Previewed in mid-September, the 2013 Honda CR-Z has been unveiled at the Paris Motor Show where it is sporting a revised face and marginally more power.
As we expected, however, it’s hardly news to shout about. The 1.5-litre petrol engine has been given an extra 5 kW thanks to an updated ECU and variable valve timing system. An anti-vibration knock sensor has been introduced and the material of the crankshaft has been upgraded. Peak power output for the engine is now 89 kW (up from 84 kW). Similarly, the electric motor system has also been improved, but in percentage terms at least, it now offers 50 percent more power, with 15 kW (up from 10 kW). The improvement comes from a change from Nickel-metal hybrid (Ni-MH) to a Lithium Ion battery.
Working in unison, the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system now delivers a combined output of 100 kW at 6 600 r/min (up by 9 kW) and 190 Nm of torque (up by 16 Nm). The increased power is enough to shave 0.7 seconds off the CR-Z’s zero to 100 km/h sprint time, which now stands at 9.0 seconds, while the hyrbid’s top speed remains unchanged at 200 km/h. The all important average fuel consumption figure also remains unchanged at 5.0 L/100km.
The purpose of the mystery S+ button has also been revealed. Provided that the car’s Ni-MH battery has more than 50 percent charge remaining, pressing the S+ button will deliver a 10 second boost of power for improved acceleration. A flashing gauge on the dashboard indicates when the system is active and it can be used in any of the driving modes: Econ, Normal or Sport.
In terms of styling, the 2013 CR-Z has been fitted with a new front bumper and revised grille. At the back, the diffuser has been slightly reworked, while a new 17-inch wheel design is available as an option. Buyers can also choose from two interesting new colours: Energetic Yellow and Aurora Violet.
