The Honda CR-Z had all the potential for being a car that many would’ve probably bought if only for the looks. Too bad Honda’s headed to a different direction and sort of ruined the car for many gearheads like me.

First, they turned it into a hybrid. Then they toned down the styling unlike the one we all liked with the concept. Those are two big enough reasons to get me turned off with the car. The Mugen-tuned one’s not too shabby though.

Anyway, the car’s set to go on sale later this year but insider buzz has revealed that this nearly never came to fruition. The reason – the US execs didn’t want the car in their showrooms. They wanted the idea of a sporty looking hybrid but many of them wanted it to have a stronger punch to match the style.

The CR-Z packs a 1.5L i-VTEC with a hybrid motor. It produces a total of 122 hp which isn’t really powerful. That’s the same power figures that one can get with a standard Japanese family saloon car.

Now this is what the CR-Z should’ve been in the first place – a sporty and aggressive looking car that dishes out at least 200 hp.

This here’s the Honda CR-Z Type R. Instead of the 1.5L i-VTEC engine that dishes out 122 hp paired with an IMA hybrid system found in the standard CR-Z, this one packs a 2.0L dishing out 150 hp paired with a larger 50 hp electric motor.

That’d allow the CR-Z Type R to go from 0-60 mph in just 6 seconds and go all the way to 140 mph. The car also gets a drive system with four selections – Sport, Econ, Normal and a Sport Plus setting (exclusive to the Type R).

The car’s also fitted with better brakes and stiffer suspensions to round up the Type R package.

Mind you that the Type R is just a performance version and is technically still part of the CR-Z lineup. Mugen is reported to be basing its version of the CR-Z for its reworked version.

Let me say it again. Honda had a great chance to build a great sporty looking car with the Honda CR-Z that could’ve been viable for the mass market. Too bad they made it a hybrid. It’s basically a very good-looking Insight.

Glass half-full type of people would definitely say that Honda just made hybrids better with this car but Toyota’s got the G-Sports tuning accessories line and that doesn’t look too shabby.

Now here’s the Euro-spec version of the CR-Z that would be making its debut at the 2010 Geneva motor show. People living in areas with high congestion charges would probably like this. The 56.4 mpg’s still worse than many hot-hatch diesels but the 117 g/km of CO2 is not bad at all.

This hybrid coupé is based on the hardware of the Honda Insight petrol-electric saloon, so don’t get carried away with all this sports car chat. The two share the same 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine and IMA hybrid tech.

The Euro-spec car will get a three-mode drive system that tweaks steering, throttle response and electric boost through full performance, eco setting and normal modes.

The car will be available this summer.

It seems that even with a losing fight to the growing ecomentalist revolution, gearheads can seek refuge with tuners to give us power and performance.

Take the case of Honda for example. They’re the ones who gave us the first proper Asian supercar in the NSX but they killed that off. They quite Formula One. And now, they’re only interested in being the greenest automaker.

The CR-Z looks like it has all the potential to be a pocket rocket but our hopes got doused when they decided it’s going to be hybrid-only.

Good thing tuning firm Mugen’s announced that they can put their greasy hands on the CR-Z and turn it to something more than the hybrid pansy that it currently is. They claim that the hybrid systems offer quite the opportunities for tuning.

Source: Autocar

Can’t wait for that.

And true to Honda’s claim that they intend to be the world’s greenest automaker, they’ve unveiled the CR-Z – which is, technically, the first hybrid sports car intended for mass production.

Powering the car is a combination of a gasoline and an electric engine. The CR-Z concept initially packed a wee 1.3L petrol engine but the production version will be using the 1.5L i-VTEC engine.

If that’s the same engine found in the current Honda fleet, then the 1.5L engine dishes out around 110 bhp. Combined with the electric motor, the CR-Z is expected to dish out 135 bhp.

Not at all shabby for a compact. Still, don’t expect to be dusting cars at the red light with this thing and it makes you wonder what the heck is wrong with a Civic Type R for a “sports” car. Oh yeah, it’s not green enough for Honda these days.

Honda’s taking aim at the Volkswagen Scirocco in the compact sports car market segment. Come to think of it, it does rival the ‘Roc in terms of size and shape.

Source: Autocar

Honda announced that more green cars will be in store for buyers next year. Coming to Honda dealerships will be the CR-Z and Fit hybrids. These will be welcome additions to the Insight and Civic hybrids currently in the market.

Initially expected to be the Prius-killer, the Insight’s sales continue to disappoint. The addition of an edgier-looking hybrid in the CR-Z and the current reception to the Fit small car will enhance Honda’s offerings in the green car segments. Honda intends to be one of the “greenest” automakers in the world.

Both cars will be using Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology that are currently in use in the Insight and the Civic hybrids. A 13hp motor work in tandem with the gasoline motor. The system is also equipped with an Intelligent Power Unit capable of capturing kinetic energy from braking which is stored for future use.

The CR-Z will definitely be one that would catch interest. Its futuristic design together with a rumored 140 hp power rating from the hybrid powertrain is shaping up to be a treat.

Whoever said that hybrids are for green bufs in stiff collars. Honda takes a different route by building a hybrid sports car.

It isn’t really new since with the Lightning L1 and the Tesla Roadster, you basically have super-green speedsters. But with Honda hyping this up, well, this is probably the closest we could get to mean and green machines.

To be featured in the Tokyo Motor Show is this gas-electric hybrid dubbed as the CR-Z. Hybrids don’t have to sacrifice looks to be environmentally friendly — they can be muscular and stylish, too. That’s the message Honda hopes to send at this month’s Tokyo auto show with its new gas-electric hybrid sports car CR-Z.

It would be amazing how this sleek and aggressively-mugged machine is going to produce horsepower and torque while keeping fuel consumption and emissions down.