Report: No Honda CR-Z Si

[GoHuskies]

Originally Posted by Varmint

Shawn Church over at ToV has added some credibility to the comments made by Kurt Antonius.

Read all about it

Better be worth it IMO.

If a CRZ-Si or Type R comes over with 175 or 200 hp and costs $26,000+ then Honda can again look forward to cars like the Veloster outselling it 10 to 1.

I'll trade in for a quicker CR-Z. If it doesn't come or comes at to high a cost I'll be getting a turbocharged Fiat 500 instead.

[Varmint]

I think trying to compare the CR-Z to the Veloster in terms of sales numbers alone is a bit of a stretch. How much does the existence of the Fit change the game on the Honda showroom? Should the Veloster be compared with the Fit? Given that al model in the showroom are pieces of an overall strategy, should we be comparing the sales of the Fit + CR-Z with the Accent + Veloster?

I don't know the mindset of the Honda product planners when they gave the CR-Z a greenlight, but I hope it wasn't "let's make a high volume product that sells lots of copies." I'd rather think they wanted to build something unique and screw the Americans if they don't like it. Let's face it, the Vesloster's strengths are the interesting look, the electronics, and the low price. However, it is weak on power, weak on handling, and shows absolutely no technical innovation. Is that the kind of car you want Honda to build?

If the CR-Z had been available with a supercharger back in August, I still would have bought the current engine. But I know plenty of people who would shell out $25K for a CR-Z with 180 hp. Compare that with the 200hp Civic Si that weighs considerably more and doesn't have half the visual appeal. Compare it with the MINI Cooper S. The CR-Z is a unique vehicle with plenty of style, character, and performance potential.

[GoHuskies]

Originally Posted by Varmint

I think trying to compare the CR-Z to the Veloster in terms of sales numbers alone is a bit of a stretch. How much does the existence of the Fit change the game on the Honda showroom? Should the Veloster be compared with the Fit? Given that al model in the showroom are pieces of an overall strategy, should we be comparing the sales of the Fit + CR-Z with the Accent + Veloster?

I don't know the mindset of the Honda product planners when they gave the CR-Z a greenlight, but I hope it wasn't "let's make a high volume product that sells lots of copies." I'd rather think they wanted to build something unique and screw the Americans if they don't like it. Let's face it, the Vesloster's strengths are the interesting look, the electronics, and the low price. However, it is weak on power, weak on handling, and shows absolutely no technical innovation. Is that the kind of car you want Honda to build?

If the CR-Z had been available with a supercharger back in August, I still would have bought the current engine. But I know plenty of people who would shell out $25K for a CR-Z with 180 hp. Compare that with the 200hp Civic Si that weighs considerably more and doesn't have half the visual appeal. Compare it with the MINI Cooper S. The CR-Z is a unique vehicle with plenty of style, character, and performance potential.

The Veloster has very limited headroom in the back and access even with the 3rd door isn't easy. Like the CR-Z it's an alternative car designed for work alongside another more mainstream model.

Fit > CR-Z
Elantra > Veloster

In each case you end up paying a little more but get a different set of features in return. The Veloster doesn't offer full leather heated seats but you can plan an Xbox in one when parked. Both of these niche vehicles are being pushed at the same market unless you feel Honda is only gunning for hybrid owners who happen who wants a semi-sporty hybrid with a manual.

Once a more sporting model hits it will be instantly compared against the crop of other similar cars which at that point will include the Mini S, Fiat 500 Abath, Veloster Turbo, Fiesta ST?, and a performance Sonic. Quite frankly some of these in concepts look pretty damn good and the CR-Z had better be priced alongside or Honda has lost me. I buy cars for looks but they had damn well better have reasonable performance to match.

[Jakecrxsi]