on inclines, and encourages a very relaxed getaway too. If you don't like other drivers welded to your rear bumper (and a tiny car with "Hybrid" on the trunk lid already encourages tailgaters) we'd suggest you leave it in "Normal", at least.

Styling and (dis)comfort

We love the way the CR-Z looks. It's as sharp and eye-catching today as it was at launch. It's equally space-age inside, enhanced by the blue and green glow of the instruments. Trying to keep the car "happy" by growing trees in the instrument panel becomes an all-consuming pursuit.

However, during our week with the car, we just couldn't get comfortable. Whatever position the seat and wheel were adjusted to, back and leg ache would set in after less than an hour. This echoes our previous experiences with the car, and seems indiscriminate of height or weight.

Final thoughts

Our gas mileage over a week of driving proved more than respectable. In a mix of city and country driving, the car's computer displayed a figure of 37 mpg. That rose to 41 mpg after several hundred miles of freeway driving, most of which was driven at around 70 mph.

Both those figures are improvements on the official 34 combined and 38 highway EPA ratings for the 2013 car, though as always--your mileage may vary.

That seat discomfort rather spoils the CR-Z for us, though. For this writer, still yet to break into his 30s and a fan of small, sporty, thrifty cars like the CR-Z (and therefore probably in the car's target market), it's a huge disappointment.

The CR-Z is fun, quicker than before and offers good real-world mileage, but until Honda fixes those pain-inducing seats, it's being struck off this reviewer's potential car list...

Source: Green Car Reports

Honda boosts performance and fuel economy on 2013 CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe using new Li-ion pack

2013 Honda CR-Z. Click to enlarge.

The 2013 Honda CR-Z goes on sale 21 November with a number of powertrain, styling and feature upgrades, including a new Li-ion battery pack that replaces the NiMH pack in the MY 2012 CR-Z hybrid and delivers more power and improved fuel economy.

The new, more powerful Lithium-ion battery pack helps boost EPA-rated fuel economy figures by 1 mpg city for CVT equipped models, and 1 mpg highway for CR-Z models equipped with the six-speed manual transmission.

The CR-Z hybrid powertrain is a variation of Honda’s original IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) technology, which made its debut on the 2000 Honda Insight, the first hybrid vehicle available for sale in North America. The system in the CR-Z utilizes a 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, single-overhead cam engine with intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC) that receives additional power from the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system’s DC brushless electric motor.

The hybrid CR-Z’s electric motor assists in acceleration and also acts as a generator during braking or coasting to capture kinetic energy that recharges the new Lithium-Ion battery pack. The gasoline engine can automatically turn off during vehicle stops to improve efficiency. When starting on steep inclines from a stop with the manual transmission, hill start assist temporarily prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards during the moment between releasing the brake, depressing the throttle and releasing the clutch.

For 2013, assist from the electric motor has jumped from 10 kW to 15 kW, supported by the new higher voltage (144-volt) Lithium-ion battery pack (15 kW output). (The MY 2012 CR-Z hybrid used a 100V NiMH pack.) The CR-Z now delivers a combined peak output of 130 hp (97 kW) at 6000 rpm and 140 lb-ft (190 N·m) of torque (127 lb-ft/172 N·m on CVT-equipped models), a gain of eight horsepower and 12 lb-ft of torque (4 lb-ft on CVT equipped models). Manual-transmission versions also receive both a larger clutch and a new lower final drive ratio.

Even with better performance, EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2013 Honda CR-Z have improved. On CVT-equipped models, the EPA city/hwy/combined rating is up 1 mpg city to 36/39/37 mpg (6.53/6.03/6.36 l/100 km), while models equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission see an EPA mpg rating of 31/38/34 (7.59/6.19/6.92 l/100 km), a gain of 1 mpg highway. The CR-Z is also rated as an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) in states that adhere to California Air Resource Board (CARB) ZEV standards (EPA Tier 2, Bin 2 in all states).

To help drivers make use of this improved performance, a new Plus Sport System is standard on the 2013 Honda CR-Z. If the battery is more than 50% charged and the CR-Z is traveling above 19 mph (31 km/h), the driver can activate this feature using the “S+” button on the steering wheel. When activated and the accelerator is pressed, electric boost begins, delivering increased acceleration for up to five seconds. A flashing gauge on the dashboard indicates when the Plus Sport System is active. The Plus Sport System can be used in Econ, Normal or Sport modes.

Activated via three backlit buttons to the left of the steering wheel, the CR-Z’s enhanced 3-mode drive system allows the driver to choose among three individual performance modes:

• Sport mode enhances engine throttle responsiveness, electric power steering effort and the electric motor power assist.
• Normal mode standardizes steering, engine response, motor assist and air conditioning settings.
• Econ mode can increase the potential for enhanced fuel efficiency by optimizing throttle angle for smooth acceleration, lower engine rpm and limiting power and torque by approximately 4-percent (except at wide-open throttle). It can also reduce the air conditioning’s overall load on the engine and modify the cruise control to operate more efficiently.

2013 Honda CR-Z Gets More Power, Boost Button, But No More MPGs

On paper, the Honda CR-Z should be a hit. The small hatchback coupe offers hybrid technology combined with a fun-to-drive factor unavailable on any other fuel economy-focused car. But the Honda CR-Z has fallen flat due to so-so MPG numbers and a lack of horsepower.

The 2013 Honda CR-Z is looking to boost its performance credentials with more power and a new “boost” button…but is it enough?

The outgoing 2012 Honda CR-Z made due with just 112 horsepower from its 1.5 liter engine and 13 horsepower from its electric motor for a combined output of 125 horsepower. That is unimpressive to put it mildly, especially in a car with such a sporty look and refined suspension.

So naturally, the executives decided that the 2013 Honda CR-Z needed more power. I’m down with that, but it doesn’t seem as though Honda went far enough. For 2013, the Honda CR-Z gets a 7 horsepower bump from the 1.5 liter engine, and an extra 7 horsepower from the electric motor. Honda’s engineers got there by refining the variable valve timing and engine management system.

The electric motor was upgraded to provide a full 20 horsepower and 58 ft-lbs of torque, which combined with the engine improvements brings the 0-60 mph time down to about 9 seconds flat. The nickel-hydride batteries were replaced with more energy dense lithium-ion batteries. This battery upgrade also enabled Honda to add a new power boost system they call Plus Sport, or S+. The S+ button delivers an extra burst of power for up to 10 seconds, provided the new battery pack is more than 50% charged.

These improvements certainly nudge the CR-Z in the right direction, but Honda was mum on details regarding 

 

fuel economy. The Honda CR-Zdelivers decent, but hardly awe-inspiring fuel economy numbers of up to 35 city and 39 highway mpg with the CVT automatic transmission. It is even less impressive considering the recent crop of 40 mpg compact cars to hit the market.

Which leads me to wonder…what is Honda’s game here? The CR-Z still doesn’t have enough factory horsepower to be considered a true “hot hatch”, yet the fuel economy numbers remain untouched. Besides a few other exterior enhancements including a better looking grille, the 2013 Honda CR-Z is pretty much more of the same. Keep in mind, these changes are mostly for the European market; anything could change once the 2013 Honda CR-Z comes to America. But this is more than likely what we’ll be getting too.

Honda needs to stop trying to make the CR-Z appeal to everyone and just pick a path; is it a stylish-yet-functional hybrid coupe? Or is it a sporty-and-zippy hot hatch?

Source: Honda

     

2013 Honda CR-Z: Paris Auto Show Live Photos

Honda's updated CR-Z hybrid hatchback may not have been one of the stars of the Paris Auto Show, but with a power boost and some styling tweaks it's welcome all the same.

With a boost in power from 122 to 135 horspower, the new model knocks over half a second from the oldcar's 0-62 mph time, now completing the sprint in 9 seconds flat.

The CVT model is a tenth behind that, and both benefit from a new S+ boost mode, which provides ten seconds of extra power for those overtaking moves or for joining freeways.

Official fuel economy figures on the European cycle are unchanged, so we're not expecting any big news from the EPA either, but the extra power should make the CR-Z a more desirable drive. It's now better to look at too, as you can see in our live photo gallery.

A new front facia improves the front end styling, but the most noticeable addition is that of LED daytime running lights, already a feature of European models but new to U.S. cars.

A couple of new paint finishes are also available, including the striking deep purple you see above. Suits the CR-Z's compact shape, dontcha think?

Source: Green Car Reports

Honda updates CR-Z hybrid with more power and Li-ion battery

Honda has updated the sporty CR-Z hybrid with a range of improvements focusing on style and performance. The power of both the gasoline engine and electric motor has been increased to 137 PS (128 hp, 96 kW) without compromising fuel economy or increasing exhaust emissions.

Updated CR-Z hybrid. Click to enlarge.

The car also features a Lithium-ion battery for the first time and a Plus Sport (S+) boost system to help the driver make the best use of this sporty performance. The revised CR-Z will go on sale in January 2013.

The CR-Z’s 1.5-liter gasoline engine has been updated with changes to the variable valve timing system and Engine Control Unit (ECU). An anti-vibration knock sensor has been introduced and the material of the crankshaft has been upgraded. The peak power output has been increased from 114 PS (112 hp, 84 kW) to 121 PS (119 hp, 89 kW).

The electric motor system has also been improved. The change from a nickel-metal hybrid (Ni-MH) to a lithium-ion battery has been accompanied by an increase in power from 14 PS (10 kW) to 20 PS (15 kW).

Working in unison, the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system now delivers a combined output of 137 PS at 6600 rpm (+13 PS) and 190 N·m (140 lb-ft) of torque (N·m ). The 0-62 mph sprint time falls from 9.7 sec to 9.0 sec and top speed is 124 mph (200 km/h). The combined consumption is 5 l/100 km (47 mpg US), with 116 g/km of CO₂.

To help the driver make the best use of this sporty performance, Honda has introduced a Plus Sport (S+) boost system. If the battery is more than 50% charged, the driver can activate this system using the S+ button on the steering wheel. When the accelerator is pressed the electric boost begins, delivering increased acceleration for up to ten seconds. A flashing gauge on the dashboard indicates when the system is active. S+ can be used in ECON, Normal or Sport modes.

2013 Honda CR-Z Revealed, Promises More Powah

The Honda CR-Z coupe is supposed to be the sporty hybrid every green-minded man in America wants. Instead though, Honda delivered a car with so-so gas mileage and so-so power, failing to live up to expectations of a frugal-minded CRX hot hatchback. But the 2013 Honda CR-Z gets a new look, and more importantly, more power.

Just how much more, we don’t know yet, but the new front fascia is a step in the right direction. Honda has released just the one picture you see above, saying that the CR-Z’s interior and exterior has been revised, but failing to detail those revisions (at least at this point).

I can tell you that the tri-bar plastic upper grille is gone, leading to a smoother-looking front end. The headlights also appear to have been upgraded, possibly with LED lamps. Without getting specific, it was also mentioned that the 2013 Honda CR-Z will get a horsepower adjustment for both the gasoline engine and electric motor, without sacrificing fuel economy. To be honest, the fuel eonomy was never that great, especially for a hybrid.

I was hoping Honda found a way to boost both power and fuel eonomy, though it seems the former won out. Which isn’t at all a bad thing. Many reviews needled the CR-Z for its lack of pep, so more power could make the CR-Z more attractive to younger buyers. Then again, the people who need a two-seat hatchback hybrid are few and far between these days.

I am afraid to say it, but the CR-Z looks to have a long road ahead unless Honda makes some serious changes. We’ll find out if those changes are drastic enough at next week’s official reveal of the 2013 Honda CR-Z.

Source:  Carscoop

Honda CR-Z facelift teased on Japanese site

We like the Honda CR-Z, especially the hybrid version and feel Honda has a real winner so we look forward to this announcement hoping they will only improve on a great product.

On September 27, a date that will see us sifting through the action on the Paris Motor Show floor, it looks like the Honda CR-Z will show off its mid-cycle refresh. Honda's Japanese web site has a short slideshow revealing three new features of the next little hybrid hatchback.

The scant bit of text is all in Japanese, naturally, so we don't know how the "Life Design Hybrid" is being pitched. While we couldn't make out any words or characters that suggested the CR-Z will become a widebody twin-turbo V6, some LED DRLs, snazzy new wheels and a button marked "S+" have been given away. The CR-Z already has a Sport setting, so if S+ brings a higher grade of performance, perhaps that could mean a few more hardcore bits and a goosing of its horsepower will come in tow. This is all speculation, though, but now we know we have even more surprises coming in three weeks.



Source: Autoblog Green

Honda CR-Z Hybrid Hatchback Update Teaser

If you want a car that's both sporty and economical, there aren't many choices under $20,000.

The Honda CR-Z is one of those choices, but both gearheads and green-minded buyers have criticized the car for failing to offer enough of what they want.

As revealed by our sister site MotorAuthority, Honda has teased an updated CR-Z on its Japanese website. It's unlikely to bring about any fundamental changes, but it should showcase a selection of mid-life improvements to increase its appeal to buyers.

The video doesn't reveal a great deal about the updated car, but it does feature a new, LED-laden headlight design, a new alloy wheel and a mysterious "S+" button. That implies that the new car has some sort of extra Sport mode, in addition to the Sport, Normal and Eco modes already offered on dashboard buttons. Whether that'll unlock some more potential from the CR-Z's 1.5-liter, hybrid-assisted gasoline engine is yet to be seen, but buyers will also be hoping for better economy than the current 37 mpg combined, from the CVT-equipped car.

The Honda video also reveals a date when the car could be unveiled: September 27. That coincides with the start of the 2012 Paris Auto Show, hinting that the updated model will be revealed at the show.

We'll be sure to bring you more details on the CR-Z as and when they arrive.

Source: Green Car Reports