Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Honda CR-X
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the first and second generation CRXs, for the third generation version, see Honda CR-X del Sol.
| Honda CR-X | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Manufacturer | Honda |
| Production | 1983–1991 |
| Successor | Honda CR-X del Sol, Honda CR-Z |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style(s) | 2-door hatchback |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Related | Honda Civic Acura Integra Honda Integra |
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Production | 1984–1987 |
| Engine(s) | 1.3L 58 hp I4 1.5L 72 hp I4 1.5L 92 hp I4 |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Production | 1988–1991 |
| Engine(s) | 1.5L 62 hp I4 1.5L 92 hp I4 1.6L 108 hp I4 |
| Wheelbase | 90.6 in |
| Length | 148.5 in (1990-91) 147.8 in (1988-89) |
| Width | 65.9 in (1990-91) 65.7 in (1988-89) |
| Height | 50.1 in (1990-91) 50 in (1988-89) |
The Honda CRX, originally launched as the Honda Ballade Sports CR-X in Japan, was a compact front-wheel-drive sports car manufactured by Honda. The first generation CRX was sold in some regions outside Japan as the Honda Civic CRX. The name "CRX" and what its acronym stands for is widely disputed, the most popular being "Civic Renaissance model X".
The Honda Civic CRX was first produced in 1984 and was a lightweight sport hatchback. In the American market, the CRX was marketed as an economy sport hatchback, having room for just two passengers. European markets, however, received a more powerful ZC 130 hp engine and 2+2 seats. Redesigned in 1987 and produced to 1991, the CRX was popular for its performance, nimble handling, and good fuel economy. In the US its performance model, the Si (note: 1590cc SOHC (D16A6) engined, unlike the JDM Si 1590cc (ZC) DOHC), was a favorite. Honda's 1992 Del Sol was marketed as a CRX in some markets.
The original 1.3 liter car and the later American-market CRX HF model could reliably achieve better than 50 mpg, more than a decade before gas-electric hybrids appeared on the market, and at no price premium over the base model; the 1.3 liter was rated at 51 mpg for CITY and 60mpg highway.[1] The Japanese Si and European 1.6i-16 models came with a 1590cc DOHC engine putting out 130 bhp. Though similar versions of the same engine, the Japanese Si engine was stamped ZC, whilst the European engine was stamped D16A9.
The chassis was significantly changed in 1987 from its original torsion bar front and semi-independent rear, to fully independent wishbones all around in line with its sister Civic/Ballade models. Although Honda tried to update the look of the car with a new body, the end result looked very similar regardless. This generation 2 CRX was available with a 1495cc sohc, or an updated version of the 1590cc DOHC ZC engine. Many of these were fitted with fuel injection as standard.
In September 1989 Honda also added the 1595cc B16A VTEC engine to the lineup. The VTEC engine used Variable Valve Timing and Lift to provide increased power in the high rev range, while still allowing low fuel consumption and better idling at low RPMs. The B16A produced 150 bhp in the European 1.6i-VT model (where the engine bore the designation B16A1) and 157 bhp in the JDM SiR model. The CRX was the second car to receive a VTEC engine, shortly after the Integra, although the CRX was more popular and common.
The VTEC-equipped models also received a makeover, with updated bumpers, lights, bonnet/hood, brakes, suspension and dashboard design amongst other things. Additionally, some of these design changes were added to the concurrent non-VTEC models.
One of the options for the Japan-market CRX was a glass roof, a fixed glass panel which stretched from the top of the windshield to the top of the hatch opening. Relatively common in Japan, these are sought-after models in other markets.
In 1992, Honda replaced the CRX with a new, Targa topped, Civic-based model called the Honda Civic Del Sol, otherwise known as simply the Honda Del Sol. The Del Sol was also badged as the CRX Del Sol in some markets, and known as simply the CRX in others. It is because of this that the Del Sol is generally considered the "3rd Generation CRX" among enthusiasts, although it was arguably a very different car and Honda had seemingly quite different design goals when they built it. In the United States, the Del Sol came in three trim lines: S, Si, and VTEC; the 1994-1997 models featured a 160hp DOHC VTEC-engine. Production of the Del Sol ended in 1997, and thus, the CRX line was retired.
There have been many rumours of a CRX comeback, none of which have come to fruition. The newest rumour involves the Honda REMIX concept which was presented at a recent Los Angeles International Auto Show. Designer Ben Davidson denies that any design elements were taken from the CRX and Honda also claims there are no production plans for the REMIX; it was simply a design exercise.
The latest rumor as of July 2007, was that the CRX would return in 2011 as a hybrid.[1] [2]
Honda has debuted a new sporty compact hybrid hatchback, dubbed the CR-Z, at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. Although Honda has repeatedly stated that the name CR-Z stands for "Compact Renaissance Zero", many believe that this is the latest incarnation of the CRX, given its exterior design as well as its function as a compact sports car. Honda has confirmed that the CR-Z will go into production, along with the FCX concept, in 2009.[3]
Contents |
The Civic CRX was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1984. It also made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1985. The redesigned CRX was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1988. The CRX Si was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1988.
In Australia, the 1988-1991 CRX was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "significantly worse than average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash.[2]
Like the Civic, due to the wide availability of parts, the CRX is popular for motorsport usage. In the United Kingdom, there was a one make series dedicated to the series 2 of the CRX[3] which soldiered on a few years after the series 3 was introduced and was popular for showroom stock racing series. Nowadays, the car is popular for drag, autocross, and road racing events.
- 1988 Honda CRX Brochure, (1987), p. 21-22.
- AutoZine - Article on the CR-X
- CRX Resource - Main CRX Internet Resource
- JDM CRX Resource A wealth of information on JDM MK2
- The CRX Page - First-generation info, technical specifications, gallery, scans, and media.
- CRX Resource - Serving the CRX Community (off and on) since 1995.
- Tuner-Junction - Community made up of a large CRX owner base
- Honda Press Library - CRX series - official library of original press information and "fact books" on all of the CRX series (in Japanese, though contains many images including concept artwork)
- 1984 Mugen Honda CRX
- ZC Resource - Source for info on the japanese CRX engine known as the ZC
| <- Previous | Honda road car timeline, 1980s—present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Kei car | City/Jazz | Today | Today | Life | Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subcompact | City | City | City/Logo | Fit/Jazz/City/Fit Aria | Fit/Jazz/City/Fit Aria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballade | Ballade | Concerto | Domani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Civic | Civic | Civic | Civic | Civic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Civic | Civic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accord | Accord | Accord | Accord | Accord | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Accord | Accord | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inspire | Inspire | Inspire | Inspire/Accord | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Legend | Legend | Legend | Legend | Legend | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inspire/Accord | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | CRX | CRX | del Sol | Insight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Integra | Integra | Integra | Integra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prelude | Prelude | Prelude | Prelude | Prelude | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | Beat | S2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mini SUV | HR-V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossroad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Passport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact Crossover SUV | Element | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CR-V | CR-V | CR-V | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size Crossover SUV | Pilot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luxury Crossover SUV | MDX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | Edix/FR-V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stream | Stream | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Odyssey | Odyssey | Odyssey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup | Acty | Ridgeline | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||