Honda CR-Z

[MugenEJ6AutoX]

So I was flipping through Car and Driver today and saw an article about the 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid. It's supposed to be a 'sporty' hybrid thats going to compete with the likes of the GTI. I don't know about that, but I do see a sporty hatch with an extremly light weight chassise. Can anyone say swap? On that same line, Honda Tuning mag has a feature this month on a Insight K-series swap. I know weird, but with the insight's super light construction to save weight, add in a swap and it ought to be da*m fast.

Honda CR Z

[8695Beaters]

The CR-Z is a joke. It's supposed to be the "spiritual successor to the CRX." Bullcrap. It's the next Insight, plain and simple. I thought Honda would have learned when nobody bought them. The Insight would have been great if A) it didn't look so weird (remove the fender-over whel thing), and B) if it was offered with a non-hybrid engine. That would have made it more affordable. The Insight is super-light (by today's standards) and very aerodynamic, but has no pretense of handling or performance. That's what the CR-Z will be. If it doesn't come with enough room to fit a K20, it's toast. And if it can't pull more than 0.9g with a decent set of tires, it's toast.

As for the swapped Insight, I saw a few years ago an Insight with a B18C. It was a drag car. I'm surprised nobody has taken them land-speed racing. That's what that car would be good at. No aero drag, light weight, and with a big motor, it could do some damage to the domestics. HASport, help us out!!!

[MugenEJ6AutoX]

Well we're just going to have to hope and pray. I know the insight had enough room for a k-series swap[even though it was an ugly car]. But since Honda has claimed the CR-z's competitors to be the Civic Si, VW Gti, and the Miata.....well i'll guess we'll gonna have to wait and see.

The swapped Insight in Honda Tuning Mag had 231whp NA, with just a few simple bolt-ons. Impressive in a car that only weighs 2200pds, I imagine most of the insight's, and the CR-Z's weight is in the batteries. Take them out....could be the new CRX.

[93HondaSI]

yea i haven't read much about it lately, but the CR-Z looks sweet. Swap it and Drop it

[8695Beaters]

The latest news on the CR-Z is that Honda will build it, but only in Japan. So far there are no plans for a US release. I still don't think it's going to work though. I have a CRX and man as underpowered as it is, it is FUN to drive. The only other car that makes me more giddy behind the wheel was my old '86 Integra. That's a formula technology just can't beat.

[TJ213]

A properly built hybrid system could work well with Honda's small displacement high revving motors. The low end torque of the electric motor could add that extra low end punch that a small high revving NA motor doesn't have.

The question is how much the batteries will weigh.

[8695Beaters]

Originally Posted by TJ213

A properly built hybrid system could work well with Honda's small displacement high revving motors. The low end torque of the electric motor could add that extra low end punch that a small high revving NA motor doesn't have.

The question is how much the batteries will weigh.

If it's like most hybrids, about 200+ pounds. The problem I see is that Honda's compacts were so successful (and are still) because of how cheap it was to make them fast. Adding more power to a hybrid takes a lot of engineering and computer-geekery. That becomes expensive quick. The Insight had a small but dedicated following, so the CR-Z probably will get that too. But I don't see tuners embracing it like the Civic Si.

If Honda does make a fun hybrid car they can call it VTEC-ei. And if they can get it to run on hydrogen (like the BMW 7) and ethanol, they can call it VTEC-ei-ei-o.

[93HondaSI]

Honestly if the CR-Z is ONLY a hybrid that would just be dumb. From my unerstanding though it's not, but like i said i haven't heard much about it.

[90crxowner]

man thats a ugly car.

[8695Beaters]

^^^ True. But then again a lot of cars today have a bad case of the uglies.

93Si, the CR-Z has only been described as a hybrid. There haven't been any plans to market it as a regular powertrain. And with Honda's announcement of keeping green, it probably won't ever come from the factory with a standard engine. However, tuners have a very notorious reputation for putting Honda engines where they don't belong...