Honda CR-Z Hybrid – Tokyo reveal

The hybrid Honda CR-Z – sporting a 1.5 litre petrol engine and a six speed manual ‘box – has been revealed at Tokyo.

Honda has unveiled what they are calling the CR-Z concept at Tokyo today, But it’s not a concept – as we said when we reported a few weeks ago on the CR-Z revealing at Tokyo – but a fully production ready hybrid coupe ready to go in to production at the end of 2009 before a launch in Japan and around the world in 2010.

Although we are on record as not being huge fans of the Honda Insight – Toyota’s saloon hybrid – the CR-Z does look much more promising. You can think of it as an Eco replacement for the successful CR-X of years gone by. But Honda are all too well aware of the major criticisms of the Insight and have taking steps to make the CR-Z more appealing to drive.

The petrol engine grows from a 1.3 litre in the Insight to a 1.5 litre in the CR-Z. That alone will make the CR-Z a more enjoyable drive. But Honda has addressed our own bête noire – CVT boxes – by fitting the CR-Z with a six-speed manual ‘box. Which is far more suitable. It will make the sport looking CR-Z perform and drive in a much more familiar – and enjoyable – way.

Honda aren’t prepared to give away performance or economy figures at this point. They expect us to wait until the CR-Z is ready to hit the roads in a few months time. But we expect to see the CR-Z managing a sub 9 second 0-60mph and not suffer too much on the economy front from it’s increased engine size.

Mark us down as interested in this Honda CR-Z Hybrid.