Honda CR-Z minor change (ZF2)

Most nerdists think that all hybrids are peaceful, calm, and serene because they always hum like happy monks. Hybrids are all about respect, calm, and harmony. We know. But, can a hybrid that we're going to show it to you today can give you adrenaline?

2013 Honda CR-Z

Hybrids are nothing more than eco cars made for the enthusiasts of armpit hair and brown rice but for this one, adrenaline was added. What this is...is a Honda CR-Z. Sure, it may come with some hybrid peripherals such as the display's telling the drivers when the electric motor's running, when the battery's charging, and so on but there's a feature that made them interesting. When the CR-Z's set to ECO MODE and when driving slowly and frugal, the speedometer's colored green. When set to NORMAL and driving in a usual way, it goes blue, and when it was set to SPORT MODE, the speedo's all red and it behaves like a different animal.

2013 Honda CR-Z interior

And for this, the 2013 model year, aside from mild cosmetic changes such as new front bumpers, new lamps, new rims, and so on, power output from the LEA+MF6 combo has now been upgraded from the previous model's 114PS power output to 120PS of power output but how? Sure, the 1.5L VTEC engine (LEA) remains untouched but for the first time ever, the conventional nickel batteries was been thrown away and replaced with the kind of battery that you would normally use on the laptop computer, that is a Li-ion Battery. So then, this is the first ever Honda to come with the Lithium ion battery. Some say that the transition from the soon-to-be-defunct nickel battery to Lithium-ion battery will help hybrid cars improve acceleration and better fuel efficiency as well as increased energy regeneration when braking.

If you say better fuel economy then you're darn right because for CVT variants, it will reach up to 23.0km/L of fuel economy and for 6MT variants, it will go all the way to 20.6km/L.

Also new for 2013 is this interesting feature for those that Sport Mode is not enough to tickle their jingle bells and this one's called the PLUS SPORT mode (S+). When you press the S+ button with your thumb, this new mode sacrifices fuel economy in exchange for sharper throttle response, sharper handling, and about as rough as Paul Phoenix in some sorts.

This new mode though, I think it's fine on most racetracks but on normal roads, it is a bit too nasty and a bit too uncomfortable, if you have a date and when you're driving this one on PLUS SPORT mode, chances to disappoint your date will be likely and it will end up annoying your date badly. That's right, badly.

There is now a new variant for the CR-Z under the banner "α Master Label" and for this spec, the interior comes with handmade and tailored sports seats made of fabric. This is a first-class CR-Z for the privileged few.

IF this is the future, count me in. But to be honest, we're not sure why do we have to have one of these even though it was the world's first hybrid sports car that gives them adrenaline.

AVAILABLE COLORS: Premium Energetic Yellow Metallic, Premium Northern Lights Violet Pearl, Premium White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Milano Red, Polished Metal Metallic, and Horizon Turquoise Pearl.

PRICE LIST (in Japanese Yen):

1.5 ベータ CVT - 2,365,000 Yen

1.5 ベータ 6-speed Manual - 2,365,000 Yen

1.5 アルファ CVT - 2,575,000 Yen

1.5 アルファ 6-speed Manual - 2,575,000 Yen

1.5 アルファ マスターレーベル CVT - 2,630,000 Yen

1.5 アルファ マスターレーベル 6-speed Manual - 2,630,000 Yen

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.