Honda has revealed the European version of its CR-Z hybrid coupe at the Geneva motor show, with pricing starting from £16,999.
The 2+2 coupe’s styling has been toned down from the concepts seen at last year’s Tokyo and Los Angeles shows, with some of the sharper lines being ironed out. The US version was shown at last month’s Detroit motor show.
Honda has said the car has been design for the European market, not the US, and this is where it expects the majority of its sales to come from. In the UK, it expects to sell around 3000 units per year.
See the official Honda CR-Z for Europe pics
Honda UK’s head of marketing, Tom Gardner, said, “Kart-like handling and direct steering will make it great fun to drive, but the hybrid system means exhaust emissions are kept low.
“With the torque boost of the electric motor, it’s ideally suited to ‘point-to-point’ driving in British towns and cities.”
Honda is billing the CR-Z as the world’s first hybrid sports car, and its power comes from Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, borrowed from the Insight. However, the CR-Z gets a larger, 1.5-litre engine with 102bhp and a 20bhp electric motor. Its combined outputs are 122bhp and 128lb ft of torque; maximum torque arrives at just 1500rpm.
Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual ’box, the first time such a gearbox has appeared in a series hybrid. The CR-Z emits 117g/km of CO2, and returns 56.4mpg.
Drivers can choose from three driving modes — to maximise fun, economy or a combination of both — and these alter the throttle response, steering, idle stop timing, climate control and the IMA’s assistance.
The CR-Z sits on a shortened version of the Insight’s platform, but the track has been widened and its wheelbase has shrunk by 115mm. It’s also 295mm shorter than the five-door and, at 1196kg, it weighs 44kg less. The suspension features new spring and damper settings to improve the car’s ride and handling, which have been criticised on the Insight.
The base S will cost £16,999 rising to £17,999 for the Sport and £19,999 for the GT.
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