2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid
Developed as
a stylish, driver-focused vehicle with an emphasis on efficient 㧲een䠊 performance, the all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z introduces a sleek
two-passenger coupe design with quick, sporty handling to the
gasoline-electric hybrid segment.
A 1.5-liter
i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine works with HondaⳠunique, compact and
lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system to supply both power
and efficiency to the CR-Z. A sport-focused six-speed manual
transmission is a first for any hybrid.
An automatic
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is available and includes
steering wheel paddle shifters for manual-like gear-ratio control. A
new, exclusive 3-mode drive system allows the driver to configure the
vehicleⳠresponsiveness for Sport, Normal or Econ (Economy) driving
modes. Driver efficiency tools include Eco Assist and Eco Scoring, which
together can help drivers find improvements to efficient driving styles
while also comparing economy achievements to previous trips and over the
life of the vehicle.
CR-Z Highlights
- All-new, two-passenger
sport hybrid coupe with stylish and aggressive exterior
- Gasoline-electric hybrid
with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology
- Driver-focused cockpit
design with sport seats and 3-D instrumentation
- New 3-mode drive system
tailors throttle response, steering and IMA assistance to the driverⳠ
preference
- Performance-engineered
suspension design
- Standard safety features:
Front, side and side-curtain airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
and Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure
The exteriorⳠ㯮e-motion
wedge䠢ody form generates an aerodynamic, sporty style with a low hood
and an aggressively wide stance. A lightweight, rigid platform and a
chassis with a wide track, short wheelbase and performance-oriented
suspension components include aluminum front lower control arms to
elevate the vehicleⳠhandling dynamics. The interior concept is
fashioned around a high-tech coupe style and uses premium-quality
materials, while also providing useful space for storage of everyday
items.
Interior
Styling and Features
The interior
of the CR-Z has been influenced by the cabin of the Tokyo Motor Show
CR-Z Concept, especially the three-dimensional meter layout and
driver-focused cabin.
The
high-tech instrument panel places many of the commonly used controls
close to the driverⳠhands, allowing for full concentration on driving.
The dashboard of the new coupe takes on a complex and immersive form,
with a dark upper portion appearing to float above a matte gray lower
dash section, which is continued into the center of the inner door
panels.
All models
receive automatic climate control, six-speaker audio system with compact
disc player, USB input for iPodpower windows and locks, and keyless
entry. The CR-Z EX adds a 360-watt high-power audio system that includes
a subwoofer, steering wheel-integrated audio controls, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, alloy pedals and more. The Honda Satellite-linked
Navigation System with Voice Activation and 6.5-inch screen is available
on the CR-Z EX. Different from CR-Zs in Europe and Asia, the North
American model is exclusively equipped with a rear cargo console
directly behind the seats. The hidden storage area can accommodate small
items such as briefcases, laptops or duffle bags.
Powertrain
The CR-Z represents the sixth
unique version of Honda's original IMA technology since the launch of
the 2000 Insight 栴he first hybrid vehicle available in North America.
The foundation of the CR-Z's hybrid powertrain is a 4-cylinder,
16-valve, single overhead cam engine with "intelligent" Variable Valve
Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC) that receives additional
power from the IMA system's 10-kilowatt DC brushless electric motor. The
i-VTEC system controls the opening and closing of one intake valve per
cylinder to enhance combustion at low RPM. The electric motor assists in
acceleration and also acts as a generator during braking or coasting to
capture kinetic energy that can recharge the 100.8-volt IMA nickel-metal
hydride battery pack. The gasoline engine can automatically turn off
during vehicle stops (idle stop) to improve efficiency.
The system
delivers a combined peak output of 122 horsepower2 at 6,000
RPM and 128 lb-ft. of torque2 at 1,000 to 1,750 RPM (123
lb-ft at 1,000 to 2,000 on CVT-equipped models). EPA-estimated fuel
economy is 35/39/37 city/highway/combined miles per gallon on CVT-equipped
models. Manual-transmission models achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy
of 31/37/34 city/highway/combined miles per gallon.
When compared to the
250-plus nameplates of all currently available 2010 model-year
automobiles in the U.S. (the most-recent data available at the time of
printing), the 2011 CR-ZⳠcombined EPA fuel economy rating of 37 mpg
for the CVT-equipped version would place it among the top five of all
models.
Plus,
with the addition of the CR-Z to the lineup, Honda offers three of the
top five highest-rated vehicles for combined EPA fuel economy currently
available as either a 2010 or 2011 model.
Safety
Technology
In addition
to having a low environmental impact, the CR-Z demonstrates the Honda
commitment to safety in the vehicleⳠdesign and construction. The
Advanced Compatibility Engineering頨ACE驠body structure is designed to
help protect vehicle occupants in a frontal collision. Additional safety
technologies include standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front
airbags; standard front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant
Position Detection System (OPDS); side-curtain airbags, active head
restraints; an anti-lock braking system; a tire pressure monitoring
system; and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front
Honda CRX
Heritage
The exterior
design of CR-Z deliberately evokes the iconic style of the 1980s and
1990s Honda CRX, which was originally developed to provide a small,
stylish car that could achieve excellent fuel economy. Signature
features of the CRX, like the split-level rear glass hatch of the second
generation model and the low, shallow raked roofline have been
referenced in the design of the sleek coupe and then combined with a
curvaceous and deeply sculpted exterior form.
Manufacturing
The Honda
CR-Z, in addition to the Civic Hybrid and Insight, is produced at the
Suzuka Factory in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. In 2008, the
factory added a second engine line to expand production of IMA hybrid
system motors.
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Chassis
With a low center of gravity
and a wide track, the front MacPherson strut suspension and rear
H-shaped torsion beam suspension settings are tuned to provide a sporty,
solid and dynamic driving experience.
All models are equipped with
16x6-inch aluminum alloy wheels with 195/55 R16 86V tires. Accessory
17x7-inch aluminum alloy wheels with 205/45 R17 84V tires are available
as a dealer-installed accessory.
The standard anti-lock braking
system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) uses ventilated
front discs and solid rear discs. The low vehicle height and placement
of the battery and other hybrid components beneath the rear cargo area
further contribute to a low center of gravity for responsive, sporty
handling.
Electric Power-assisted
rack-and-pinion Steering (EPS) improves overall vehicle efficiency
compared to a conventional hydraulic power steering system and is tuned
in the CR-Z for a firm driving feel and communicative steering feedback
栥ven more when Sport mode is selected. New EPS programming algorithms
being introduced on the CR-Z add a new dimension of feedback control (in
all modes) that can optimally match the assist and self-aligning forces
related to the driverⳠinput with the vehicleⳠpath through a corner.
When starting on steep
inclines from a stop in manual transmission-equipped CR-Zs, hill start
assist temporarily minimizes the potential for the vehicle to roll
backwards during the moment between releasing the brake, depressing the
throttle and releasing the clutch (braking force tapers off after a
duration of approximately 1 second).
About Honda
Honda began operations in the
U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.,
Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda began U.S. motorcycle
production in Ohio in 1979, and began U.S. automobile production in 1982
at its Marysville, Ohio, auto plant. The company has invested more than
$15 billion in its manufacturing, R&D, and sales and service operations
in North America. The company has grown its local product-creation
capabilities to include 14 major manufacturing plants and 14 R&D
facilities in the region. More than 83 percent of the Honda and Acura
cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. in 2009 were built in North
America, using domestic and globally sourced parts, the highest
percentage for any international automaker operating in the region.
American HondaⳠfleet-average fuel economy for its MY2008 Honda and
Acura passenger cars and light trucks tops the in industry at 23.9, as
determined by the U.S. EPA in its 2009 Fuel Economy Trends Report.
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