| The Toyota Prius is such an iconic car that many | | | | with sleek, banked styling that runs to a higher end, flat |
| people believe Toyota was the first company to | | | | rear. If I had to compare it to any other car, it looks like |
| come out with production hybrids. It was not. Honda | | | | a revved up Honda Insight although with very distinct |
| was the first, but miscalculated the market and missed | | | | lines. You can look up images online from the show to |
| out on a huge opportunity. The announcement that the | | | | see it. |
| company will be introducing a hybrid sports car, the | | | | The real beauty of the CR-Z is found in an area that is |
| CR-Z, to the US market in the fall of 2010 is an effort | | | | rarely available in a new, revolutionary sporty car. Yes, |
| to right that wrong. | | | | I am talking about the price. All indications are Honda is |
| The CR-Z is nothing less than a full frontal assault on | | | | trying to bring this car in to wipe up the market. The |
| the hybrid market in the United States. The car is a | | | | proposed retail price is a paltry $20,000. This is the |
| two-seater that is rumored to incorporate an | | | | equivalent of a Prius, but with much better lines and |
| integrated motor assist system that incorporates a 1.3 | | | | performance. Well, at least we think better |
| liter engine. The CR-Z, which stands for Compact | | | | performance. Honda has released no information on |
| Renaissance Zero, gets its sportiness from both the | | | | just how sporty the performance will be. Still, one has |
| design and the fact that it is expected to be very light | | | | to imagine it will be better than your average hybrid. |
| weight. | | | | The age of hybrids is in full bloom. The Honda CR-Z |
| The initial prototype of the vehicle was shown at the | | | | seems to fill a niche that has demand these days. With |
| 41st Tokyo Motor Show. It incorporates a longer nose | | | | a price in the $20,000 range, it may be a huge hit. |