Hardware
Based on the current Honda Insight platform, but with a shorter wheelbase, tauter suspension, larger 1.5-liter gasoline engine, and an honest-to-God 6-speed manual transmission, the new 2011 Honda CR-Z aims to blend driving enjoyment with high fuel economy and environmental responsibility.

Whereas the original CRX used the same engine as bigger and heavier Civic models, relying on its light weight to provide rapid performance (and, as an added bonus, excellent fuel economy), the CR-Z's hybrid powertrain depends on an electric motor's inherently broad torque curve to maximize performance. Honda pairs the 1.5-liter gasoline-fueled engine with its electric Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, a "series" hybrid design with the 10-kilowatt electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission. The IMA setup provides lots of torque off the line when maximum acceleration is desired, or the bulk of motivational force when idling along in stop-and-start traffic.

The hybrid powertrain drives the CR-Z's front wheels through a standard 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). The 6-speed manual includes Hill Start Assist, which will hold the CR-Z in place on a hill for up to 1.5 seconds while the driver switches her right foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator and releases the clutch. Perhaps optimistically, the CVT includes paddle shifters that allow the driver to maximum use of what power the CR-Z develops.

Speaking of which, the combined power output for this setup is rated at 122 horsepower at 6000 rpm, and 128 lb.-ft. of torque between 1000 and 1500 rpm (123 lb.-ft. when paired with the optional CVT). Equipped with auto-stop technology, which shuts the engine down when sitting in traffic or at a red light, the Honda CR-Z's fuel economy rating is 31 mpg city and 37 mpg highway with the standard manual transmission, or 36 mpg city/38 mpg highway with the optional CVT. Additionally, the CR-Z meets Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards in states that have adopted California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions rules.

Three driver-selectable power delivery modes are offered on the CR-Z. Normal mode is the default, providing standard electric power steering, engine response, electric motor assist, and air conditioning settings. If the driver selects Econ, or Economy, mode, the CR-Z's systems work to conserve as much fuel as possible. In Sport mode, the CR-Z's throttle is more responsive, the steering requires more effort, and the electric power assist is more eager to step in and, uh, assist. A ring in the CR-Z's tachometer glows red when the car is in Sport mode. In Normal and Econ modes, the ring changes color from blue to green, becoming greener the more economically the car is driven.

The 2011 Honda CR-Z employs a MacPherson strut independent suspension in front, and a torsion-beam rear axle. Alloy wheels are standard, sized 16 inches in diameter, shod with 195/55 tires. An optional 17-inch wheel includes more aggressive 205/45 rubber. Four-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution are standard.