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By EWAN
KENNEDY
25 January 2010
Honda
has revealed its latest petrol-electric hybrid at the Detroit
Motor Show, the first major show of the 2010 season. Called Honda
CR-Z, its aim is to prove that hybrid cars aren’t just about
being clean and green – they can also be fun to drive.
Fun to drive to the extent that Honda is aiming it at the driving
purist who wants a manual gearbox in their sports coupe. A slick
six-speed unit that enables the driver to chose the levels of
economy or performance for themselves.
Car enthusiasts will recognise styling cues from the Honda CRX of
the 1980s, one of the prettiest little machines ever produced by
Honda. The slope at the rear window works beautifully in this 21st
century model. The coupe body of the CR-Z is set up very much as a
two-seater, but there is a pair of occasional rear seats that
don’t look too uncomfortable.
Hybrid power comes from the latest development of Honda's IMA
(Integrated Motor Assist) system. It uses a 1.5-litre
four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor in-line with
it. The combination produces up to 91 kilowatts of power and 174
Newton metres of torque. The latter is the important figure and
would normally require a petrol engine of close to 2.0 litres
capacity to produce it.
One of the most enjoyable features of any car with electric power
(either pure electric or petrol-electric) is the amount of torque
produced at low revs. The feeling as the car jumps off the line is
sure to please keen drivers. Given that Honda has long been famed
for engines that rev to the heavens, this combination of bulk
torque at the bottom end of the rev scale, and big revs at the top
end sounds as though it will be delightful.
As well as the extra control offered by the manual gearbox, the
Honda CR-Z also has a 3-Mode Drive System. This lets the driver to
choose between three driving modes. These alter the responses of
the throttle, steering, idle stop timing, climate control and the
level of assistance provided by the IMA system. Which sounds
great, but let's hope it isn't so complex that it takes some of
the driving purity away from this sports machine.
Honda Australia’s public relations manager, Mark Higgins, says
they would be keen to add the fascinating new Honda CR-Z to their
lineup in this country. But if it's able to do so, imports would
not begin until 2011.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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