Tokyo Preview: Honda CR-Z, the Production-Ready Concept Car

this is by far better than recent honda designs

I really wish I was in the market for this car. It looks absolutely stunning.

Wow, I thought that the accord coupe's good looks was a fluke, but I guess someone at honda actually does still know how to design a car!

This is really cool as a hybrid or a hot hatch. Honda, please offer a hybrid drivetrain as well as the K20/6MT combo from the current Civic Si as you will satisfy both the greenies and the enthusiasts at the same time.

Looks pretty cool. As was mentioned, I'll be looking forward to an Si version.

I love the fusion of the Honda and Acura design cues. It's very current. Heck I would even settle for the UK version of the Honda Civic as the next CR-Z. Lovely!!!

That front overhang is huge!

Suh-weet!! I lusted after an original CR-X in good condition for years without the the tuner crap on it. Good luck!

As alway,s Honda hits it out of the park (with the exception of that God-awful Crosstour). These will sell like hotcakes. Definitely on my "must-have" list in the next year or so. Rock on, Honda!

I'm almost out of college (finally haha) and with a job lined up, I'm lookin' for a new car. It's been trimmed down to either the Volvo C30 or VW GTI...but I think I'm gonna wait a bit longer now to test this thing. It's a great design! I LOVE Honda engines and quasi-futuristic interiors, but all their recent exterior designs have been AWEFUL (other than the Civic and Accord Coupe), so I'm really happy to hear about this thing :)

I'm reading all these comments, and I feel like everyone but me and stovt001 is on crack.
If that front overhang was actually a reasonable size, then MAYBE.
But no.
The CRX looks [insert large number here] times better than this.

I was beginning to wonder if Honda still had the mojo, but this design looks very nice. Like others have said, Hybrid AND Si versions would be neat! ...Or better yet, what about a Hybrid-Si?

Interesting. If it weighs less than 3000 lbs it's a good idea. If not, it's just another Scion Secretary Car...I mean TC.

I was missing a CR-X, not anymore. If Honda offer a gasoline engine, young people will get that car. Enthusiast look+ performance= Winner in the US

Sign me up for the Si version...i'll buy it the first day...great daily driver

Sign me up for the Si version...i'll buy it the first day...great daily driver

I think it looks good and is a great successor to the CRX...

I like it

must resist FWD vehicle............ OMG I HOPE IT HANDLES AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS hahah!

There are some design elements about this car detract from it's potential. The kicked up trailing edge of the rear quarter window doesn't coincide with any other lines on the car.

I think the long overhang on the front is an illusion because of the angle of the shot.

This is the ideal car i was looking for a year ago. I ended up with a Civic Hybrid. Dang!

Awesome! Now why can't they remove their heads out of their rear orifice and come up with a non-silver boomerang design for the Acura lineup?

This says its going to be a 2+2, but all other sources are saying that this will be strictly a two seat car. Anyone know for sure which is true?

I'm in! I really hope that they keep the dash as cleanly designed as it is in this concept. The Insight's dash is WAY too busy and cluttered looking.

I would love for Honda to sell this vehicle. It might get me into their showroom.

Nice job, Honda!

Looks pretty good. I'd guess there could be 2 small back seats to help with insurance rates. Looks like there could be enough room, though I sure wouldn't want to sit back there.

I agree with gearcat on the overhang issue... just the angle of the picture. But, to disagree with him on the comment of the rear quarter window, it mimics the trailing edge of the taillight, but just at a different angle.

"That front overhang is huge!"

Stovt, the ACE body structure is to blame for that. It makes the hood line higher which increases pedestrian safety and provides better protection from larger vehicles yet it seriously hurts design proportions.

Big thumbs up....never care much for the CRX, but this one has certainly got my attention.

Just hope that they put on more conventional door handles on the outside.

I have been waiting for this car.It looks gorgeous and awesome.hope fully they will offer SI version too.I got my deposit down already for this car at local honda dealership.hopefully this car will hit the show room here in U.S.A around april 2010.that will be the best time.

I really, really wish that this car would be offered without the hybrid powertrain. I mean, the original CRX was meant to be small, lightweight, and most importantly, inexpensive. A few months back I received an email survey from Honda regarding the CR-Z concept, and the question that stuck out in my mind the most was the one regarding price. It basically asked how much I thought a car like this would go for, and then it gave a number of ranges. Folks, there was only one range barely under twenty grand. Every other one was like between 27,000 to 30,000. The way I see it, Honda has sort of painted themselves into a corner with the Insight and the upcoming Fit Hybrid. They don't want to steal sales from those cars with the CR-Z. Still, Honda has or will have a Fit and Fit hybrid, a Civic and Civic hybrid, so they should really have a CR-Z and a CR-Z hybrid. I would much, much rather have this car without all of the complexities and weight of a hybrid powertrain. If they would slap in the engine from the Civic Si and make this a 2 seater, they would be golden. That way there would be minimal product overlap and the CR-Z could fill the slot of the departed S2000. Problem solved, Honda. We all understand that the Insight is a steaming piece of poo, but that's no reason to price the CR-Z higher than it. I loved the old CRX. I want to love this, but somehow, I think Honda will mess it up.

I'm with robert4380. I don't care much for either the economics or the dynamics of a hybrid powertrain. Make it a true successor to the CRX, with three powertrain choices--a "normal" powertrain (base Civic or even Fit sourced), a high-economy conventional powertrain as a successor to the HF, and one straight from the Civic Si. Start it at $16-18k.

No no no. Forget the Si. I KNOW they will have a Type R version for Japan. Bring that over instead. PLEASE.

i know there's bound to be changes but please keep the overall look and feel of the vehicle. this is one of the best designs coming out of the honda camp. we all know the monstrosity that is the Accord Crosstour...

The front is very Audi. I like the design though. IN the early 90's I had a 2nd gen CRX (non-Si, auto). It was a great city car and could hold a surprising amount of stuff.

It looks ok, but this car will be junk just like the Insight. I doubt they offer a non-hybrid version. The take-away every car company got from the success of the Prius is that hybrid models need to be hybrid only. But you don't weigh down a small sporty car with batteries! That is opposed to everything we want this car to be. This thing is just a bad idea.

Mazda's Kabura beat the CR-Z concept by a year, looks better, isn't a hybrid, is focused on lightness, and is made by a company that still makes great driving cars. That is the car that should be getting put into production. Mazda fail.

awesome.

I officially forgive Honda for the Crosstour and ZDX

Honda does a very nice hatchback design as this model confirms. Honda sedans are awful. Go figure...

I wanted to buy a 91 Honda CRX Si in high school. The price was right but the insurance was more thana Prelude & that was for a guy under 25 with no tickets. Back then insurance was like $3600 a year for this $13,000 car. Hopefully Honda adds a back seat if they truly want to appeal to the youth market. I do wish they'd make an Si or better a Type R as I won't buy a Hybrid for the weight & cost of replacing those batteries after 5 years. That's a cool Honda though, hopefully they read Edmunds & see the overwhelming response against a Hybrid only version & the desire for an Si. I registered today on Edmunds just to be able to post this.

Love the front but hate the treatment of the back. It looks like they ran out of ideas and just decided to tack on the rear of an Insight. bankerdanny, i think it's the splitter that's giving you the audi vibe.

OMG!!! I have my down payment ready.

Hopefully this will force VW to bring the Scirocco to the US as well! The US will get a descent assortment of hatchbacks!!!!

Dear Honda, Shoot the people involved in the making of the Crosstour and have the CR-Z design team move in!

Anyone who wants this that bad should really just go out and buy a Miata or a Mini. There's no way it will be better than either of those cars, and if it's a hybrid, it won't be cheaper either. I do not see where the interest for this car is coming from.

to compliance
I agree with you. If this car is going to have the same powertrain as Insight there is nothing that can make me interested in this car. Comparing to european future technologies like VW or that new BMW hybrid concept, CR-Z is just another hybrid and nothing else. Honda should have put this car on a market at least two years ago.

I'd buy one tomorrow. Honda needs to find its way again with lighter vehicles that take advantage of the efficiency of the awesome Honda inline four. I think this sporty compact will be a good start.

Man, does Honda build some of the ugliest cars ever!

I'm holding out for a new small vehicle to come out in the next couple years. Ready to buy...but nothing out now that appeals to me...even Mazda3. I was thinking of waiting on the next-gen Focus as a sure buy, but now that I've seen this, I think I'll be struggling with some choices when they both come out.

brianw77,you are the only one think that this car is ugly,its your personel opinion.Out of 50 coments you are the only odd on here every body else like the car fine.there are alot of ugly cars out there.That includes alot of Gm,ford and for sure crysler cars.all(crysler) cry-seller cars are vomiting ugly,new camero is extremely ugly,all mustangs are fugly.impala,malibu,fusion,focus are all crappy ugly american pieces of junk.that belong to junkyard.by the way get used to now because in next decade american cars will disappear and they will be history.

The 2+2 issue is critical for me. 20% of my trips are hauling kids. Otherwise I wait for the Fit Hybrid.

Looks quite futuristic..
..would be great rival for Scirocco and Megane Coupe...

Keep your fingers crossed for Honda concepts:
Good exapmle of econobox?

http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/09/30/honda-ev-n-concept-and-u3-x-personal-mobility-device-bundle-ev-n-holds-u3-x-segway-like-device-inside-door/

this thing is so cute !

never really been a fan of the CRX but i am really liking this CR-Z. like everyone already said a thousand times i hope they make a k20 si version as well.

Looks fantastic. Great design and good fuel economy make it very desirable.

k20 version? I hope not. I'm rooting for Honda to produce a smaller and lighter engine with some extra umph into it; so help us God, Honda decides to release an Si version (or better). However, I'm not pinning my hopes on this one. I'll stick with their drivetrain options as long as it is reasonably priced.

Man, its funny to read all the people upset that this car will have a hybrid powertrain and only seats two as reasons why they wont buy this car. I think these commenters miss the point of this car, small fuel efficient sporty fun to drive car with very low emissions.

I give Honda credit, if the reports are correct, for being the first to introduce a true manual transmission with hybrid powertrain. What better way to be fully involved in the driving experience of a sports car!

I'm still waiting to see the final specs from the Tokyo or Detroit auto shows but I like the blog post on CRZero.com that shows how the differences from the concept car and recent almost production ready version. http://www.crzero.com/articles/2009/09/honda-releases-pre-production-pictures-of-cr-z-hybrid-sports-car/