Honda Supercharged CR-Z iCF by MUGEN with 173HP and 0-62mph in 6.1"

As we rightfully suspected when Honda revealed the Mugen CR-Z RR Study at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011 earlier in the summer, the Japanese carmaker confirmed a production version of its hotted-up hybrid sport hatch that will go on sale in Britain next spring.And for those of you wondering, unfortunately, Honda has no plans to offer the car in other markets – at least for the time being.

The production model is named CR-Z iCF and it has been developed in partnership with Mugen's European arm. At the heart of the car lies a modified version of the CR-Z's 1.5-liter hybrid powertrain that gains a supercharger, a new induction system and a reprogrammed ECU.

As a result of these upgrades, the CR-Z iCF has almost 50 per cent more power than the standard car at 175PS (equal to 173HP and 177bhp) and can sprint from zero to 62mph (100km/h) in just 6.1 seconds or 3 seconds quicker than the regular 124PS CR-Z.

In addition to the power boost, Mugen will also retune the chassis and modify the appearance of the CR-Z inside and out.

Martin Moll, Head of Honda UK's marketing division commented: "MUGEN Euro magic has created a super responsive yet eco-conscious model building on our sporting credentials and giving us the ability to compete in the "hot hatch" marketplace as we move into 2012."

Honda said that it is still working on the pricing but it expects the CR-Z iCF to start from around £24,000 (approx. US$37,300 or €27,990). More details are to be released closer to the launch date.

Hybrids Safer for Passengers but More Dangerous for Pedestrians

A study conducted by the HLDI (Highway Loss Data Institute), an affiliate of the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), shows that on average, hybrid drivers are 25% less likely to be injured in an accident than drivers of non-hybrid models.

"Weight is a big factor," says Matt Moore, HLDI vice president and an author of the report. "Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than their standard counterparts. This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes that their conventional twins don't have."

Moore adds that other factors, such as how, when, and by whom hybrids are driven, may contribute to the result, but researchers have included controls to reduce the impact these factors may have had on the final results.

HLDI’s study included more than 25 pairs of hybrid and conventional-engined versions of the same vehicle.

On the other hand, a separate HLDI study including 17 hybrid and non-hybrid versions of the same vehicle shows that on average, hybrids are 20% more likely, to be involved in pedestrian accidents compared to their conventional versions.

Moore explains that this is the downside of zero emissions driving in city environment: “When hybrids operate in electric-only mode, pedestrians can’t hear them approaching, so they might step out into the roadway without checking first to see what’s coming.”

It’s an issue that has already been pointed out by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), which pushes for a law demanding that all hybrid or electric vehicles emit a standard warning noise in order to warn pedestrians of their presence.

Toyota and Lexus have announced that they will fit all of their EV and hybrid models with a synthetic motor sound alert that will emit a humming noise when the vehicle is operating on electric power alone.

New Lexus GS Family

Lexus has been presenting its new GS models in various events this year starting from the GS 350 that was unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, followed by the GS 450h at the Frankfurt Motor Show and more recently, the GS 350 F Sport at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Now all three members of the renewed Lexus GS family will come together and make their first North American auto show appearance at this week's Los Angeles Auto Show that runs for the public from November 18 to 27.

“We are excited to bring the GS family to the Los Angeles Auto Show, the first major auto show of the season,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager.

The new 2013 GS 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 306-ponies that propels the premium sedan from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The GS 350 with the F SPORT package retains the same drivetrain adding an aero kit and upgraded chassis components for improved handling.

The hybrid model of the series, the GS 450h, combines a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine with the Lexus Hybrid Drive for a total system output of 338-horses.

LEXUS GS 350 F SPORT

LEXUS GS 450h

LEXUS GS 350