http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/07/13 ... jazz_cr_z/

I think the CR-Z looks like a cross between Marvin from Hitchhiker's and the cars from I, Robot:





But I quite like it, and it's interesting to see the hybrids becoming more prominent

I must admit I rather like the look of it.

+1 Looks very interesting... Now it just needs a sensible price.

It looks awesome...and it's a Honda, which is even better!

Hybrids - ghastly red herring which people seem to be attracted to like moths. You get two drive trains for the price of one. So you’re hauling batteries AND an internal combustion engine around, plus fuel, and the associated gubbins with both. The weight of both means that any benefits you get are far less than they would be - mileage is compromised, fuel savings are less. This is a totally pointless exercise - more of a Papal Indulgence than a genuine Calvinistic solution to the problem.

You can make your hybrids look as curvy or as stylish as you want. I want a 100% alternative fuel vehicle, not one which relies on a mash up. Honda, Toyota (and anyone else embarking down this rather bizarre path), come back when you have a proper electric or hydrogen powered car. Then I’ll be interested. And please don’t make them look like invalid carriages.

Honda do have a proper hydrogen powered car. Didn't Top Gear review it?

Looks nice. Want one.

Hydrogen is the answer, I believe. I agree totally with James May’s assessment - it requires an infrastructure we are used to, and refuelling speed we are used to, and the car ranges are about the same. Why we are faffing about with electricity and hybrids is anyone’s guess.

Honda do though, it was on Top Gear fairly recently.

Hyrdrogen is highly inefficient though (takes more power to separate than you get out of it etc), although the by-products from the reaction would make cities much nicer places to live!

That is until Citroen release a hydrogen car and a bad run on the production line releases thousands of quirky-looking four wheeled H-bombs on an unsuspecting city!

Was just reading an article about the pros and cons of hybrid cars.

There are the obvious pros like fewer emissions etc... but the cost out weighs that.

You could quite generously say that you might get a 30% increase in fuel economy out of this CRZ compared to a similar performance petrol only car. Then your fuel bill per year might go from £600 (£30 every 2 weeks) to £400. A saving of £200 per year.

Looking at the prices of the Prius compared to a similar size Auris the Prius costs £18,400 compared to the Auris at £16,000.

That means you would have to use the Prius for 12 years before getting the money back from the initial out lay in fuel.

Or did I miss something?

Factor in the cost (environmentally and financially) of replacing the battery packs too, don't forget.

Yes, you've missed the bit about being kinder to the environment

Top Gear covered this too - the various parts needed to make the Prius are so well travelled and the mining for various bits for the fuel cell mean that the carbon footprint on each Prius is enormous. Kinda defeats the object doesn't it!

Indeed, hence my winky smiley . They're about making people feel better, not much else. If I recall correctly, the Prius has lower MPG than a standard petrol car in urban scenarios...