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Detroit, 11:40 PM
Tue Dec 8
27 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/21/09
10/21/09
Conformity within a brand should only be important when your product does not have enough panache and soul to stand on its own and therefore must rely on the mother brand to be noticed. That is the problem with most cars is that they lack soul b/c they are so monotonous. Despite the criticisms of the Challenger and other American muscle cars, they are perfect examples of cars that can stand on their own without the recognition of their original manufacturer. A good example of failure is the GTO; no soul in that design... #hondacrz
10/21/09
10/21/09
Seriously, is there a rule that hybrids have to have aesthetically horrible rears? Does ugly increase efficiency exponentially somehow? #hondacrz
10/21/09
@avconsumer2: It's called a kammback, they do it for aerodynamic purposes, unfortunately, nobody has figured out how to make it attractive since the Daytona coupe. #hondacrz
10/21/09
10/21/09
@Psiu! Puxa!: I stand edumacated... but still... yeesh. Also... I'd forgotten (guess it's been quite a while since I've seen one,) the heritage - to obviously include the CRX. (der) #hondacrz
10/21/09
The only one that makes sense is the 2nd-gen Insight, and apparently that car is a dud. #hondacrz
10/21/09
It can be done, and with few exceptions (T230 Celica, Cobalt SS), all of the best-handling FWD cars carry the Honda badge. #hondacrz
10/21/09
Stick the diesel into the element and I'd be interested - I like the weirdness of it. #hondacrz
10/21/09
10/21/09
I'm just questioning Honda's mission with this car.
As for style, I'm really liking it. #hondacrz
10/21/09
...granted, we'll have to wait and see how this actually pans out. #hondacrz
10/21/09
BTW, I love you all this morning. Must be Jalop Valentine's Day. #hondacrz
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
From PR:
"The CR-Z Concept 2009 is the world's first hybrid vehicle equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. Together with a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine the vehicle will create completely new value by combining the fun of driving and outstanding fuel economy."
10/21/09
10/21/09
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.