Honda Planning Larger Sport Hybrid to Join the CR-Z?

[MikeCR-Z]

Honda Planning Larger Sport Hybrid to Join the CR-Z?

In a bid to try and win some hybrid market share from Toyota and beat back the hybrid gains of Ford, Honda has adopted the stance that dominating the sports hybrid realm is the place to be. The recently released Honda CR-Z — a throwback to the cultish glory days of the beloved CRX — is the first sports hybrid offering from Honda… but it has been met with only mediocre fanfare.

Complaints that it is both underpowered AND doesn’t get as good mileage as it should for such a small hybrid have relegated it to the “meh” list of many industry pundits and green car enthusiasts alike. But, with sales surging in Japan and a higher interest among the public than we all thought possible, it may just be the comeback star Honda was looking for.

And now Motor Trend is reporting on a rumor that Honda is busy prepping a sports hybrid the size of the Accord coupe that will “dwarf the CR-Z in performance.” Add this rumor to the one that Honda is also prepping a revved up Type-R version of the CR-Z and a picture is starting to emerge of where Honda wants to take all of this.

According to Motor Trend’s “insider” the new sports hybrid would have a 2.5 liter engine mated to Honda’s IMA hybrid system. That would give this new car a full liter more displacement than the CR-Z. Given that the CR-Z already doesn’t pull in very spectacular mileage numbers, I’m really not sure where all this is going.

There is no way that the mileage from this larger car would give it that much of an edge over its rivals and the loss of horsepower compared to, say, a V6, would certainly be substantial. It all just seems kind of counterproductive. Given that the trend to give sports cars better fuel economy these days seems to be to lower displacement and add a turbocharger, it just feels like Honda is headed in the wrong direction.

Maybe I’m wrong and by adding a “hybrid” moniker to the car Honda can convince people otherwise, but I remain seriously dubious. What do you all think, is Honda onto something or have they lost their marbles?

Link To Article: Honda Planning Larger Sport Hybrid to Join the CR-Z? : Gas 2.0

[usmcdad]

Mike,

My bet is that the restyled 2012 Civic will look a lot like our CR-Z's, and of course the Civic Hybrid will be continued.

[cord77]

blah blah CR-Z blah blah slow blah blah not economical blah blah sells by the boat loads.

Would be nice if they stepped back and understood why its selling, and then changed their narrow vision reviewing style.

[crzsuzuka]

The grass is always greener on the other side... If they don't like it don't buy it!

[bizzybear]

wow, not sure how i missed this thread... good info thanks for posting Mike

[Ecotune]

Thats interesting.. whatever they decide it will never be a CRZ