CRZ pics....

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

1) The Insight is one of the top sellers in Japan. The CR-Z will be less accepted as it lacks some of the usefulness of a hatch but it will still be popular.

2) Europeans are buying fewer new diesels than past years. They are still the most popular engine choice for most markets but hybrids have been gaining grounds. A hybrid thats faster than most fuel sippers and has an MT is going to be an impressive vehicle in Europe.

3) 31/38 estimated and even higher for the CVT tranny is still a class ahead of the Fit by EPA definitions.... Who cares. The CR-Z shares enough with existing models there won't be much R&D to overcome. It may not sell in large numbers but it wouldn't sell very well not matter what engine Honda gave it. A K20 powered CR-Z would no more vastly improve the Honda bottom line than the current hybrid.

1. Link? Even if it were, does it still beat the Prius over there? Besides, in the US, it's a failure...and the US has a larger auto market than Japan.
2. Possibly, but it still is rather impractical, I doubt it'll be very successful in Europe.
3. Not really...its about the same and like I said, it's more expensive and less practical...oh and slower.

[Fishytron]

If i could shove a k24 in the back seat and have a Mid-Engine RWD CR-Z yes i would be intrested.... otherwise no.

I also don't get who this thing markets to????

[SRLNCLT]

I like it. K swap, mugen stuff and it's golden!! If Honda was smart, which we all know they aren't alot of the time, Crosstour, they will give more engine options. But they won't.

[Fishytron]

Originally Posted by SRLNCLT

I like it. K swap, mugen stuff and it's golden!! If Honda was smart, which we all know they aren't alot of the time, Crosstour, they will give more engine options. But they won't.

They wont. Honda usually tries to avoid doubling something in there line-up. Mugen will do a kit but i doubt it will ever have a k-series from factory. Some one will do it though.

[LTFA182]

I saw that Crosstour on my local Honda lot and I threw up a little.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by LTFA182

I saw that Crosstour on my local Honda lot and I threw up a little.

Yeah I figured the Pilot, Ridgeline, and Crosstour was enough since it made the atrocious trifecta...now we have the CR-Z.

[GoHuskies]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

1. Link? Even if it were, does it still beat the Prius over there? Besides, in the US, it's a failure...and the US has a larger auto market than Japan.
2. Possibly, but it still is rather impractical, I doubt it'll be very successful in Europe.
3. Not really...its about the same and like I said, it's more expensive and less practical...oh and slower.

1)

Battle of the Hybrids
In April Honda was quite happy to report that its new Insight hybrid was both the best selling car in Japan for that month (outselling the Toyota Prius) and the first hybrid car to have that honor. But Toyota now has released its all-new 2010 Prius hybrid in Japan (on May 18th), and it looks like there was lots of pent-up demand even in these difficult economic times, because despite the incomplete month, the Prius shot to #1 in sales, above the Honda Fit in second place and Honda Insight in third place (notice a trend there?). More details below.

Move Over Insight, Prius is Best Selling Car in Japan in May : TreeHugger

Best seller? No. But up there along with the Prius. Japan IS still a market and also extends to other oceanic nations where the CR-Z will also be sold.



2) There is no reason why it won't be successful in Europe as a niche market coupe. Even with the conservative Honda estimates is still faster than most of the top fuel sippers. Government incentives also make it attractive as its AT-PTEZ emissions status means less taxes paid in many countries. Some countries like Holland offer even more incentives to purchase hybrids. And on top of all that it has a stick standard. Something Europeans love.



3) Its a 2-door, 2-seater coupe. It would still less practical no matter what engine was stuck inside. And even the conservative 0-60 estimates make it still FASTER than a Fit.

Motortrend seems to think it will be even quicker, like 0-60 in an estimated 8.3 seconds. Its a quicker, more fuel efficient Fit for those who don't need to carry a dishwasher.

[DangerMoose]

Yeah, at twice teh sticker of a Fit.

Fail.

[LTFA182]

If it were faster I would like it more, but it just looks way faster then it really is. It's like girls who stuff their shirts....disappointing.

[SRLNCLT]

Originally Posted by DangerMoose

Yeah, at twice teh sticker of a Fit.

Fail.

Twice the price of a fit? Um no. Have you ever driven a fit? Those things are gutless. Have you priced a fit? When I was looking at getting one instead of the civic, you couldn't get into a sport for less then $20k. The CRZ will probably sticker at $26/27k. Last time I checked, that not half.

[taffy07si]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

This car will be a massive failure, just like Honda's Insight has proven itself to be. If I were stranded on the side of the road and someone offered me a ride in their CRZ, I'd decline it...that's how awful I think this car is.

Don't speak so soon!

Originally Posted by SRLNCLT

Twice the price of a fit? Um no. Have you ever driven a fit? Those things are gutless. Have you priced a fit? When I was looking at getting one instead of the civic, you couldn't get into a sport for less then $20k. The CRZ will probably sticker at $26/27k. Last time I checked, that not half.

PWNG!


Anyway All I can say is the CRZ looks freaking sweet! Not to mention to compare it to a fit is pretty dumb as it sounds....If you've ever sat in a fit, it feels like the car was made out of plastic! I'd rather drive a cheap Kia and get the same feeling and still pay $12K or less.

Everyone has to admit, Honda didn't fail on this car as much as they did on the Crosstour.

[mongoose221]

When I first saw the CR-Z announced, I thought I would be lining up for this car. I figured Honda would deliver 40-50mpg car with the handling and acceleration of an Si, maybe better with the torque from the electric motor.

Alas, it's complete garbage that is a step back from the original Insight in every way but style.

i'm with this guy. the original concept talk surrounding the CR-Z was that it would be a "sport performance hybrid" with 0-60 estimates in the mid 6 second range... IE a 2 seater SI that got 40 mpg... instead the thing is going to accelerate like it has an anchor in the back...

2 seater? seriously? ... i would have accepted that if it was quick/fast... instead? it's the original insight... only nicer looking... it'll flop... watch.

[soleobjective]

i'd buy this car because..
1. it looks better than any other hybrid out in the market now
2. i can drive in the HOV lanes w/ a hybrid and not have to sit in horrible NoVa traffic
3. decent mpg
4. the mugen set-up has potential
5. tax credit maybe? not sure on that one

reasons i wouldnt buy...
1. 2 seater is impractical for me

I just can't see myself buying a car with only 2 seats as my only car. i would basically have to keep my r18 and buy this as a commuter car to work/school. I don't need 2 cars yet, but if I had a spare car to drive around in with my friends I'd be all over this. Just not yet

[soleobjective]

here are some pics i took at the DC Auto Show

[SRLNCLT]

^Man I regret not going to the Salt Lake City show!!! I would have loved to see that thing!!

[soleobjective]

it looks a lot better in person. i wish they had the red one like in the pic above

[LTFA182]

I was at the DC auto show too. I saw it, but Honda's section was kind of disappointing so I didn't spend much time there. Where was Mitsubishi? I was trying to sit in an Evo X lol. I would also like to add I became a believer in the new STI that night. It feels....right.

[Tommyboy]

I will stick with my '06 HCHII for now. That car in black looks like something Neo or Morpheus would drive (must be wearing their sunglasses).

[DangerMoose]

Originally Posted by soleobjective

it looks a lot better in person. i wish they had the red one like in the pic above

It looks great. That's about the end of what's great about it.

[superbike81]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

Lets try again.
1) The japanese home market which will love this car.

Well, I have to say so far on this one, you are incorrect. I've read several Japanese magazine articles about the CR-Z, and all of the journalists and testers are posing the same questions, "who is this car really for", in general the Japanese testers who have driven it so far, think it's a mistake. There are exceptions, I saw one article that absolutely loved the car, but that was the only one so far.

The Japanese market is NOT happy about this car. There will be people who buy it of course, but in general, they aren't really looking at it. Especially with standard gasoline engine cars here that already get 50+mpg.

This is a small relatively lightweight hybrid, it should be getting 70mpg+ to be really impressive IMO.