honda cr-z concept
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| honda cr-z concept car |
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| honda cr-z hybrid r concept |
Logic says this is the follow-up to Honda's much-loved original CRX coupe. But Honda says CR-Z stands for "Concept Renaissance Zero". And what exactly does that mean? Well, to quote the press-kit: "...an expression intended to capture the idea of a renaissance in the design of compact cars that begins anew from fundamentals". Huh?
Forget the Honda psycho-babble. The CR-Z is simply the CRX re-imagined for the 21st century. The tight, taut styling -- among Honda's better efforts -- echoes the proportion and stance of the CRX, right down to the cut-off tail with its see-through vertical panel. It's a much more substantial car than the original CR-X, however -- those wheels are 19 inch diameter items.
The CR-Z appears to illustrate Honda president Takeo Fukui's vision of Honda's future: "Even when we produce environmentally friendly vehicles," he says. "we want them to be fun to drive." The powertrain is a gas-electric hybrid that Honda says delivers clean performance and a high level of torque.
More significantly, though, the CR-Z's mechanical package is likely the forerunner of a range of all-new production hybrids Honda will launch in 2009. These cars, Fukui says, will be "more efficient and cheaper than existing hybrids". In other words, Honda plans to take on Toyota's highly successful Prius with a whole range of hybrid models. - Angus MacKenzie
Forget the Honda psycho-babble. The CR-Z is simply the CRX re-imagined for the 21st century. The tight, taut styling -- among Honda's better efforts -- echoes the proportion and stance of the CRX, right down to the cut-off tail with its see-through vertical panel. It's a much more substantial car than the original CR-X, however -- those wheels are 19 inch diameter items.
The CR-Z appears to illustrate Honda president Takeo Fukui's vision of Honda's future: "Even when we produce environmentally friendly vehicles," he says. "we want them to be fun to drive." The powertrain is a gas-electric hybrid that Honda says delivers clean performance and a high level of torque.
More significantly, though, the CR-Z's mechanical package is likely the forerunner of a range of all-new production hybrids Honda will launch in 2009. These cars, Fukui says, will be "more efficient and cheaper than existing hybrids". In other words, Honda plans to take on Toyota's highly successful Prius with a whole range of hybrid models. - Angus MacKenzie