New car news

13 July 2009 - 14:00

CR-Z hybrid on its way

Honda will build the funky little CR-Z Hybrid, two years after first teasing us with the pictures of the concept.

It will use the company's petrol-electric hybrid format - which pairs a 1.3-litre engine with an IMA electric motor - though this is the first time it's appeared in a sports car.
 
So it offers a greener flavour of speed, performance probably won't be startling, but will definitely be smooth and swift. Around 96kW and a 0-100km/h dash of around 8.5 seconds is our guess.
 
The CR-Z will go on sale in Japan early next year, though other dates have yet to be finalised. We'll know more on that later this year.
 
The news was announced by Honda's new top man, Takanobu Ito. He was the engineer in charge of the NSX, so we're inclined to trust him. But will a sporty, fun little hybrid really work? If anyone can make it happen, he can.

Talking of the NSX, here's an old clip of Black Stig thrashing a true great among Japanese supercars: