Honda CR-Z hybrid to get petrol engine option

The current car, recently awarded Japanese Car of the Year, makes do with a 94kW 1.5-litre petrol/electric motor combination that is capable of pushing the coupe along from 0-100km/h in around eight seconds. The new, all-petrol motor will be a 1.6-litre turbocharged four cylinder, said to be available in two specifications; one outputting around 120kW and another outputting 150kW. This higher spec engine is expected to be reserved for the Type R variant that will be joining the lineup later next year.

Japanese sales of their own Car of the Year have dropped off a bit recently but Honda is hoping this new model will bring in some new customers that perhaps don't want to take that step into making a hybrid purchase.

The new 1.6-litre motor is apparently under development at Honda’s Tochigi research and development centre and will be shared in some upcoming Jazz, Accord and Civic models, providing excellent fuel economy whilst still offering very reasonable performance.