Honda Malaysia Launches 2013 Honda CR-Z

Honda Malaysia Launches 2013 Honda CR-Z

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Honda Malaysia’s 2013 CR-Z hybrid, available for booking immediately, comes with many improvements which will make it even more appealing to the young buyers who are snapping it up. With its distinctive shape and looks, the CR-Z has received numerous recognitions locally last year, including the Autocar ASEAN Car of the Year, Autoworld Judge’s Choice, and Best Hybrid Model Awards for both publications.

The silhouette of the CR-Z is probably key to its popularity, being sleek and sporty. The fact that it is a hybrid that accords some savings in fuel consumption is but a small contribution to its success, the others being an affordable price and a 1.5 litre engine that keeps running costs low. A portion of the buyers are financed by parents, and they don’t seem to mind purchasing or helping their kids to purchase a car like the CR-Z. Since its launch in 2011, the CR-Z has garnered more than 2,500 units in sales, and with the 2013 model, the company is looking at a sales of 300 units a month, or approximately 3,000 units up to the end of this year.

The 2013 CR-Z retains the same base as the previous year model, but sports new front and rear bumpers. HID front lights are new, as are rear LED tail lights. Red stitching in the semi-leather seats, gear knob and leather-bound steering wheel adds to a more sporty character. The interior colour is now a sporty red and black.

Speaking at the launch of the New CR-Z, Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia said, “The New CR-Z is an ideal balance of technology, performance and design. With its enhanced features and styling, it is now even sportier in looks, truly embodying the concept of a “Sport Hybrid”. The New CR-Z is a car that draws attention with its outstanding body lines with upgraded styling of new colours, new materials and beautiful finishes in interior as well as exterior that further enhance its emotional appearance.”

“The New CR-Z will give an ultimate joy of driving experience to Malaysian car enthusiasts. It is the ideal car for those who recognize the value of advanced technology, desire an eye-catching car and care for the environment,” said Mr. Ueno.

Also new is the timely introduction of a Lithium-ion battery pack that brings the CR-Z hybrid up another notch above the rest of the small hybrids. Lithium-ion batteries are already making their way into the more expensive hybrids, and the Honda Civic hybrid is also currently supplied with Lithium-ion batteries. It is great to see that Honda is taking the lead here by moving into the latest technologies available. Battery warranty is 5 years, which is the same period as the normal warranty on the car itself. The new battery set-up allows for quick discharge and re-charge, which gives the new CR-Z more flexibility in power delivery. We are promised a more dynamic and energetic driving feel.

The CR-Z features an ambient meter that changes colour constantly depending on the driving style. While driving in NORMAL and ECON mode, the ambient meter changes colour from Blue to Blue-Green and Green, providing immediate feedback to the driver and coaching them to drive efficiently. Blue represents uneconomical driving, Blue-Green symbolises moderately fuel efficient, whereas Green is fuel efficient driving.

In terms of safety, the New CR-Z is equipped with Dual Front SRS Airbags, Side Curtain & Side Airbags with Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), G-Force Control Technology (G-CON), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE).

The new CR-Z retains the 3-mode Drive system, Normal, Econ and Sport with an additional PLUS SPORT mode, activated by a button on the steering wheel and can be activated anytime in any of the three modes to provide instantaneous boost to acceleration. According to a presentation given by Tengku Ezan from the Product department, the Sport Plus mode provides the new CR-Z with acceleration equivalent to that of a V6, 3.0 litre engine.

The New CR-Z is available in both 6-speed Manual Transmission and Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with 7-speed paddle shift and comes in four exciting colours – Premium Northern Lights Violet Pearl, Premium White Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic and Milano Red.

Price On-the-road with insurance is RM119,000 for the Manual and RM123,000 for the CVT.

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