2014 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe Offers Sleek Exterior Design, Feature Rich Interior and Outstanding Fuel Efficiency

The 2014 CR-Z goes on-sale tomorrow, combining sleek styling, numerous standard features and sporty handling while maintaining terrific fuel efficiency. The CR-Z was thoroughly updated for the 2013 model year with a more powerful battery pack, increased power and styling improvements, For 2014, the CR-Z remains the only hybrid vehicle offered with a sporty manual transmission.

Using Honda's highly efficient, compact Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system, the CR-Z has a fuel economy rating of 6.4/5.1/5.8 L/100km¹ city/highway/combined  (MT) and 5.4/5.0/5.2 L/100km¹ city/highway/combined (CVT)

Two models are available, the standard CR-Z with a starting MSRP of $22,700², and the feature-rich Premium with a starting MSRP of $25,200². Both models come equipped with a standard 6-speed manual transmission or an available CVT.  Additional standard features on every new 2014 CR-Z include Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, an Expanded View Driver's Mirror, AM/FM/CD/USB audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry and cruise control.  View, build and price a 2014 Honda CR-Z at www.honda.ca.

Powertrain

The hybrid powertrain uses a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder, 16-valve, single-overhead cam (SOHC) engine with "intelligent" Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC®) that receives additional power from the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA®) system's DC brushless electric motor. Powered by a 144-volt Lithium-Ion battery pack, the 15-kW electric motor assists in acceleration and also acts as a generator during braking or coasting to capture kinetic energy and recharge the battery. Combined peak output is 130 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 140 lb-ft. of torque (127 lb-ft. on CVT-equipped models), including electric-motor assist (all figures SAE net).

Selectable Econ, Normal and Sport operating modes let the driver select his or her  desired balance of economy and performance. In addition, the standard Plus Sport System delivers increased acceleration when the driver presses the "S+" button on the steering wheel (when the battery is more than 50-percent charged and the CR-Z is traveling over 30kph).

Body

Refreshed with exterior design and trim upgrades for 2013, the CR-Z's "one-motion" exterior wedge shape begins at its low-slung hood to form a broad forward stance, with its deeply inset beltline adding a dynamic element. The up-level CR-Z Premium model adds LED daytime running lights (DRL), High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with Auto-On/Off, and fog lights.

Chassis

Front MacPherson strut and rear H-shaped torsion beam suspension, along with electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering (EPS), are tuned to provide a sporty driving experience. The CR-Z  comes with  16-inch aluminum wheels and 195/55R-16 tires, and larger 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/45R-17 tires are standard  on the CR-Z Premium. The CR-Z's low height, compact wheelbase and placement of the battery and other hybrid components beneath the rear cargo area contribute to a low centre of gravity and responsive, sporty handling.

Interior

The CR-Z interior has a high-tech appearance and intuitive controls. Its ultra-modern instrument panel features gauges that illuminate with a three-dimensional colour theme for a multi-layered appearance, with the tachometer backlighting colour changing based on driving style. The sweeping upper dashboard shape creates a wraparound cockpit environment. Premium sport-oriented seats provide firm lateral support along with everyday driving comfort. A console behind the front seats optimizes cargo space, with a hard-shell separator that can be closed to create additional hidden storage.

Standard electronic features include a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers and speed-sensitive volume control, a CD/MP3 and a USB³ auxiliary input jack for connection to a portable audio player.

The up-level CR-Z Premium adds a 360-Watt AM/FM/CD Premium Audio System with seven speakers including subwoofer, perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more. A Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™⁴ also comes standard  on the CR-Z Premium model  and features a 6.5-inch screen and rearview camera display. Included with the Navi system are voice recognition, Bluetooth® streaming audio and an SMS text messaging function.

Safety

Honda's exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure helps protect occupants in a frontal collision. Additional safety technologies include dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; standard front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); side-curtain airbags, active head restraints; an anti-lock braking system (ABS); a tire pressure monitoring system; and design features to the front of the vehicle intended to mitigate potential injuries to a pedestrian in a collision.

For More Information

Consumer information is available at www.honda.ca. To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/hondacanada. Additional media information including detailed features and high-resolution photography of the 2014 Honda CR-Z is available at www.hondanews.ca.

1 Based on 2014 NRCan mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

2 MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.

3 The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your Honda dealer for details.

4 The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on the CR-Z Premium in North America. Please see your Honda dealer for details.

Third-party trademarks: The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license. Used with permission.

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