The Honda CR-Z got a lukewarm welcome in the international automotive media, or should I write confused welcome : cool and lame in equal proportions, nice to look at, entertaining on the inside, almost fun to drive… but not quite : it is not easy to give it thumbs up, or thumbs down.The Japanese press, on the other hand, likes it much. So much that it gave it the coveted Japanese Car Of The Year 2010. That made Honda feel proud, and they decided to make a CR-Z “α Japanese Car Of The Year Memorial Award Edition” which is also a good way to put the CR-Z back in the news as the sales are slowing somewhat.
Besides winning the 7Tune award of the longest model name of the year, this CR-Z features a special “Pearl Deep Sapphire” color and special 16 inches alloys.
In the cockpit the changes are limited to a set of aluminum pedals… and the obligatory commemorative plate, as well as a uprated satnav with hands free calling, and that’s pretty much it.
1000 cars will be produced and sold between January and March of next year, available as a 6 speed manual or CVT transmission, at the hefty price of 2,794,000 yen. It might look a little steep for a slab of blue paint and a self-congratulating plate, but you also get the super-connected top of the range navigation system that a lot of customers put in anyway, so I guess Honda know what they are doing.
What was your Japanese car of the year ?
7tune – The Ultimate JDM Experience
Words – Pierre-Laurent RibaultSource and Photos – Honda
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