Honda CR-Z

Thinking about buying a compact coupé? You might want to wait for this... It’s Honda’s stunning new CR-Z.

This week, the company announced that the car will go on sale in 2010. To find out what we can expect, Auto Express caught up with it in more detail at an exclusive photoshoot.

The coupé is a modern interpretation of the original CR-X – but with a bold nose and recessed headlamps inspired by the very latest designs from Honda’s new-car line-up. Yet it promises to be more than a pretty face – under the skin is an advanced hybrid engine. Although the firm remains tight-lipped about the exact nature of the unit, our sources report that it will be tuned for performance.

It’s also likely to be based on Honda’s latest-generation i-VTEC technology, making this the world’s highest-revving engine to be used with an electric motor.

Expected to use the chassis developed for the Japanese Civic, the car will get all-round independent suspension and the latest platform technology. Utilising such a chassis should also allow engineers to fit Honda’s new 2.2-litre diesel, as well as the 2.0 petrol engine currently in the Civic Type R.