The Honda CR-Z was released with a flurry of interest. Unlike any other hybrid on the market, it promised performance and sporty driving dynamics without sacrificing fuel economy. And, with a base price of $19,545 at dealers like the Ontario Honda Dealer, the 2012 CR-Z is also a stellar value.

There are two models available for the 2012 model year. There’s the base CR-Z and a well-equipped EX. Based models feature a six-speed manual transmission with and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is available as an option.

The range-topping EX adds High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights with Auto-On/Off, fog lights, a 360-Watt AM/FM/CD Premium Audio System with seven speakers including subwoofer, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more. The CR-Z EX is also available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition.

Sherwood Park Auto Dealers said that all CR-Z models are powered by a unique variation of Honda’s original IMA technology, which originally debuted on the 2000 Honda Insight, the first hybrid vehicle available for sale in North America. The system combined a four-cylinder engine with the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system’s DC brushless electric motor. The system delivers a combined peak output of 122 horsepower and 128 lb-ft. of torque.

The Honda’s sporty side or fuel-efficient side can be honed with its three-mode drive system, which features individual modes of performance for Sport, Normal and Economy driving styles:

• Sport mode enhances engine throttle responsiveness, electric power steering effort and the electric motor power assist.
• Normal mode standardizes steering, engine response, motor assist and air conditioning settings.
• Econ mode optimizes throttle angle for smooth acceleration, lower engine rpm and limiting power and torque by approximately 4 percent. It can also reduce the air conditioning’s overall load on the engine and modify the cruise control to operate more efficiently.

Best of all, this sport hybrid doesn’t sacrifice fuel economy. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 35/39/37 city/highway/combined mpg on CVT-equipped models and 31/37/34 city/highway/combined mpg on manual models.

Check out the Honda CR-Z at Richmond Honda Dealers or your local Honda dealer.

Rarely do automotive magazines get involved with making cars. Instead, magazines simply report on new cars without any influence on a car’s design. But Intersection magazine managed to collaborate with Honda on its own unique CR-Z hybrid.

Intersection is a unusual magazine that appeals just as much (if not more) to fashion aficionados as to gearheads. So naturally, when the folks at the magazine had the opportunity to create a special edition CR-Z, it wasn’t a surprise to see a very fashionable rendition of the car. Honda Civic AZ agrees.

The Intersection CR-Z features a matte beige exterior paint job with bold orange steel wheels riding on matching orange tires. According to Honda Dealer Washington DC, The vehicle was unveiled by at the Galerie Nikki Diana Marquardt in Paris recently and Honda France is reportedly considering selling a limited run of these vehicles.

According to AutoExpress, Honda is working on a new Beat roadster, similar to the Japanese Domestic Market kei car that was produced from 1991 and 1996. Honda Colorado reminds us that the car featured a mid-mounted three-cylinder engine that produced just 63 horsepower. That little engine sent power to the rear wheels and helped drivers have loads of fun for very little money.

AutoExpress believes Honda is working on a new version that will utilize technology found in some of the company’s motorcycle offerings. Honda Dealership Columbia SC said the Beat would also utilize a dual-clutch transmission and either a 1.3 or 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine.

Honda Dealers Edmonton theorize the Honda Beat could ride on the same platform that underpins the CR-Z sports hybrid. Because it would be short and have minimal front and rear overhangs, the Beat is expected to resemble the OSM concept, which Honda unveiled in London back in 2008.

Ahead of its official debut at Goodwood in the UK, new video of the Mugen Honda CR-Z has just hit the Web, to get enthusiasts excited before the festival.

Most speculate that the Mugen Honda CR-Z will deliver around 200 horsepower and weigh 110 pounds less than its stock counterpart. From the recently released video, the modified CR-Z also features updated brakes, along with new wheels and tires.

According to Used Honda Newberg, in addition to those hard-working performance components, the Mugen Honda CR-Z also features a new fascia, rocker panels, rear wing and what appears to be a carbon fiber hood. The interior has also been outfitted with Recaro sport seats and white-faced gauges.

Look for more details at Maryland Used Cars Dealers, closer to the opening of the Goodwood festival.

Connecticut Honda said that at Le Mans this year, Honda run a modified Honda CR-Z Hybrid during a few demonstration laps. The car will participate as a part of the “Le Mans vers le Futur” showcase of what Le Mans racers could look like in the future.

According to Phoenix Honda, Honda Performance Developed did plenty of work on the CR-Z racer, adding a turbocharger to its 1.5-liter engine and swapping out the nickel-metal hydride battery pack for a lithium-ion unit packing 7 kWh of capacity and 173 volts of output. This CR-Z boasts 200 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, which represents an improvement of 78 hp and 47 lb-ft compared with a stock CR-Z with a six-speed manual transmission.

Houston Honda said that in addition to the CR-Z, the “Le Mans vers le Futur” showcase will include the all-electric LEAF Nismo RC concept, which makes use of the standard car’s powertrain in an all new chassis that only looks like the regular LEAF.

For those eager to see an even sportier CR-Z “sports hybrid” watch for this car at Le Mans this weekend.

Some Annapolis Honda enthusiasts may feel that the Honda CR-Z is lacking a bit of power from its hybrid powertrain. Luckily, Mugen will soon releases its supercharged CR-Z which cranks out more power and even better driving dynamics.

Slated to make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, Houston Honda said the Mugen CR-Z features a supercharged version of the CR-Z’s 1.5-liter four and electric assist at 197 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Mugen also shaved 110 pounds from the sport-hybrid’s overall weight off of the chassis. According to Mugen, performance is on part with the Civic Type R.

“Early fuel consumption tests have also been encouraging,” says Colin Whittamore from MUGEN Euro. “We’ve retained the three driving modes from the standard car and economy ranges from 50+mpg in ‘eco’ mode to mid-30 mpg when tapping into the supercharged power in a special ‘MUGEN’ mode.”

At this point in time, the Mugen CR-Z is still just a concept. However, with so many enthusiasts wanting more power out of the CR-Z, a supercharged variant seems very fitting to the folks at Honda Dealer Washington DC.