Honda CR-Z (2013): boost button, upped power and prices

Honda's hybrid CR-Z coupe has been given a light re-working, gaining extra power and a sporty boost system. There's also the subtlest of visual makeovers, and a price jump to boot: prices are up between £1830 and £2515 across the range.

Thanks to a tweaked ECU engine management system and changes to the variable valve timing, power from the car's 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine climbs by 7bhp, to 119bhp. Meanwhile, the hybrid unit has switched from nickel metal batteries to a lighter lithium-ion set-up, and the electric motor's been upgraded too. Electro-power now stands at 20bhp, up 6bhp.

The overall 13bhp jump drops the CR-Z's 0-62mph time from 10.0sec to 9.1sec on the Sport model, and from 10.1sec to 9.5sec on the more generously kitted-out GT variant. Flat out, the top speed remains pegged at 124mph, as before.

It's not exactly F1-style KERS, but the CR-Z does have a new party piece. A steering-wheel mounted 'Sport Plus' button unlocks an extra boost when the battery is sufficiently charged: push it and you get 10 seconds of increased acceleration.

We've tried the new 'Sport Plus' system at CAR, and although it doesn't turn the CR-Z from into an eco-minded hot-hatch baiter, there is a certain amount of play value in driving sensibly enough to unlock the boost, before deploying it as the road straightens.

Despite the extra go, economy and emissions remain unchanged, at a claimed 56.5mpg and 116g/km CO2 for the CR-Z Sport and 54.3 and 122g/km for the CR-Z GT.

A reshaped front grille/bumper section and rear diffuser are the main visual clues to the tweaked CR-Z, as well as the GT model's new 17-inch alloys.

You will notice the increased prices though. A CR-Z Sport is up by £2515, and the top-spec GT model is now above 184bhp Hyundai Veloster Turbo money, at £23,050. That represents an £1830 increase over the outgoing model.

By Ollie Kew