CRX vs. Gen 1 vs. Gen 2 vs. CRZ

eq1 · 01-17-2013, 02:41 AM

Just curious. I parked alongside an older CRX the other day; I never realized just how similar they look/are to the Gen 1 Insight. Anyone have stories, info, about the lineage from CRX to Gen 1 Insight, if there are any, and then from Gen 1 Insight to Gen 2 Insight, and then to I think it's called a CRZ or CR-Z? Is the "CR" in CRZ related to the "CR" in CRX? Should the Gen 1 Insight really have been named the CRZ Insight? Should the Gen 2 Insight have been named something completely different?

eq1 · 01-17-2013, 02:47 AM

Funny, I came across this image searching "CRX":

02insight · 01-17-2013, 04:46 AM

The CRX came in 3 variants, HF, Si and standard. The insight is more like a progression of the CRX HF. The HF was barebones model, optimized for mpg.

Funny thought though, if Honda went in alphabetical order, from CR-X, to CR-Z, the insight would be the CR-Y.

eq1 · 01-17-2013, 07:10 AM

"CRY"? Probably wouldn't work. Is "CR" an acronym (i.e. FBI, USDA, etc.)?

**freezin4** · 01-17-2013, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02insight

Funny thought though, if Honda went in alphabetical order, from CR-X, to CR-Z, the insight would be the CR-Y.

I believe you are spot on. I remember reading somewhere that the Gen1 Insight's project name was CR-Y.

Curiously, the JDM model CRX was called "CR-X" as opposed to the USDM "CRX".

I had a used 84 DX model recently. LOVED IT! Great handling, more room in the back, brighter interior. They all had plastic fenders and front valance, which (nowadays) are almost all brittle with age, so it's hard to find a Gen 1 CRX without cracks in the fenders.

DX and HF had carbs and Si had the fuel injection. DX had steelies, and HF had super light wheel. Early Si had these 14" wheels

and later Si came with the 14" "phone dial wheels".

Aftermarket Straman co. made convertible version. Rare!

Anyone who likes the Gen1 Insight would love the Gen 1 CRX!

jime · 01-17-2013, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eq1

Funny, I came across this image searching "CRX":

A beautiful car. Did you get any indication who did the modifications? With a K20, this would be a barnburner and look the part too.

eq1 · 01-17-2013, 07:53 AM

Yeah, pretty nice looking. But no, I didn't see any information...

I just read a thread where the consensus was that "CR-X" stands for "Civic Renaissance- X," BTW...

What does CRX stand for? - Honda-Tech

Oh and, hey, check this out. In that same thread someone asks what the original "CVCC" stands for (i.e. the Civic), and someone replies that it's "Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion ... but I don't know what it means." And the following poster writes:

"It makes the fuel and air swirl in the combustion chamber before ignition, burning the fuel mixture more completely, thereby increasing gas mileage and significanly reducing emissions."

So there's one major linkage between the Insight, the CRX, and even back to the Civic: The CR-X is an experimental rebirth of the Civic ("Civic Renaissance - Xperimental", so the thread points out), while "CVCC" of "Civic" is an acronym for one of the fuel-saving features on the Insight -- compound vortex controlled combustion, which is part of the Vtec-e and lean burn...

crxbart · 01-17-2013, 08:13 AM

I like this thread, and the thinking behind it. I am an avid CRX fan, and as soon as the Gen1 Insight came out, all of us CRXers were a bit polarized about it. I hated it at first, I'll admit. Now that I am older, I find myself owning one because of it's obvious merits. The Insight clearly accentuated the good aerodynamics of the CRX, and took it a step further.

I've owned a 87 Si, 90 HF, 88 HF, and I still own a 89 Si, that I swapped a K20A into, and I have a long list of Mugen parts fitted to. I love those little cars, and I love my little Insight as well. The Insight could have, and should have been called a CR-Y. It is much more like it than the Del Sol, which was considered a 3rd Generation CRX outside of North America. Anyway, here is my CRX, or KRX as I now refer to it, since the engine swap. This was the last pic before I put it under the knife. It is getting a roll cage installed, the engine bay has been shaved, JDM glass roof installed, and it will be painted Championship White when it re-emerges.

jime · 01-17-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eq1

So there's one major linkage between the Insight, the CRX, and even back to the Civic: The CR-X is an experimental rebirth of the Civic ("Civic Renaissance - Xperimental", so the thread points out), while "CVCC" of "Civic" is an acronym for one of the fuel-saving features on the Insight -- compound vortex controlled combustion, which is part of the Vtec-e and lean burn...

There is a decent writeup in Wikipedia.com on the CVCC system. Interesting approach technically.

eq1 · 01-17-2013, 09:41 AM

hmm, maybe CVCC is a little more specific kind of 'vortex controlled combustion' than what's found on the gen1 insight. No mention of it in that wikipedia article after about 1986. But it sure sounds a lot like lean burn...