Honda CR-Z interior exposed

We already showed you the first leaked (from a brochure) images of images of Honda's CR-Z hybrid sportster a couple of weeks ago, but now additional photos have surfaced that reveal the car's interior.

What the new pics show is a pseudo-futuristic cabin with a large centrally mounted tacho-cum-digital speedo, and possibly the largest gearshift lever in history.

The theme of the cabin is "Hi-tech and Sporty", and the instrument panel can glow in three different colours, depending on which driving mode is activated (Econ, Normal or Sport).

To recap: the CR-Z's motive power comes from a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine with 84kW at 6000rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4800rpm, and these outputs are boosted by the 10kW/78Nm eked out by a supplementary electric motor, delivering a total of 94kW and 223Nm.

The leaked brochure quotes a 0-100km/h split of 9.7sec, which isn't on the sporting end of the scale, but the CR-Z at least outsprints its Insight hybrid sibling (which takes 12.5sec to knock off the increment).

However, enthusiasts will no doubt be hoping for an eventual Type-R version, although Honda has not provided any indication that such a variant will eventuate.

Economy is obviously a forte, with consumption figures of 4.5L/100km and 4.0L/100km for the auto and manual versions respectively. Both transmissions are six-speeders.

The CR-Z rolls into Japanese showrooms in February, but there's no word as yet on an Australian launch date.

Going on what we've seen so far, we applaud the CR-Z's styling, which succeeds in recapturing the pert sportiness of the much-loved first-gen CR-X (1983-91)... even if the performance doesn't. However, the spendthrift/enviro-conscious shoppers Honda will no doubt be targeting may not care about the lack of oomph.

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