The Hottest Hybrid in The World?

[dd74]

Check out the Spoon-modified Honda CR-Z hybrid. Here's a road test and photos:

World Exclusive Test: 2011 Spoon Sports CR-Z - Road Test
Spoon makes the sporty Honda CR-Z a true sports car.

Spoon is always one step ahead of the competition, whether that be in racing or introducing tuned versions of Honda’s sportiest cars. The new Spoon CR-Z closely follows Spoon president Tatsuru Ichishima’s philosophy on car tuning, improving the soul of the car rather than just its performance.

The Spoon car sits much closer to the ground, lowered by about an inch and a half. A black carbon-fiber hood and flashy wheels highlight its styling. Under the hood, Spoon took apart the 1.5-liter inline-4 and reassembled the i-VTEC powerplant with many of its own parts. The ECU was remapped, increasing redline from 6200 rpm to 8500, with more torque in the mid range. Of particular note is Spoon’s new exhaust, which makes this hybrid sound like an Italian exotic. Together, the gasoline engine and electric motor produce about 145 bhp and about 150 lb.-ft. of torque, significant gains over stock. Also, Spoon claims it shed about 220 lb. from the car’s curb weight.

Mash the throttle, and the car leaves the line in the same way as the original, with verve, but the Spoon CR-Z gets stronger as the engine revs rise. The Spoon Sports CR-Z, with a 6-speed manual gearbox, dashed to 60 mph in a scant 6.9 seconds and to the quarter mile in 15.5. Naturally, the car’s fuel economy takes a hit; I predict the Spoon CR-Z will still get around 25/29 mpg city/highway.

The car’s handling is much sharper, thanks to stiffer springs and shocks and thicker anti-roll bars. With a strengthened chassis and a custom limited-slip differential, the Spoon CR-Z feels much more neutral than the stock CR-Z. Spoon is currently working on a race version that Ichishima says will introduce a new era in endurance racing. He plans to have this car finished for the 25 Hours of Thunderhill in December.

This tuner version of the CR-Z will be available as a complete car later this year for about $8000 plus the cost of the car. For more information, go to the company’s website at www.spoonsports.us.

[Geronimo '74]

looks cool! I don't really like the rear but the front is really nice

Redline from 6200 to 8500, that is not a small increase....


"I predict the Spoon CR-Z will still get around 25/29 mpg city/highway."

So if we're tuning hybrids to the point where they offer no advantage in milage anymore.... What's the use of having a hybrid in the first place???

[alf]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

looks cool! I don't really like the rear but the front is really nice

Redline from 6200 to 8500, that is not a small increase....


"I predict the Spoon CR-Z will still get around 25/29 mpg city/highway."

So if we're tuning hybrids to the point where they offer no advantage in milage anymore.... What's the use of having a hybrid in the first place???

My humble 88 CRX Si got better mileage than that.

[jyl]

Wow. How did they manage to hurt the mpg that much?

[GH85Carrera]

That thing is Fugly from the rear.

[masraum]

dashed to 60 mph in a scant 6.9 seconds and to the quarter mile in 15.5. Naturally, the car’s fuel economy takes a hit; I predict the Spoon CR-Z will still get around 25/29 mpg city/highway.

So they turned it into a regular economy car. Really, what's the point?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

So if we're tuning hybrids to the point where they offer no advantage in milage anymore.... What's the use of having a hybrid in the first place???

Right, the acceleration numbers aren't impressive and neither are the economy figures.

Since it's a hybrid, it should do something really well.

If it got those economy figureds and did 0-60 in 5 seconds.

Or if it got the acceleration numbers that it does AND got 40 or 50mpg...

But it does neither thing particularly well.

It may be a smidge quicker than my miata, but I can get better mileage if I drive with economy in mind.

[turbo6bar]

Originally Posted by masraum

Since it's a hybrid, it should do something really well.

Don't forget the smug.

Agree with the other comments. if the mileage numbers are close, this is nothing short of massive fail.

[dd74]

All good points written here.

Maybe this is the tip of the iceberg, though. Just sort of a test for the future when a hybrid could go 0-60 in 5 seconds and get close to 50 mpg.

Personally, I'll wait for when (not if) that happens. I do think, though, this is an interesting beginning.

BTW: ECU mods alone to raise redline to 8500 on a stock 1.5 seems a bit, well, hopeful. I would think there had to be as well some internal engine modifications to sustain such high RPMs in that motor.

[Geronimo '74]

True, this is just the beginning.
Eventually hybrids will be fast and have great mpg.
They also need styling that doesn't shout "LOOK AT ME, I'M A HYBRID" like the Prius does...

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

They also need styling that doesn't shout "LOOK AT ME, I'M A HYBRID" like the Prius does...

Turbo6bar called it "smug," which is truly spot on.

[Tobra]

My integra has similar performance numbers. 0-60 about the same, 1/4 mile mine is faster, gets 25-29 mpg around town. Has the groovy upper/lower wishbone front, far superior rear suspensions, two more doors a trunk and an actual back seat.

To "Spoonify" a Fit costs about $8000. If I put 8 grand into my integra, it would run away and hide from that thing.

Who would buy one of these?

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Tobra

My integra has similar performance numbers. 0-60 about the same, 1/4 mile mine is faster, gets 25-29 mpg around town. Has the groovy upper/lower wishbone front, far superior rear suspensions, two more doors a trunk and an actual back seat.

To "Spoonify" a Fit costs about $8000. If I put 8 grand into my integra, it would run away and hide from that thing.

I still wouldn't bet against the lighter smaller car on a twisty course.

Originally Posted by Tobra

Who would buy one of these?

The smug.

[McLovin]

[Z-man]

145hp and 150 lb-ft of torque? Meh.
0-60 in 6.9 seconds? Meh.
1.4 mile in 15.5 seconds? Meh.
1.5 liter 4cyl? Meh.
FWD? Meh.
JDM Dressup kit? Meh.

Can someone tell me why this car is so hot?!?

Those performance numbers are BELOW what my 21 year old 944 can accomplish. Matter of fact, there are many older cars that can run circles around that thing.

I don't get it. But then again, I never understood the 'turn-a-grocery-getter-into-what-I-want-to-call-a-boy-racer' concept either....

-Z-man.

[dd74]

LOL! To each their own, Zoltan. I remember when the 944 came out, and people were wondering about paying over $20K for a VW engine.

Someone will buy this thing. I've seen a couple semi-hotted up Prius around too.

All I can think is manufacturing and marketing has come full circle with the hybrid now; making the car intentionally get lousy mileage only so it can sell the thing to a certain, as of yet unknown demographic.

[turbo6bar]

The burnt out Prius is screaming for a Porsh 996 body kit, yo.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by alf

My humble 88 CRX Si got better mileage than that.

my 1978 Datsun B210 got better mileage than that...

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by dd74

I still wouldn't bet against the lighter smaller car on a twisty course.

Okay, you take the Toyota truck, I will take the 911 and we see who runs circles around whom.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by dd74

LOL! To each their own, Zoltan. I remember when the 944 came out, and people were wondering about paying over $20K for a VW engine.

Someone will buy this thing. I've seen a couple semi-hotted up Prius around too.

All I can think is manufacturing and marketing has come full circle with the hybrid now; making the car intentionally get lousy mileage only so it can sell the thing to a certain, as of yet unknown demographic.

The 944 does not have a VW Engine, it has essentially one half of a 928 V-8 engine in it.

I personally do not think Hybrids will be around for very long. Electric cars are the future.