Honda CR-Z Luxury: CVT

What makes this car a Low Emission Vehicle?

The all-new Honda CR-Z is unique. This stylish coupe combines the advantages of a clean, efficient petrol-electric hybrid powertrain with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT transmission. The responsive 1.5 litre four- cylinder i-VTEC engine coupled with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) produces 91 kilowatts (@6100 rpm) and 174 Newton metres (@1000-1500 rpm). The electric motor boosts torque at low and medium revs, which gives the CR-Z in-gear flexibility usually associated with turbocharged engines. The manual gearbox is a core part of the driver engagement that Honda’s engineers wanted to bring to the CR-Z. The flexibility of the IMA system allows it to be used with a range of transmissions, not just CVT-based gearboxes. Fuel consumption for the manual transmission is 5l/100km (combined) and for the CVT transmission the figure is 4.7l/100km (combined).

What are the customer benefits of this technology?

To maximise driver choice and enhance day to day driveability, the CR-Z is fitted with a 3-Mode Drive System (NORMAL, ECON and SPORT). This unique feature allows the driver to choose between the driving modes, which alter the responses of the throttle, steering, climate control and the level of assistance provided by the IMA system. The driver can adapt the car’s settings to enjoy their favourite road, maximise economy or strike a balance between the two. The ambient lighting of the speedometer is used in the same way as in the Insight IMA – assisting to achieve more economical and ecological driving. In addition, the CR-Z’s ambient meter lighting is linked to the 3-Mode Drive system. In NORMAL mode and ECON mode the speedometer is illuminated blue, glowing green when driven economically. In ECON mode it has a green eco flower lit in the mode indicator. When the speedometer is illuminated in a red ambient light, this indicates the CR-Z is in SPORT mode.

How many LEV models are available in your range now and when will more be introduced in Australia?

Honda Australia currently has 5 models classified as LEV by Green Zone. A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility products, Honda introduced the world’s first low-emission petrol vehicles; the first petrol-electric hybrid car in Europe and North America, the first-generation Honda Insight, and the world’s first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity.

What is your brand's LEV/ZeroEV strategy for Australia?

Honda introduced hybrid motoring to the Australian market in 2001 with the first-generation Honda Insight, followed by the Civic Hybrid in 2004. Honda has sold over 698,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide since 1999 and hybrid motoring remains a core part of Honda's low emission vehicles strategy in Australia. Globally, Honda has been pursuing its own environmental targets and is committed to proactive environmental conservation activities. In 2006, Honda set a goal to reduce global CO2 emissions from use of its motorcycles, automobiles and power products by 10 percent by the end of 2010 (compared to year 2000 levels). This goal was attained by all products. Honda Motor Co. Japan has now set CO2 emission reduction targets for all products to 30 percent by the end of 2020 (compared to year 2000 levels). This target is a key feature of Honda’s Environmental Vision to address the important business management issues of climate change and energy. At the same time, Honda introduced a global environmental slogan “Blue Skies for Our Children.” In addition to reducing CO2 emissions during production and the supply chain, Honda will strengthen its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions through all of its corporate activities. Honda will also strengthen its efforts to advance technologies in the area of total energy management to reduce CO2 emissions through people’s everyday mobility.