Honda Begins 2011 CR-Z Hybrid Sales in Japan, Pricing Starts at $25,340
By John O'Dell February 25, 2010
Honda's newest hybird, the two-seat gas-electric CR-Z, went on sale in Japan today, priced at 2.27 million yen - $25,340.
The sporty hybrid is the second, after the 2010 Insight - in Honda's line of low-cost hybrids aimed at bringing the technology into the mainstream market place by increasing affordability.
To do so, the Honda IMA (integrated motor assist) hybrid system was downsized a bit and the car's haven't been loaded with expensive extras.
Despite that, the Insight has not sold as well as Honda had planned - tallying 136,000 sales globally in its first year versus the original goal of 200,000.
The limited-appeal CR-Z, was launched with a modest Japanese sales goal of 1,000 a month and pre-orders for 4,500, or 4.5 times the first months' goal.
The trick now will be to keep sales up - a difficult task with a two-seat car.
The hybrid CR-Z is sated to go on sale in the U.S. later this summer.
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John,
"Despite that, the Insight has not sold as well as Honda had planned - tallying 136,000 sales globally in its first year versus the original goal of 200,000."
I think you may have been misled.
Reuters reports that Honda Insight's "[c]umulative sales at the end of January stood at 136,000 units, [...] the model was rolled out outside Japan in stages from March.
I think at least you need March's sales figure to know how many Insight are sold during "its first year".
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