If you like the looks of the Honda CR-Z, but not its performance, we’ve got some (potentially) good news for you: Honda is hinting at a revised CR-Z, set to debut on September 27, the opening of the Paris Auto Show. While there aren’t many details revealed on the Honda Japan website (via Motor Authority), it looks like the “sports hybrid” will get revised headlights with LED accents, new wheels and an “S+” button inside the cabin.
We’re guessing that S+ stands for Sport Plus, which (hopefully) means more power from the over-taxed 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. In its current state, the CR-Z delivers a combined output of just 126 horsepower and 165 pound feet of torque with the manual transmission, and that’s not much to move a 2,700 pound car. The CR-Z was Honda’s attempt to create a “sports car without guilt,” but instead it created a sporty coupe without grunt.
Rumors of hotter CR-Zs have popped up since the car was launched, but nothing has transpired in production form. To make the car faster, first you need to overcome the deficit of the added hybrid weight (motor, batteries and controller), and then there’s the issue of the 1.5-liter engine to contend with. If you ask us, Honda would do well to launch a gasoline-only version, powered by the 2.0-liter four-cylinder from the previous generation Civic Si. In fact, we’d be fine if Honda called it an CR-Z Si and offered it only with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
It wouldn’t set sales records, but we bet it would go a long way towards upping Honda’s stock in the eyes of driving enthusiasts.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
