2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid

Honda's CR-Z hybrid coupe remains on track as a 2011 model, on sale in late 2010. Honda wants sports-car enthusiasts to buy it not because it's green, but because it's fun. The carmaker considered doing a non-hybrid version of the CR-Z, but it desperately wants to be seen as a hybrid supplier on par with Toyota and believes it needs a range of dedicated hybrid-only models to achieve that.

So the CR-Z gets a lively 140-horse, 1.8-liter Civic-derived engine. The IMA system -- motor, battery, electronics -- will be like the Insight's, as will the platform, to save cost. A senior engineer says, "It must be fun to drive, must remind you of the original CRX." And a manual gearbox will be offered. "CVT is fine for the market, mostly. But we are Honda! We must have a manual!"
2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid
2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid
2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid
2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid
2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid
2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid

Aston Martin V12 Vantage

It was always going to be a good thing when the boss of a car company likes to go racing in the company Vantage. No matter what the performance is out of the box, they will almost always want more. In this case a lot more, four cylinders more.

The hand-built, 6.0-litre, V12 engine is literally shoehorned into Aston’s smallest and lightest car, and while that might sound like a little too extreme for a bespoke English sports car, take it from me, I probably won’t be driving the V8 Vantage again. Don’t get me wrong, the 4.7-litre V8 is a highly capable machine, but nothing beats the industrial grade torque output of an Aston Martin V12, borrowed from the DBS for those no nonsense overtakes
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Aston Martin V12 Vantage