OK. Less ranting about impotent p---ses or dangerous s---t cars. Google advertising has been following our rants and since their software tracks what is blogged about, a lot of our ads have been hybrid related...and mostly about the ones that suck. Its like those stupid cars are mocking us! But fear not dippers, there is hope yet. Honda has announced a hybrid to kick all other hybrids’ butts: the 2011 Honda CR-Z.The CR-Z is Honda’s update of the old CR-X: a fun sporty little civic hatchback from the 80s. It was popular for its performance, handling, and fuel economy. The car won many awards and there is a huge loyal fan base for the CR-X. Well, staying true to the hot hatch formula, Honda has brought the CR-X back!
Honda will bring the CR-Z (Civic Renaissance Zero) later this year. Its got good looks, great performance, and solid mileage. The car will get 140hp 1.8L civic engine w/ a system similar to the Insight, Honda’s current hybrid competitor to the P---s. It’s aiming to have bigger brakes, better handling and better performance than any other hybrid. Best of all, its gonna be the first hybrid with a… wait for it…6-speed manual transmission! Woot!
That’s how you know Honda is serious about creating a fun to drive hybrid. They let the driver pick the gears. On paper, this thing looks awesome. A hybrid for the enthusiast! But, I know that this car is facing an uphill battle though. When it comes to execution of an environmentally friendly vehicle, the mileage will still be a huge factor. The Accord Hybrid failed miserably because it made performance too big of a priority and not enough emphasis on good fuel efficiency. Pricing is also important. Honda will need to price it competitively with other cars on the market. On top of that, it even risks cannibalizing itself since they will also have the regular Fit and a Hybrid Fit to compete with. I really hope Honda gets the price and "power to tree" ratio correct with this car because I really want this underdog to win.
