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Honda’s CR-Z – the world’s first
sporty hybrid – has impressed
judges at Stuff magazine, Japan
Car of Year and the RAC Future
Car Challenge to collect three
top accolades in just seven
days.
On
Tuesday, the hybrid coupe beat
tough international opposition
to become Japan Car of the Year
2010-2011. This is the 11th
time a Honda car has collected
the prestigious honour – making
it the most successful
manufacturer in JCOTY history.
Takanobu Ito,
President and CEO of Honda
Motor, said:
"We are very proud that the CR-Z
has been selected from the
strong contenders of new models
as the Car of the Year Japan
2010-2011. This award shows that
the public has accepted Honda's
aspiration to supply exceptional
environmental performance in a
fun-to-drive hybrid car at an
affordable price, as well as
Honda's desire to spread the joy
of owning and driving a car.”
The award-winning run continued
last night, as the CR-Z scooped
Eco Gadget of the Year at the
Stuff Gadget Awards.
Fraser MacDonald,
editor-in-chief at Stuff
magazine, heaped praise on the
CR-Z: “The Honda CR-Z looks
great, and it feels great to be
in. It’s also relatively small
and light, so – for an unethical
minute or two – hit the ‘Power’
button and work the manual
gearbox, and it’ll go like a
little rocket. Plus – and this
is the icing on the eco cake –
normal people can afford one.”
The Stuff prize tops off a
successful week for Honda’s
great-handling hybrid. Last
Saturday, the CR-Z took part in
the first RAC Brighton to London
Future Car Challenge and was
awarded Most Economical &
Environment Friendly Sports HEV.
The new honours join the What
Car? Green Awards’ Best Sports
Car trophy in the CR-Z’s already
crowded cabinet.
Martin Moll, Head of Marketing
at Honda (UK) said: “What a week
for the CR-Z! This has been a
fantastic boost for the car and
the range of awards shows the
wide appeal of the CR-Z. It’s
great to be recognised by a
magazine like Stuff, and for it
to be chosen as Car of the Year
in Japan is a huge honour,
especially when you consider the
strength of the competition.
“The CR-Z is a unique car, and
the first to take a hybrid
powertrain and put it into a car
that’s a genuine pleasure to
drive – a true Honda.”
The CR-Z is priced from £16,999
OTR and brings together a
1.5-litre i-VTEC engine,
six-speed manual gearbox and
Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist
system to make a car that’s as
fun to drive as it is efficient. |
