Honda – Introducing a world first

[MikeCR-Z]

The green cars of the Tokyo Motor Show. The Green Piece

When the Honda CR-Z (Compact, Renaissance, Zero) Concept (see article) made its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 it was described as the “world’s first hybrid sports car”. Two years on, its questionable as to whether that tag can still apply, but there’s no denying the appeal of the production version of this model.

The Honda CR-Z is intended to be sporty, efficient and inexpensive and will feature the same Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) as the Honda Insight Hybrid. Unlike most hybrid cars it has also been confirmed to have manual transmission as an option.

Keep your eyes peeled too for the Honda EV-N and Honda Skydeck concepts. The EV-N has a retro design not dissimilar to the Trabant and is said to be based on the 1960s N360 hatch. It is a little bit longer than the Smart ForTwo and carries a lithium-ion battery pack. The Honda Skydeck Concept meanwhile, is a six-seat hybrid car that has a higher rear-end and flatter roofline than the CR-Z. This MPV features a centrally mounted battery to give more space inside the cabin and has three rows of seating with a pair of seats in each row.

Read the full article at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk