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Honda launches CR-Z hybrid in Pakistan

2013 model 1500CC car will cost 3.0 million rupees

Honda-CR-ZThe Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan is all set to launch Pakistan’s first official hybrid car CR-Z Sports Hybrid on November 30, 2013, which would be available for Rs 3.0 million, it was learnt on Saturday.

Honda CR-Z is a more sport-oriented car with a 1,500cc petrol engine coupled with a hybrid terrain.

However, old used models of imported CR-Z Hybrid are already available in Pakistan, but Honda Atlas has decided to launch its brand new model officially, as a result of it, this will be a first official launch of any Hybrid car in Pakistan. Important to mention here that the new zero meter Hybrid Sports car is a totally Completely Build Unit (CBU) that will be imported from Japan.

Although, Indus Motors Company (IMC) has also declared launching of a localized version of the Prius called ‘Rough Road’ for Pakistan anytime later this year but the launching date has not been announced as yet by the company.

Honda is exhibiting its new models of Civic and City at its booth in ongoing Expo Pakistan Exhibition where the company has also unveiled its coming model CR-Z Sports Hybrid in white color.

An official of Honda, who was present at the booth in Expo Pakistan, responding to the scribe’s query, said the CR-Z sports Hybrid car will be Pakistan’s first new and zero meter Hybrid vehicle. He said that the company has decided to introduce hybrid vehicle officially in Pakistan to check the response of the hybrids in Pakistan. As the country does not have sufficient conditions to drive the hybrid vehicles the company has tried to comply this car with the local road conditions, he added.

On the other hand, the industry experts were not fully convinced by the launching of such hybrid vehicles in the country saying that the immense pricey hybrids are not the need of the country as it will take a long time to create the demand of such hybrid vehicles in the homeland. They said that the country is in dire need of small segment cars, which people can afford conveniently. But the local assemblers, instead of assembling below 1000cc segment cars, are busy in introducing such expensive vehicles in the country, they added.

Honda is one of the biggest auto makers in the world, but besides some locally assembled variants of Honda others are not offered in Pakistan. Keeping view the consumers’ desires, Honda Atlas Pakistan offers to its consumers that they can buy some internationally acclaimed models by placing orders with the company. The new brand Honda CR-V Jeep can be imported in the country through the makers for Rs 7.9 million and the 2400cc Honda Acorn for Rs 9.9 million. The order is realized in three to four months while the other models’ prices are being revised.

According to some international auto websites, the 2013 Honda CR-Z is powered by a four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, which reviewers say provides adequate power. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is optional. Test drivers say that performance is better with the manual transmission, which shifts smoothly with short throws and does a better job of delivering power. The EPA reports that the 2013 CR-Z gets 36/39 mpg city/highway with the CVT, which is good for a small car, but somewhat unimpressive for a hybrid. Cars like the Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius C and Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid use less fuel.

While the CR-Z only has two seats, test drivers say that its seats are supportive, with good head and legroom. The 2013 Honda CR-Z comes standard with a backup camera, cruise control, automatic climate control, Bluetooth and a six-speaker stereo with a USB port.

Daily Times report by Abrar Hamza

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