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Honda Upgrades CR-Z Hybrid Battery
Honda Motor Co. rolls out an updated version of its $20,000 CR-Z hybrid sport coupe with a lithium-ion battery that replaces the nickel-magnesium unit in the 2012 model.
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Honda Motor Co. rolls out an updated version of its $20,000 CR-Z hybrid sport coupe with a lithium-ion battery that replaces the nickel-magnesium unit in the 2012 model.
The car's 1.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine is unchanged. The powertrain's electric motor is intended to assist during acceleration but not power the car exclusively. The motor acts as a generator during braking or coasting.
The new battery is rated at 144 volts compared with 100 volts for the previous unit. Honda says the additional power helps boost the CR-Z's total output to 130 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque, up 8 hp and 12 lb-ft, respectively. Fuel economy has improved by about 1 mpg.
The CR-Z comes with a standard six-speed manual gearbox; a continuously variable transmission is optional.
The 2013 powertrain also has been updated with a standard "Plus Sport" system that enables the driver to tap the car's electric motor for a five-second boost while the piston engine is accelerating.
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