Introduction
Honda has been teasing fans of the dearly departed Honda CRX with the Honda CR-Z Concept, a hybrid-powered sports coupe with clearly defined CRX lineage. At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the CR-Z Concept appears nearly production ready, and set to debut in the U.S. for the 2011 model year. Honda says the CR-Z name means “Compact Renaissance Zero.”

First, A Little History

If you’re under 25 years of age, you might wonder what the heck a CRX is. Back in the 1980s, Honda sold a tiny, 2-seat hatchback in the U.S. It was designed for commuters who wanted maximum fuel economy for a minimal price, but it wasn’t long before Honda rolled out a CRX Si model with more power, sporty suspension tuning, and other performance tweaks. The rather homely first-generation CRX morphed into a beautiful, elemental sports coupe with a 1988 redesign, and the Si version was a riot to drive—lightweight, just enough power to cause trouble, and razor sharp handling. Google it to find some pictures. Anyway, Honda cancelled the CRX after the 1991 model year, replacing it with an odd little car called the Civic del Sol. But that’s another story…

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