According to a senior executive at Honda, the production version of the CR-Z concept (above) will be specifically aimed at the European market and will cost roughly 25,000 Euros for the base model.
The CR-Z Concept took several design cues from the much loved Honda CRX, gave them a modern spin and then wrapped them around a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. According to Mark Turner from Honda UK, the production version of the CR-Z will play a key part in Honda's European sales strategy, given the highly fuel-consuption-conscious market. A multitude of European governments are also pressing for tighter legislation concerning fuel economy and emissions, which will also play into the CR-Z's hands.
Final engineering and R&D work is currently being completed at Offenbach, Germany, while Turner says styling won't be too different from that of the CR-Z Concept. A petrol-only powerplant may also be on the cards, should the market demand it. Given that the production car is likely to make use of the Civic Hybrid's powerpack, a CVT auto may be the only transmission option for hybrid CR-Zs, meaning a traditional petrol-only motor may be a necessity for die-hard enthusiasts.
What isn't clear is whether a petrol motor will lower Turner's projected price for the CR-Z - 25,000EUR is a hell of a lot of money for such a small car, while 28,000EUR for an up-spec model really is too much, hybrid or not. Consider this - you can buy a Honda Civic Type R (FN) for the equivalent of 24,000EUR. Sure, it might club baby seals with it's petrol-only 148kW K20, but it comes with a manual transmission, rear seats, those special Red H badges and - like the CR-Z - it looks like a freaking spaceship.
Whether the European public is willing to fork out big dollars for a hybrid hot hatch remains to be seen, but we should find out soon enough - the CR-Z is due to enter production sometime in 2009.
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