This going to throw a lot of people off here.  First because we haven’t updated content in 3 months (our bad) second, it’s about a hybrid from a company in Japan and third, it’s about how I’m actually excited about it.  If you’ve been following us for a while, I’m sure you’ve noticed how pro-european we seem to be in terms of vehicles we favor.  I drive a VW, Dan drives a Porsche, and we both lust after anything that comes out of bavaria, the land of spaghetti, or the nation under rule of a queen.  Thus far, I could see how you might assume that we don’t care much for Asian vehicles, but I’m about to prove you wrong

As a self-proclaimed petrol head and hybrid hater, I’ve told countless people to buy a diesel instead of a battery, and for the most part I like to stick to that mantra.  Until that is, something performance oriented comes about.  Last year, I had the privilege of  riding in a Tesla roadster and the relentless rush of acceleration just blew my mind.  This electric car thing just might take off I thought…until I drove a Prius.  Commuting appliances aside, the ride in the Tesla made me realize that electricity is inherently awesome for us performance enthusiasts.  Lately, electricity’s been getting a bad wrap from us performance minded individuals due to being chained to gutless gas engines, lifeless CVT’s, snail-paced acceleration, and handling so numb you might as well be steering with a joystick.  The Tesla proved to me that through all this depressing, lifeless mediocrity there’s potential in powering vehicles with electricity, and I can’t wait for someone to tap into it.

I’m rather confident that the first camp to put out an exciting gas-electric hybrid will be Honda.  The new Honda CR-Z production concept reportedly aims to be performance oriented.  How so?  To start, the electric motor will be mated to a 1.5 liter gas motor…that’s .2 liters larger than the anemic gas motor found the Insight, and while in itself isn’t exciting, it’s the electric motor and 6-speed MANUAL transmission that caught my attention.  Honda claims the CR-Z to be sport oriented, and offering the manual transmission is a promising start.  Drawing comparisons to the CR-X of the 80’s and 90’s are natural, and given Honda’s recent lack of anything resembling a sports car (minus the outgoing and outdated S2000) they’re due for something pretty stellar performance wise.  With all the hype around gas-electric hybrids, the CR-Z could be just what the doctor ordered for those of us fearing the death of performance is looming.

Don’t get me wrong, the CR-Z won’t shoot rainbows out the tailpipe while smoking a GT3RS around The Ring (there I go with the euro stuff again), but it is significant in the way it represents a new chapter for the gas-electric hybrid.  Uncorking some of the potential in electric motors for performance sake would be much welcomed from my end and with a three pedal control layout, I’m stoked. It’s also a three door hatchback and using my GTI as evidence, it’s clear I’m sold on that body style.  It releases in Japan this spring, and we should get it on our shores next fall.  A hybrid that’s fun and frugal? (I know, I hate that over-used phase too, but I like alliteration)  Sign me up for a test drive and maybe I won’t be a hybrid hater for much longer.

Tags: concept, cr-z, honda, hybrid, performance, preview