CR-Z review from 5th Gear

[GeniusInABottle]

Video: Fifth Gear takes a crack at the Honda CR-Z — Autoblog Green

They like it!

[Cobb]

Thanks. Looks like the rear is tinted, fun to drive and 16 grand. I guess this is why the hybrid fit was canned for the US? I just hope it can break 48mpg, which is what my 1999 geo metro gets currently keeping with traffic.

[GeniusInABottle]

The 16k figure quoted was UK pounds, which would be quite a bit more in USD. :[

[jonniedee]

1 British pound = 1.5274 US$ =

$24,320

Also the crz gets LESS mpg than insight per Honda Japan.

[Cobb]

Turbocharing with wate rmethanol injection is looking better and better all the time. Just got to remember to use preminum fuel when filling up.

So, it costs more, seats less and gets less fuel economy, sounds like the way the automotive industry works.

Maybe its me, but I thought an electric motor can be pushed 400% its rated capacity. I am sure Honda may not even be using it at 100%, at least what little it works as is.

[MN Driver]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Maybe its me, but I thought an electric motor can be pushed 400% its rated capacity. I am sure Honda may not even be using it at 100%, at least what little it works as is.

It depends on whether or not the motor is rated for peak load or continuous load. Most industrial DC motors(fork lifts, golf cars) are rated on a continuous or 1 hour rating. Their overload capability is much higher.

The brushless DC motors in the Honda IMA system seem to be rated at peak power to emphasize their performance capability. Many of us believe the rating is a little derated due to the capability of the batteries as they are running very high discharge rates relative to most any other NiMh available on the market. Retepsnikrep is trying to see if it is possible to get 150 or 200 amps out of the normal 100 amps through the motor to use with his more powerful lithium setup.

Unless you are grid charging, you don't want to do that though since it costs you more in gas to recharge the batteries through the gas engine. I think the 1.5L engine in the CRZ is plenty if you didn't need the sporty car aspect, but the motor helps with that part otherwise it doesn't really need the batteries and about the only good use they have is storing regenerative braking energy.

[abr]

Originally Posted by Cobb

So, it costs more, seats less and gets less fuel economy, sounds like the way the automotive industry works.

According to the Honda website it's $600 cheaper than the Insight.
Is the CR-Z now the cheapest hybrid?

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by abr

According to the Honda website it's $600 cheaper than the Insight.
Is the CR-Z now the cheapest hybrid?

MSRP is $20760.
You can find it for less.

I really like it, but I will wait for the 2nd generation (in 4 years).

[Julin]

The hybrid car seen to very attractive and the performance is also remarkable.as its is the 5th gear car it looks is very compact, the interior is cool.. in all its just one of the finest car..

[E27006]

The CRZ is selling well in the UK, the Dealer had an allocation of 6 for the last months of 2010, entire allocation sold within a few weeks