Honda CR-Z

By Peter Lyon

10th October 2007

This week, there’s breaking news of not just one reborn motoring legend, but two! While BMW’s plan to bring back Triumph is hot gossip in the UK, Japan is ready to see the return of one of its favourite past models: the Honda CR-X.

Auto Express first heard rumours of the coupé’s comeback in 2004, but Honda didn’t give us an official clue until last year’s Los Angeles Motor Show, when it revealed the Remix.

However, the company’s plans are now plain to see. Following the trend set by VW, where the Iroc concept previewed the forthcoming Scirocco, Honda is giving us a glimpse of the new CR-X with this – the CR-Z.

The compact coupé is a modern interpretation of the original, which enjoyed cult status when it appeared in 1984. While the rear clearly takes inspiration from Honda’s latest Civic, the CR-Z debuts a brand new nose.

The bold grille and recessed headlamps bear a resemblance to Mazda’s RX-8, but the appearance is striking nonetheless. However, the new model is more than just a pretty face – it’s also fitted with a hybrid drive­train. Official details are still secret, yet our sour­ces suggest the petrol-electric system will go into production.

We won’t have to wait long for the coupé to appear in showrooms, either. Insiders have told Auto Express that the CR-Z is the final step in Honda’s development plan to bring the coupé to forecourts, and we could see a production version within a year.

It’s likely to be based on the Civic platform, so the two-door would ben­efit from one of the strongest engine line-ups on the market. Honda’s sup­erb 2.2-litre diesel is sure to be a pop­ular choice, while a high-performance 2.0-litre petrol Type R flagship would be hard for Honda fans to resist.

What’s more, the firm is also working on new i-DTEC diesel technology that meets the latest Euro V emissions regulations. Offered alongside a hybrid version, this could make the modern day CR-X one of the greenest sports cars available. The newcomer will be larger than its predecessors, rivalling VW’s Scirocco in size, and will have space for four in a 2+2 configuration.

We’ve been given an exclusive pre­view of the CR-Z, although Honda won’t officially reveal its new coupé in the metal until the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. And it’s not the only debutant that will be on display. The three-door appears alongside a bizarre concept called the Puyo.

Amazingly, this is a vehicle with no edges! According to Honda, it’s designed to “excite drivers while entertaining pedestrians”. The Puyo has a face with the appeal of a fluffy pet, and uses soft, rubber-like materials for the bodywork. Seen as an extension of the Asimo robot philo­sophy, it also has special light technology that informs bystanders of the Puyo’s mechanical running conditions.

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