Honda CR-Z hybrid: leaked

Detailed information of the all-new Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe has been leaked in Japan via an official brochure. And while there may be heads rolling in Honda land, it gives us an early glimpse of this semi-sporty hybrid car in final production form.

From what we can tell from these scanned images, the Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe's design has been kept almost entirely intact, when compared with the concept version last seen at the 2009 Tokyo motor show.

Short front and rear overhangs, flared wheel arches and an aggressively styled front end with a gaping air dam won't do the two-door coupe any harm.

We already knew the CR-Z hybrid was powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, larger than the Insight's 1.3-litre powerplant, but we now know the car's approximate power and torque output.

The i-VTEC petrol engine develops 84kW at 6000rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4800rpm, which combines with 10kW/78Nm from the electric motor to deliver a grand total of 94kW and 223Nm.

Combined with a six-speed manual transmission and a "lightweight" construction, the CR-Z accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 9.7secs. That's not particularly fast, but it is faster than the 12.5sec posted by the Honda Insight hybrid.

With what looks like a short-ish wheelbase and a sporty design, the CR-Z hybrid could attract a new type of buyer, one who wants the frugality of a hybrid but without the dorky image.

The leaked Honda CRZ brochure also reveals fuel economy figures. It's believed that the figures of 4.5L/100km and 4.0L/100km pertain to automatic and manual versions of the car, although which is which remains unclear.

Scheduled to go on sale in Japan in February 2010, the CR-Z has not yet been pencilled in for an Australian launch, but the local Honda arm has previously stated it wants the car on sale in Oz as soon as possible.

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