Honda CRZ Type-R Coming To Tokyo Motor Show

At the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda took the wraps off the CR-Z concept, a three-door hybrid that Honda billed as a performance vehicle for the environmentally conscious enthusiast. In the meantime, Honda has confirmed that the CR-Z is headed for production and slated to arrive on European and Japanese shores in 2010, with U.S. sales likely to begin sometime in 2011.

Back in February of 2008, Honda’s UK manager for product planning, Mark Turner, said development of the CR-Z was underway at Honda’s R&D facility in Germany and that a strictly gasoline-powered version could make it to market if there was suitable demand. Fast-forward to today, and a new report claims Honda could be developing a CR-Z Type-R rumored to launch in Japan sometime next year.

At this point, Honda refuses to confirm or deny the existence of a Type-R version of the CR-Z, and there’s plenty of speculation about what could power the new hot hatch. Honda could take a play from the Accord Hybrid and boost the stock CR-Z’s gasoline-electric drivetrain, or, if Turner’s mention of a gasoline-only model is to be believed, fit the CR-Z Type-R with a revised version of Honda’s K20 inline-four.

Either way, expect the production version of the Honda CR-Z to debut at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show and keep your fingers crossed that a Type-R variant gets some space on the stage.

by Damon Lavrinc of AutoBlog