Honda CRZ hybrid 6 speed manual is coming!

[RobertSmalls]

That's not a bad profile. If the gearing is reasonable, you should be able to get good fuel economy out of it.

I dislike the way it looks with a license plate mounted right in the middle of the radiator grille, but I like the stealth grille block that allows the grille to be smaller than it looks.

For comparison:

[tjts1]

It'll bring much-needed driver involvement into the hybrid equation, something we're intrigued to test out ourselves. We wonder about the necessity of the integrated motor assist system though, as the mileage for the manual is estimated at 31 MPG city, 37 MPG highway, and 33 MPG combined, the CVT is pegged at 36/38/37 MPG, respectively. We'll just be standing out on the porch shaking our canes at the young whippersnappers and their danged hybrids. Why, back in our day the CRX-HF got 50 MPG without fancy tricks and heavy batteries, and gosh darn it, it was fun to drive!

Honda CR-Z: 122 HP, 33 MPG, Worst Of All Worlds - honda cr-z hybrid - Jalopnik

What were they thinking?

[Formula413]

That's a good question. I did a double take when I saw the numbers too. Does it weigh 3,200 pounds or something? Maybe their aim is more sports car with this design, and so they are willing to give up fuel economy for more displacement and power. Personally I wouldn't want one unless it could at least match my Civic hybrid's gas mileage. Which is achieved with technology that is about ten years old.

[tjts1]

Ya the numbers are really surprising considering the bigger and heavier civic hybrid does so much better. CRZ would be great as a non hybrid. Sell an SI version and a FE version to satisfy both crowds. This hybrid is the answer to the question nobody asked.

[james]

I wonder if it has really low gearing and is turning 3000 RPM on the hwy?
But why are the city # so low? And its not fast.
I think my vx goes to 60 in a little over 10 sec.
If they could just make a cheap simple car (like the VX) without hybrid drivetrain, they would have the market cornered.
Give us a car without power steering please! 165/70/13 tires, too!
The insight was great, but not many people bought it because it was a 2 seater. If they would have just made it stretched slightly with seating for 4, the sales would have been better. The move toward heavy, expensive, complicated cars is the wrong direction.
Why would anyone want an expensive hybrid that gets poor mpg and is not fast?

[MadisonMPG]

WTF?!?!?!?!

9.ish second 0-60, and 33mpg? I'd take it, if this were 1983. I'll pass.

I've been doing some more reading, and it's still confusing me. Why not make this car a 2.0 or so where you can get a 6 second 0-60, and then make the Fit a hybrid.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

It's nice, but... that grille! Terrible, egh, ble

Agreed. : puke:

Audi started this gaping maw thing then for some strange reason Ford and several others decided it was the ****... just like those dumb front quarter panel vents.

[RH77]

It needs the option of the 1.3L for FE, and keep the 1.5 for sport models -- like the old HF / Si trims. Still though, the "sport" factor might not be enough with that abysmal power and FE combo. The Fit seems more appealing and functional. The Insight is just shy of 11-seconds 0-60 and seems quick enough to me.

The grille is probably to conform to Euro pedestrian impact standards -- which carries-over into global production for many manufacturers like Audi.

RH77

[tjts1]

No, the SI model need a 2.0 or 2.4 to be competitive.

[Formula413]

Originally Posted by tjts1

No, the SI model need a 2.0 or 2.4 to be competitive.

It wouldn't need so much displacement if they could just make it a little bit lighter than, say, an M1 Abrams. I read an article a while back comparing trends in car and motorcycle design. In motorcycles, especially sport bikes, innovation has made bikes lighter and lighter even as they become more and more powerful. Cars on the other hand just keep getting heavier, partly because of the need to have chassis' that can handle the ever increasing engine output. Why the manufacturers can't invest some R&D time into reducing weight, which simultaneously improves acceleration and fuel economy, is beyond me. I know higher crash safety standards are partly to blame, but I still think if they really wanted to they could make lighter cars which still meet all safety regulations.