In what’s been a long time coming, Honda pulled the plug on the poor CR-Z in Japan. With the recent move by Honda, the Honda CR-Z discontinued production in Japan. Sales of the diminutive hatchback have slowed to a crawl in recent years. It’s not set in stone, but the fact that Honda CR-Z discontinued production in Japan doesn’t exactly bode well for the US market.
Japan joins Europe and Australia as other markets where the CR-Z has been dropped. Honda had been keen on reviving the hybrid hatchback, but with sales numbers declining it may be a sign of things to come. Somehow the United States will be one of the last stands for the CR-Z.
The Honda CR-Z combines the power of of the 1.5 liter VTEC engine and an electric motor. Cranking out 130 horsepower and a total of 140 ft lbs of torque, the Honda CR-Z is one of the only hybrids with a manual transmission. For hybrid fans who want a stick shift hybrid, the CR-Z represents one of the only shows in town.
Much like other Japanese cars like the Mitsubishi Evolution, the CR-Z will receive a final edition. Commemorating the last year of production, the CR-Z Final Label trim is available only in Japan. Japanese owners are especially keen on collectible edition vehicles, which makes the Final Edition CR-Z much more appealing.
As the Honda CR-Z discontinued in the Land of the Rising Sun, it’s just a matter of time before the hybrid is yanked from the North America market. Chances are Honda North America won’t bother with anything more than an aggressive sale to clear inventory however.
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