Detroit, 6:54 PM
Sat Dec 5
16 posts in the last 24 hours
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| posts about #2011hondacrz more → |
Honda CR-Z Gets Production-Intent Body For Tokyo |
Honda CR-Z Coming To America In 2010 |
Honda CR-Z Coming To US? |
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Jalopnik 
10/01/09
I can say this from experience: The '88 Si CRX in the states was the lightest CRX they made at, I believe, 1920 lb. When a guy changed lanes without looking and slammed me off the interstate at 70mph, my '88 Si nosed down into the ditch, then slammed into a steep hill, then proceeded to flip end over end four times before coming to a stop upright, but backwards. I walked out without a scratch. That was one STRONG passenger cabin!
Now, I could see how a frontal impact with a Hummer isn't going to go well for that little CRX no matter how small it is--hell, with any small car for that matter. In these cases it's possible to have TOO much stiffness--or in other words, too little room to deform slowly. More energy transmitted to passenger and passenger suffers.
But, really, you're not surviving a fast frontal impact with an SUV in any small car no matter how many stars it gets in the safety tests, so might as well get one that's small, light, strong, and fun to drive.
I say down with bloat, even more so down with weight, give us simpler, more efficient, more agile cars.
10/03/09
09/30/09
I know, asking a lot to have a car that doesn't park itself and such, no one wants that!
09/30/09
Still ugly as sin.
09/30/09
09/30/09
09/30/09
09/30/09
I hope Honda doesn't rebadge it for the US as an Acura so that it can compete with Lexus' hatchback.
09/30/09
[click to embiggen and see the whole gory thing]
Edmunds was kind enough to publish the overall length of the car, which naturally led me to compare the old and the new.
...Uh, it got bigger. A lot.
09/30/09
I don't understand why a mid 1980's Honda can get the same gas mileage as a 2009 Prius...surely I am not the only one noticing this trend? Airbags, stronger frames, sound-deadening material...none of these things require a car be THAT much bigger. Do they?
09/30/09
Some of the weight is due to safety. Front driver and passenger airbags are mandatory. ABS, traction control, etc. are also becoming mandatory and are being demanded by the consumer. All this adds weight. Add on the fact that the IIHS and NHTSA have convinced us that every car should have a 5 star crash test rating, even though the actual benefit is marginal compared to cars from 20 years ago and this far exceeds federal requirements for safety. In order to meet that, the car has to be bigger and/or heavier.
As far as mileage, the power of new cars also factors into it. Some of that is required to carry the extra weight, but most of it is desired by consumers. People want 200+ hp commuters. No more 60 hp econoboxes.
Size does matter.
09/30/09
09/30/09
09/30/09
09/30/09
Now this.
All the CR-Z does is update the lines of the CR-X. It doesn't really move automotive styling forward. If anything, it helps to stagnate it. It's not ugly, in fact, it's quite the opposite. However, it's not groundbreaking either.
As much criticism as there is of the US Automakers, they seem to be really the ones that are leading the charge. Ford started the retro-cool fad with the Ford GT, and GM is trying to push some boundaries with the Camaro. The Europeans even are on board. We criticize the Bangle butt, but at least it moved BMW's designs forward. We lament the roundiness of current Volvo's, but at least they have moved forward. They even managed to keep some quirkiness with the C30...a design some find repulsive.
Honda, it's cool. It doesn't completely do it for me, though.
/bitchy rant
09/30/09
For what it's worth, though, I don't see the CR-Z as being overly retro any more than I do the C30; it's retro in its philosophy, and it does resemble it's predecessor, but I think that it is different enough.
09/30/09
I liked the retro-cool trend, but after 5+ years of it I think it's time to move on.
Maybe I'm just being an impatient American.
09/30/09
09/30/09
One thing that Honda specializes in is making it's range appeal to as many potential customers as possible without adding a million new cars every year like BMW.
There is a Civic to please everyone, including the Hybrid, stripper DX, fully-loaded EX, and the Si. There is an Accord for almost everyone, from a frugal four-cylinder sedan to a fully-loaded V6 near-lux sedan to an almost sexy and surprisingly sporty V6 Coupe. Even the Fit is being given a treatment of a similar philosophy with the Fit Hybrid.
I'm sure that the CR-Z will be planned out with multiple potential engine offerings as well.
09/30/09
09/30/09
09/30/09
I, too, think it does indeed need the batteries removed in favor of the little four-banger out of the Civic Si.
09/30/09
09/30/09
09/30/09
09/30/09
Umm... It was my friends CR-X. I felt it here (points to seat of pants). And it made me grab its stick. Was that wrong?
...Ok Honda marketing, fix THAT image!
09/30/09
09/30/09
09/30/09