2010 Honda CR-Z Sales Brochure: The Full Monty in Pictures

From what we know, Honda will toss the covers off the production version of the CR-Z hybrid coupe at the Detroit Show on Monday afternoon. And even though we've shown you brochure images of both the standard and MUGEN variants, as well as still video shots of the CR-X's spiritual successor, julino billym reader S.Z. pointed us to a Japanese blog that just posted more than 30 scanned pictures of what is said to be the domestic market sales leaflet. Hit the jump to check out the complete set of photos.

Via: Gazoo G-blog - Hat tip to S.Z!

2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe: New Video Shots of Production Model

Continuing the saga of leaks, new photos of the production version of Honda's hotly anticipated 2011 (or 2010, depends on the market) CR-Z hybrid coupe have made their way onto the web. This time, we have a series of screen shots from a video that we have yet to discover. In JDM spec, the 21st century CR-X comes with a hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol unit with an electric motor.

According to the official brochure that was leaked earlier this month, the petrol unit makes 114ps (84kW or 113 HP) at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 145Nm (107 lb-ft) at 4,800 rpm, while the electric motor, 14ps (10kW or 13.4 HP) at 1,500 rpm and 78Nm (58 lb-ft) at 1,000 rpm.

It doesn't sound much, but at least customers will have the option of a six-speed manual transmission in addition to the more traditional for a hybrid model, CVT.

The Japanese version of the CR-Z is said to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in an uninspiring 9.7 seconds.

In the leaked leaflet, Honda mentions that the CR-Z will return 25.0 km/lt (58.8mpg US or 4.0 lt/100km) and 22.5 km/lt (52.9 mpg US or 4.5 lt/100km), but as we noted then, we are not sure what the numbers refer to.

Japan will first be the first market to receive the production version of the CR-Z in February 2010, with Europe and North America to follow later in the year.

Via: Gazoo

New Honda Beat: Next-Generation Kei Roadster Speculated

Remember the original Beat, Honda's pint-sized, two-seater roadster with the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout of the 1990s? Well, Japan's Best Car magazine is doing what it does best by speculating on the return of the Beat in Honda's car range.

Our knowledge of the Japanese language is non-existent so we can't share any details from the article (any help would be hugely appreciated) but we assume from the side air-vents that the design proposal is for a rear-engined roadster - something like the poor man's Porsche.

We don't know if the rendering / story is based on actual inside information or pure speculation, but it would be interesting to hear your say about whether or not a model like this could be successful in markets outside Japan in today's world of downsizing and greener cars.

Via: Best Car

HIGH-RES PHOTO GALLERY HONDA BEAT (click picture to open)