Mexican Media Brands
Honda Will Drop CR-Z Hybrid Sports Coupe at Year-End
Honda Motor Co. says it will end production of its CR-Z sports coupe by the end of 2015 because of sluggish demand for the three-door hatch.
#hybrid
Share
Honda Motor Co. says it will end production of its CR-Z sports coupe by the end of 2015 because of sluggish demand for the three-door hatch.
Honda unveiled the CR-Z in concept form at the Tokyo auto show in 2007. When the car hit the market in Japan three years later, Honda anticipated annual sales of 40,000 units. The 2+2 (U.S. models are two-seaters) was proclaimed the best passenger car in Japan and was anointed Japan’s Car of the Year in 2010.
The $20,300 CR-Z is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and a 15-kW electric motor. The powertrain delivers 130 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual or continuously variable transmission. Critics complain the combination delivers mediocre fuel economy and isn’t as sporty as its styling promises.
Honda gave the CR-Z a styling overhaul last year that included a new front-end, bigger wheels, a wider rear track and revised side skirts. But the updates failed to ignite sales. Honda has delivered only about 40,000 of the cars since introduction, according to Kyodo News.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Tesla Owners in Germany Ordered to Return Subsidy
Germany has ordered about 800 Tesla Model S electric cars owners to pay back a €4,000 ($4,700) government subsidy they received.
-
Aluminum Sheet for EV Battery Enclosure
As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) is about to increase almost exponentially, aluminum supplier Novelis is preparing to provide customers with protective solutions
-
Internal Combustion Engines’ Continued Domination (?)
According to a new research study by Deutsche Bank, “PCOT III: Revisiting the Outlook for Powertrain Technology” (that’s “Pricing the Car of Tomorrow”), to twist a phrase from Mark Twain, it seems that the reports of the internal combustion engine’s eminent death are greatly exaggerated.