2011 Honda CRZ

2011 Honda CRZ

You may remember that last week I posed a question in the 2011 Ford Focus EV story asking if a mountain road is still the same if there isn’t a manual shift and an inspirational exhaust note. Well, Honda may have a sustainable answer to this question with the 2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid. Even better this CRX like sports coupe is scheduled to roll out to the consumer market in late 2010.

So what makes up the 2011 Honda CRZ? Basically this is another parts-bin engineering effort in order to capture a market that only the likes of Tesla play in—and to do it at an affordable price. The CRZ is reported to have a 1.8-litter Honda Civic derived four-cylinder that produces an estimated 140 hp. This would then be coupled to hybrid components from the new Insight technology in order to lessen the cost and the time to market. So at an estimated 2,800 pounds and with an available manual transmission the new 2011 Honda CRZ may bring fans back to Honda the way the CRX did in the ‘80s.

Mugen Honda Insight

Mugen Honda Insight

Of course, this also may provide a glimpse into the future for the sports car. We know that people love to drive and love the feeling of a road-hugging sports car (hence the long-lived Mazda Miata), but we also know that this is a time where environmental friendliness is also top of mind to most consumers. It really is a dilemma worthy of Socrates. Honda may be ahead of the curve and ready to dominate the future of sustainable sports cars unless other companies can offer something to compete. 

 

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