2011 Honda CR-Z Test Drive

And promising it most certainly is. Honda tasked itself with building a small, stylish, efficient coupe for the modern era, and we say they did just that. As the first hybrid with a six-speed manual trannie, it proves to be athletic, agile and impressively responsive, and does incredible things with the 122HP produced by i-VTEC inline-4 engine, paired with an electric hybrid motor. The tight, short action of the gears is precise and fluid, easily reminiscent of the classic CRX's athletic driving style, and the ride is surprisingly smooth for such a little car tuned for sporty endeavors.

Inside the 2011 Honda CR-Z is a thoroughly contemporary cabin with an artistic flair and an instrument array with a lot of familiar, and a few unfamiliar, controls. Most noteworthy would be the controls for the CR-Z's Three Mode drive system. These 3 buttons give you the ability to choose between 3 driving styles - Economy, Normal or Sport, with the tachometer changing color to give you a visual cue on which mode you are currently in. "Economy" will yield you the most fuel-conscious of driving experiences, while "Sport" will allow the CR-Z to channel its CRX persona and deliver sharper, more exciting driving nirvana. The third mode strikes a balance between the two.

Excitement about its arrival in the states the summer is already reaching epic levels. Early orders have begun flooding in from those of us that are ready to re-experience the CRX in all its modern, 21st century glory. We think Honda has a winning combination here - performance seamlessly blended with a eco-friendly nature, and America will surely love the 2011 Honda CR-Z as much as they loved its highly-esteemed direct ancestor. Reserve yours today at South Honda, and relive the well-earned nostalgia of one of Honda's greatest achievements.