First look: Honda concept triggers new CRX hope

HONDA has triggered hopes it may be about to build a new version of the CRX hatch with a concept car to be presented at the Tokyo motor show later this month.

The Japanese manufacturer is helping generate that view given the new small and sporty concept is called the CR-Z.

The CR-Z is a petrol-electric hybrid, but a production car would likely be an affordable compact sports hatch with a regular four-cylinder petrol engine.

The CR-Z concept ticks the biggest box - styling - with a sleek coupe profile that gives the car an athletic stance. It features a hatchback rear and seats four people, although it would be best described as a 2+2.

A modern CRX could fill a gaping hole in the Honda line-up below the limited production Civic Type R and the ageing S2000 convertible.

Honda has also released information about another concept it plans to show at Tokyo that couldn’t be more different to the CR-Z.

It’s called the PUYO (left) and by Honda’s own admission, is soft.

The boxy concept car has a soft “gel body” shell that makes it pedestrian friendly. Pedestrians also have a good chance of spotting the PUYO coming, given that it glows in the dark.