More CR-Z Concept 2.0 eye candy

[Onehots2k]

CR-Z name is here to say. Honda's former CEO who signed off on the car said that it will be both a replacement for the CRX AND Insight Coupe. That says it all.

[Hargert]

Insight coupe statement scares me more then a little.  If it borrows some stuff that is ok but it should try to be it's own thing and not fill that slot.  If Honda thinks there is a market for a Insight coupe they should build one not hang that anchor around the CRZ.

[Onehots2k]

I know what you mean Hargert. It use to scare me too. Join the Insight's efficiency with CR-X fun factor and I'm golden. :-)

[CR-Z219]

Well the CR-Z is inevitably going to borrow a lot from the Insight.  Notably the drivetrain and interior bits.  It'll be beefed up and tweaked for CR-Z duty, but it'll originate from the Insight.  But as long as it performs as they say, who cares?  Tying the CR-Z with the Insight is a smart marketing ploy b/c when you think of dedicated hybrid you think of Prius and Insight.  If Honda's plan is to go further into the hybrid arena with a "sport hybrid" then marketing the CR-Z as a "Insight coupe" would be the way to maximize that brand equity and capture the brand equity of the old CRX.  In short, as long as it performs and looks the way it does now, I wouldn't sweat how Honda marketers define it.

[Hargert]

My consirn is that the design goals of the Insight are to create the cheap hybrid for the masses.  The interior of the Insight does have a "cheaper" feel to it and I do not want that to be carried over to the CRZ.  When I first saw the Insight concept I thought the interior looked very good but the production version did take a turn for the worse in the materials used.  So when I say dubing the CRZ as the Insight coupe worries me that is why.  I want the CRZ to be a higher quallity and grade then the Insight, that is doubly so if the rumored price is going to be in the mid 20s.  If it they make it cost 18k-20k then you could get away with that but no at the higher price point.

[CR-Z219]

I'm gonna get heat for this but IMO while Honda gets top marks for style Honda quality has gone down a bit recently.  My mom's Fit has hollow sounding plastics and engine noise that makes my 11 year old nissan sound like a 2009 Lexus LS 460.  Ok, that's a bit disingenuous but I was stunned at how much NVH was coming into the cabin from the engine.  Then the interior materials are cheap.  But it'll drive 150K+ miles with no issues b/c its a Honda.  I think the design goals for the CR-Z are to make a cheap, sporty hybrid for the masses.   So I would expect fit and finish to be on par with the Insight. 

[Hargert]

Yes but can you do that in the 25k-29k price range?  If Honda does that this car will not sell IMHO.

[CR-Z219]

See, I don't think it'll be that high.  I think it'll start around 21K and top at 26K and some change.  I think its safe to assume that they'll keep the quality on the same level as the insight and justify the price premium away as the cr-z being a "sport hybrid" with the emphasis on the superior powertrain.  Given the amount of platform engineering and parts bin raiding that goes on these days with all auto manufacturers, I have a strong feeling the cr-z will borrow a lot of the interior bits from the insight.  I expect the plastics to be on the same level quality wise as the insight and civic. 

[aashish2]

I think it will start at less than 20K and with Navi may cost about 21-22K. Honda has been known to price cars very competitively. Think of the S2000 and how low Honda priced it when they launched and then think about how much more of a true sports car it is compared to the Miata and the Z4.

[Hargert]

That may be but look at the pricing on the Insight, it starts at 19,800 base for the LX model and the EX version with navi costs 23,100.  There is no way the CRZ is going to cost less then the Insight that is just not going to happen.  It has a larger motor, battery pack not to mention that it is not built to be the most affordable hybrid on the market....that is the Insights job.  I am thinking that the 23k-25k is correct and it will have better finnishes inside and out compared to the Insight.  That is the only way I see this working at the price this car is going to have to cost.  Of course we will find out who is right and who is not all too soon.

[crz1nsider]

  I had no idea the insight was cheap inside. Maybe you guy are used to 'better cars' that have more luxury.
      I don't believe it really is that cheap by my standard.
Anyway, I read somewhere that some of the main bones of the insight are in the crz. No mention of anything else though.

I Agree with CR-Z219. If it looks like a sport car inside, out, and performs in mpg and turns like a sport car I could care less if there are cheap parts inside as long as nothing breaks. 

[CR-Z219]

I am thinking that the 23k-25k is correct and it will have better finnishes inside and out compared to the Insight.  That is the only way I see this working at the price this car is going to have to cost.  Of course we will find out who is right and who is not all too soon.

That's our point of contention.  I believe the quality of the CR-Z will be on the same level as the Insight and Civic.  I think the price premium over the insight will be rationalized away by Honda as the CR-Z being a "sport hybrid" with a beefed up drivetrain.  But I don't see the CR-Z having the quality of an Accord even if its priced the same as one b/c I believe a lot of the interior of the CR-Z will come from the Insight and Civic parts bin.  

Believe me, I would love for you to win this argument.  I'd rather have a CR-Z that doesn't skimp out on quality plastics.  But from what I've observed from Honda lately, they seem to be doing what Nissan did in 2003-2006.  That is to say, they seem to be using cheaper materials today than the cars they put out in the late 90s.  

[aashish2]

Honda will want to mass market the CR-Z. In order to do that they have to keep it pried competitively, which is why I think it will start below $20K.

I'd personally like it to have a low price so I can afford another car payment. My Si (base) worked out to $19690 plus taxes.

[crz1nsider]

According to autocar uk it will cost around 18000 GBP. That is $28,500 USD 

[Hargert]

Well looking at the Insight pricing the top end UK model is 18,890.00 and the us madel is 23,100 in the USA.  So I would expect the CRZ to start around 24,000 and that is just about in line with the rumors of mid 20's and about 29k max.  So it will really come down to the specs on the car and I hope Honda builds it with a finnish much closer to the concept for that price point. 

[TJR]

According to autocar uk it will cost around 18000 GBP. That is $28,500 USD