Finally, A Sporty Honda CR-Z?

It's not a secret anymore; the Honda CR-Z has not been a commercial success. While it was created as a spiritual successor to the legendary CRX, designed to offer a sporty driving experience while sipping fuel, the coupe never really managed to do any of those things. Because of the car's heavy hybrid drivetrain, it doesn't feel very nimble, and its overall fuel economy is average, especially if you drive it enthusiastically. We expected the manufacturer to pull the plug on the car sooner or later.

Which is why we were surprised to hear a few rumours that Honda might be building a replacement, which will have one simple mission: to make us forget that the current CR-Z ever existed. To do so, the hybrid powertrain would supposedly be replaced with a detuned version of the 2-litre turbocharged inline-four that was recently unveiled in the Civic Type-R. We also hear that instead of being based on the Fit's platform, the next iteration of the CR-Z could use a shortened version of the Civic's architecture, and could even get the Civic CR-Z moniker.

• Also: 2014 Honda CR-Z - The Sporty Hybrid
• Also: Honda Would Like a Competitor to the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ

Nothing is certain at the moment, though. For now, the current CR-Z is still for sale in dealerships, without many changes. We will have to wait a few years if we want to know more.