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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.
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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.
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