IMPRESSIVE HONDA CR-Z HYBRID LAUNCHED

Honda South Africa is probably taking a bigger gamble than the guy who put all his life savings into betting on England winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Not unless the company has some marketing witchcraft with enough power to match the new CR-Z hybrid’s looks. Incidentally I sat next to Honda South Africa’s marketing head honcho over supper and he was pretty confident that enough of

our countrymen were conscious and sporty-driving enough to appreciate, and buy the CR-Z.

Forget the CR-X of the late 1980s and early 1990s (both cars could pass a DNA test as near-identical twins), this is a hybrid. What this means is that power comes not just from a petrol motor but also from an electric drive system. The fossil-fuelled device is a 4-cylinder, 1.5-litre size making 84kW at 6100rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4800rpm. Its electric partner replies with 10kW at 1500rpm and 78Nm at 1000rpm, virtually from idle. This old school/ new school dance plays itself out from the minute the driver turns key, pushes the red Start button, accelerates to 100km/h in 10 seconds and pulls the handbrake at the final destination. Stop/start technology comes into use at every opportunity but never interferes with the smoothness of the powertrain.

Look at the figures again and you’ll agree they don’t inspire much confidence, especially from something dubbed a sports car. Yet, there’s more to the little coupe than mere numbers. Much more. Over snaking mountain passes near White River, Mpumalanga, CR-Z and I got very up close and personal. I loved how it pointed straight to where I needed it to point, how it turned without hesitation at my steering inputs, how the 6-speed gearbox bowed to every command. The CR-Z looked and felt every inch like a sports car. Except for the drive system. Honda’s insistence on staying away from turbo power is seriously harming its performance credentials. The defunct S2000 and Civic Type R show the way in manual gearbox magic, and the CR-Z inherited some of that. Sadly this sweet transmission (which earns the car the title of “world’s first manual-driven hybrid”) is not entirely satisfied with its mate and would often struggle for the correct gearing under high performance situations.

And therein lies the irony that is the CR-Z. On one hand you have a two-door sports car with a fantastic gearbox and even more amazing chassis. Both ingredients alone make for a delicious handling meal. On the other hand you do have a hybrid powertrain whose sole purpose is the reduction of fuel consumption and C02 emissions. It’s like giving Siphiwe Tshabalala a defence-splitting ball and asking him not to shoot.

Even the three modes aren’t enough to curb the enthusiasm. You have Econ mode, Normal mode and Sport mode, all three actuated via three buttons to the right of the steering wheel. In Econ mode the CR-Z is at its best behaviour, prolonging throttle response and sipping on fuel. Normal mode is for everyday driving and offers balance between the other two extremes. Sport mode turns instrument back lights red, tightens things up and urges more focused driving. It is the most fun to engage, lively and quite pushy. Push the Sport button and forget this is a car that’s meant to save the world. With a claimed average fuel consumption of 5 litres per 100km, translating into a 1 000km range, that superhero t-shirt is well-deserved.

Exterior styling is hard-edged, yet also soft and approachable. Up front is a pair of LED daytime running lights, a wide gaping grille, fog lamps and rising bonnet lines. Exaggerated rear lights have LED bulbs while the rear window is split into two by a sweeping brake light. As in the Civic hatchback this bar does tend to intrude on the driver’s rear view.

Interior designers kept to recent Honda recipes of using a very busy cockpit with blue background lighting, tough materials on the dashboard, an inviting multi-function steering wheel and sporty foot pedals. Additionally the CR-Z features hybrid-specific information highlights such as how far along battery recharges are. Normal passenger comfort creatures like a CD player, USB/iPod ports, climate control, electrically-adjustable windows and side mirrors, as well as leather seats. There are four seats but the rear ones might as well be exhibits at an art gallery. One couldn’t even fit a toddler in there. Driver aids include electric power steering, ABS, hill start assist and park distance control.

Contributing to its phenomenal handling prowess are front McPherson struts and torsion beams at the rear.

Whether the Mzansi enthusiastic driving public is prepared to fork out R300 000 for what is essentially a two-seat car that delivers on planet-friendliness remains to be seen. Those, like I was, who are impressed by its handling superiority, driving comfort and gearbox will always look forward to piloting it. Others might wonder if a Civic 2.2 CTDi hatch which costs less, sits more, has considerably more torque and slightly worse fuel consumption (about 6.3l/100km) would not be the better value package.

Honda CR-Z Pricing

CR-Z (R299 000)