The Honda CR-Z was a four-seater (2 + 2) sports car sold from 2010 to 2016, primarily known for being the only production hybrid car to have a manual gearbox (in this case, six-ratio). The cute vehicle combined a 121 hp 1.5 i-VTEC engine (114 hp until 2013) with a 20 hp electric drive (14 hp until 2013).
This model was conceived as a spiritual substitute for the legendary CR-X, a highly successful sports car that the Japanese brand sold between 1983 and 1998. It was indirectly replaced by the high-performance roadster S2000. However, despite its interesting technical proposal, the CR-Z never became a successful model.
Now Honda has re-registered this nomenclature in the United States. Although this could mean that the Japanese brand wants to protect this brand name to prevent it from being used by another automaker, some rumors indicate that the company could reuse it in a 100% electric sports model.
According to MotorTrend, the new CR-Z could be the production version of the Honda Sports EV Concept. This model was unveiled shortly after the Honda Urban EV Concept (the prototype that gave rise to the current production Honda e). Unlike the Honda e, the CR-Z would be sold not only in Europe but also in the United States and Japan.
Sitting on the same platform as the Honda e (that is, with independent suspensions on both axles, rear-wheel drive, a 50/50 weight distribution, etc.), the new Honda CR-Z would be distinguished by having a larger capacity battery (The Honda e complies with 35.5 kWh) and a higher horsepower engine.
Conceived as a “halo” model, the Honda CR-Z could go from being a 2 + 2 to a strict two-seater (in fact, the rear seats of the original CR-Z were so anecdotal that in markets like the US it was sold without them). Although at the moment all this information is pure speculation, many fans are looking forward to seeing a new sports Honda located between the S660 and NSX to succeed in the saga of the CR-X, Integra, S2000 and CR-Z.