That is a pic of the CONCEPT not the production version.

Production.


Pic of not modded Fit


Honda has a serious design issue with these awful giant overhangs and short wheelbases. The TL is one of the worst

 

I saw it in person the other day, it was parked on the street, in a nice green color it did look pretty darn good. Its just that is got a lousy suspension and a lousy outdated hybrid tech.

 

I've seen it in person, and I can't say it looks good at all. I can't get over that rear end styling, I though it was an Insight when I saw it from a distance . Definitely not something I bet Honda wants the CR-Z to be mistaken for.

It looks decent, but not that great. Huge front overhang makes the car look disproportionate in real life just as in pictures.

 

Well, essentially it is a 2 door Insight. More or less a direct successor to the first gen Insight, which was also a 2 door.

It really does look pretty darn good in person. And even the 4 door insight look pretty good as well.

 

I agree Och, I saw one in person for the first time and I think it looks great. Not super sexy, but definitely not an eye-sore like some people exaggerate.

Overhang isn't as bad in real life as depicted in the picture above.

 

Matter of opinion I guess. The Insight looks even worse to me; the Insight looks terribly awkward to me in person.

 

Saw it in person and it looks like a giant dust buster. Best angle is the rear 3/4 view from the side. Totally underwhelming.

 

Sad part is, I think the car would a huge hit if it had the Si motor....but I'm guessing it never will.

 

cr-z type R, could happen.

 

Yes, in my recent CR-Z review, I listed the lack of a conventional gas-powertrain (and espcially an Si version) as one of the present design's chief faults. The IMA/CVT drivetrain leaves a lot to be desired in smoothness, low-speed power, and refinement. But, to its credit, it is the first U.S.-market hybrid that offers a true three-pedal 6-speed manual transmission, which is not only a sporty touch, but also, of course, does away with the CVT's annoying rubber-banding and motorboating characteristics.

 

the fact that it offers inferior technology does not give it any credit... there is no point if creating small, light, low hp hybrid and then getting beaten by Fit with standard engine, is there?

Put in the engine from Fit and clearly CR-Z will be better vehicle than with their IMA system.

 

How does the CR-Z get "beat" by the Fit? The Fit comes with a 5-speed manual; the CR-Z, a 6-speed manual.....the first hybrid in the American market to do so. So the CR-Z is already one gear ahead in that department. As for the engine, the Fit's conventional 1.5L VTEC in-line 4 has 106 ft-lbs. of torque.......the CR-Z, 128 ft-lbs. with the 6-speed and 123 with the CVT.

One area where, I agree, the Fit DOES do a little better than the CR-Z is in powertrain smoothness/refinement. Honda, unlike Toyota, has not (yet) figured out a way to make its hybrid/CVT-combination to operate smoothly, without motorboating/rubber-banding......there, you may have a point.

 

Again, it is not an good point that hybrid has 6 gears... it means no power splitting device... it means bad mpg.

http://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-g...ar-driver.html

 

Fit is both faster and a lot cheaper, and seats more people has more space... we come to the conclusion that Fit's engine being fitted into lighter CR-Z chassis would also bring better performance and cheaper price, dont we? And probably have same mpg due to weight being lesser than Fits and 6 speed.

So how exactly wouldnt it be better choice to use Fit's engine?
- cheaper
- faster
- better mpg

 

Well, I won't disagree with you that the Honda IMA system is not very impressive, especially combined with the CVT. But, for the CR-Z, if you are going to use conventional power-plants (and I mentioned, in my CR-Z review, that they should have at least been an option), then why not use a real Si-worthy engine like on the Civic Si, instead of a Fit econobox motor? Or, better yet, a choice of both.

Of course, it could (?) have been a matter of simple developement money. Honda may not have had enough extra cash on hand to use (and EPA-certify) three different CR-Z engines, like they did back in the 1980's with the original CRX. As it is, they had to certify the current IMA with two different transmissions.