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2013 Honda CR-Z Convertible 
Honda first revealed the CR-Z hybrid when the whole environmental thing took off, but then came to their senses and produced the new Turbo version that drops the hybrid drivetrain in favor of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. That’s what happens when automakers don’t make the kind of money they want to. That being said, Honda is coming back now with a convertible version of their hybrid. The fact that this new drop top version will retain the hybrid powertrain will make it the world’s first convertible hybrid. This convertible version was part of the plans from the very beginning, but engineers feared that the added weight of the convertible components wouldn’t suit the "sporty" character of the CR-Z, so Honda dropped it. Will bringing it back on the table help Honda get the type of sales it needs to make the CR-Z a successful model? Hit the jump to read more about the future Honda CR-Z Convertible. Full story Battle of the Sports Hatches: Fifth Gear compares the Citroen DS3 with the Honda CR-ZThey may not post the fastest ‘north to 60’ times in automotive history, but the Citroen DS3 and the Honda CR-Z are two sports hatches that have their own redeeming qualities. For starters, they’re more fuel-efficient than sports coupes, they’re both aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and in the case of the CR-Z, it’s a hybrid. Everybody loves hybrids these days so the CR-Z has that going for it, even though Honda is now creating a petrol version of the vehicle to increase sales.. Having said that, Fifth Gear’s Tiff Needell decided to give the two sports hatches a nice little shakedown around the track to determine which of the two hatches has the leg up over its competitor. After their own individual lap times, Needell came to a number of conclusions. First, if you’re looking for a car that’s packed with power and speed, these two cars aren’t going to satisfy your lust for thrills. Second, where they lack in speed they make up for in efficiency, especially the CR-Z, which has an electrical motor that adds 14 horsepower to the car’s gas engine that produces 112 horsepower. Third, the Citroen DS3 eventually proved to be a better ride than the CR-Z, proving that despite the times we are living in, old school technology can still one-up its more high-tech counterpart.
2012 Honda CR-Z Turbo
Ever since its official launch, the Honda CR-Z has received prize after prize, including being named Japan’s Car of the Year. However despite these recognitions, sales still aren’t as Honda might have expected. This had lead the company to believe that hybrid cars just aren’t appreciated enough for the value they offer, so they have prepared an alternative that might make a little more money for them. The new Turbo version will drop the hybrid powertrain in favor of a regular engine offered in two different versions, with one going up to 200 HP. The first rumors for this vehicle report that the future Honda CR-Z Turbo will take its design inspiration from the Honda CR-Z R Concept (pictured above) unveiled in November at the SEMA Show. The R Concept featured a more aggressive front grille, a huge rear wing, a lowered ride, and bigger wheels that, if taken for the Turbo, would make it look like a car we could work with. Hit the jump to read more about the future Honda CR-Z Hybrid. Full story 2010 Honda HPD CR-Z RacerCould the Mazda MX-5 Cup Car be outrun by a hybrid out on the track? It’s quite possible with Honda Performance Development’s CR-Z Racer powered by the same hybrid system as found in Honda’s road-going SEMA child, the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept. This system combines a turbocharger and an upgraded Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system that, together, produce 200 horsepower and 175 lb-ft. of torque. In addition to the modifications made to the hybrid setup, Honda also added a performance clutch, limited-slip differential, a ‘circuit-tuned’ suspension, upgraded brakes, and some aerodynamic components. We can’t get past that huge rear wing and those graphics. The interior of the CR-Z Racer has also been primed for a race with the use of a single front seat, a roll cage, and other bare bones features. The two concepts shown at the 2010 SEMA Show are not intended for sale, but Honda Performance Development does plan on sharing the racing potential of the CR-Z Racer at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race in December. We smell a money-making opportunity in the works? Well, if the Racer is any good, of course. 2011 Honda CR-Z Equipped with MUGEN AccessoriesIf you think the Honda CR-Z is hot, then you will fall head over heels in love with this CR-Z decked out in Mugen accessories that is currently being displayed in SEMA. We aren’t exactly huge fans of Honda’s hybrid coupe, but the exterior package provided for it makes us rethink our bashing quite a bit. We can’t waste too much time thinking, though, as this limited edition will only be available in 300 units starting in the spring of 2011. To make the hybrid the exquisite machine you see in front of you, the Honda had to take on plenty of components including a full MUGEN body kit, a front grille, a rear wing spoiler, 17-inch "XJ" aluminum wheels, sport mats, a unique black aluminum shift knob, and a billet aluminum oil-filler cap. All of the painted parts will come color-matched to each of the five available CR-Z colors and each owner will receive a unique serial-number plaque designating each kit as one of 300 available. Upon revealing this car in Las Vegas, Honda said: "The combination of greener practicality with style and fun makes this vehicle a perfect fit for young, environmentally conscious buyers looking to further personalize their cars." Pricing details will be made available closer to the on-sale date. 2010 Honda CR-Z Hybrid R ConceptAs everyone expected, Honda’s line-up at the 2010 SEMA Show was dominated by the hybrid CR-Z. The Honda hybrid making the top of our list is the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept. Of course this vehicle is not available for order, but Honda wanted to demonstrate the potential of the CR-Z for both street and racing performance. Under the hood the Type R Concept features a turbocharger and upgraded IMA hybrid system, resulting in an estimated combined 200 HP and 175 lb-ft. of torque. Honda then added a performance clutch, limited-slip differential, ‘circuit-tuned’ suspension, upgraded brakes, and aerodynamic components. The concept is painted in the usual Type R exterior red and features a more aggressive front grille, a huge rear wing, a lowered ride, and bigger wheels. For the interior, Honda is offering Recaro sport seats. All we can say about this concept is that we really hope Honda will decide to offer a production version. This may not be the most fantastic looking hybrid on the market, but tuning projects like this one, give it a slightly higher advantage than before.
2011 Honda CR-Z Type-F Concept by WraptivoAfter being announced back in September, the CR-Z Type F Concept by Wraptivo made its debut today at SEMA Show. The concept includes a full aero kit consisting of Honda accessories aero pieces along with other aero components from Japan. Going a step further on the tuning front, the Type-F concept will be getting a power increase thanks to a supercharger system, suspension package, an ECU Tune, exhaust system, and other speedy components. The interior will get Recaro seats, a sport shift knob, and alcantara panels. And while waiting for the official specifications and details on where the engine updates took the car’s performance, we can sit back and enjoy the first official images of the hatchback that show the matte black and carbon black film exterior combined with its orange elements. We can only hope that Honda will take some sort of inspiration from this concept and provide the world with this funky CR-Z. Honda looking at releasing drop-top CR-Z
Car magazine Road & Track has unearthed a rumor involving Honda and a possible convertible sports car in the company’s future. Before you go shrieking and jumping up and down about a possible return of the S2000, you need to know that it won’t be happening. Instead, Honda is looking at making a droptop version of the CR-Z. Weird as that may sound considering the CR-Z is a hybrid, but Honda may be in the process of giving the car a major upgrade in the engine department with a more powerful powertrain that could qualify it as a sports car. We don’t know whether there’s any validity to this rumor, but we are curious to see how Honda plans on turning the CR-Z into a sports car. We’re not doubting them in the least bit, but at this point, we have more questions than answers on whether Honda can successfully transform the CR-Z into a sports car that can give a car like the Mazda MX-5 Miata a run for its money. Honda unveils CR-Z sports hybrid coupe 3D-style in Times Square
Honda’s ramping up its efforts in introducing the 2011 CR-Z to the American market and they did so New York style. Not content with just a standard run-of-the-mill unveiling, Honda went and set up shop at Times Square in New York City to do the first 3D unveiling in company history. With a crowd of over 250,000 – that’s what Honda is saying, although the number may be a tad inflated – in attendance, Honda put on quite a show with hip-hop group N.E.R.D performing for the crowd and getting everyone up on their feet, jumping and hollering with each passing beat. The highlight of the whole spectacle, of course, was the CR-Z, and as promised, Honda unveiled the car in 3D by broadcasting footage of a new commercial centered on the sports hybrid coupe at Times Square’s iconic Spectacolor screen, much to the delight of the 250,000 people that supposedly came in to watch the entire festivities.
2010 Honda CR-Z by AMS Terra
The Honda CR-Z hybrid has been one of the most often-tuned Honda vehicles in recent time. The latest to take a crack at the hybrid is AMS and they’ve even named their worked-up CR-Z the Terra. Featuring a new front bumper, widened side sills, and new front and rear fenders, AMS really took the time to dress up the CR-Z to make it more unique than any CR-Z-tuned vehicles we’ve seen. AMS also added a roof lip, a rear hatch spoiler, and a funky new rear diffuser with twin center exhaust outlets. But the best additions, at least as far as we’re concerned, are those spanking awesome piano black and pearl white 19-inch RAYS Versus Torismo Rechente rims that add to the overall aesthetic appeal this tuned-up CR-Z provides. Not that we haven’t seen anything like it, but we have to say, this AMS-tuned CR-Z is one of the cleanest modded CR-Zs we’ve seen in a while. In the event you’re interested in having your little sporty hybrid given the whole AMS treatment, it’s going to cost you somewhere around $5,000, which isn’t all that expensive if your car ends up looking like this.
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