Honda racked up 7,000 orders in Japan for its new CR-Z sporty hybrid

Honda Motor Co.’s new CR-Z sporty hybrid went on sale starting Feb. 25 but already, there have been 7,000 orders received in Japan. This figure is more than half of Honda’s target of 12,000 units each year in its home market.

This many orders mean that there is a three-month waiting time for delivery in Japan. In the US, the model will arrive at showrooms this summer. The two-seater CR-Z is equipped with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that’s mated to an electric motor, resulting to a fuel economy of 36/38 mpg. Honda forecasts sales of 15,000 units in North America annually. Meanwhile, in Japan, orders of the CR-Z are rising quickly, coinciding with the slowing down of sales for its predecessor, the Insight five-door hatchback hybrid. Honda’s Suzuka factory in central Japan produces both cars. In Japan last year, Insight sales totaled 93,283 units – clearly far ahead of its goal of 60,000. But with the start of 2010, the pace was sluggish.
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toyfan - 3/16/2010 6:55:58 PM

+1 Boost

What makes this car sporty? That it has 2 doors???
It's front wheel drive and, based on the Insight's #s, does 0-60 in about 11 secs.
I don't see anything sporty about it!

izfuney - 3/16/2010 9:49:18 PM

+4 Boost

Well.. sporty in this case means ...its sportier than the insight, or taking the bus or walking in flip flops.

There have been no numbers other than approx 115 -120 hp combined, but yeah it could be a cute city runabout if your a fan of the big schnozz.

Whelan - 3/17/2010 9:17:11 AM

-3 Boost

Good, let them stay in Japan. I have no need for a hybrid sport coupe. Those two words should never go together.