Honda CR-X
Encyclopedia
This article is about the first and second generations of the CR-X. For the third generation, see Honda CR-X del Sol
.
The Honda CR-X, originally launched as the Honda Ballade
Sports CR-X in Japan
, was a front-wheel-drive sports compact car manufactured by Honda
. The first generation CR-X was sold in some regions outside Japan as the Honda Civic
CR-X. At its introduction, the CR-X was available in Japan only at Honda Verno dealership sales channels, and accompanied the Vigor, the Quint
, and the Prelude
.
In the US-spec, the CR-X was marketed as an economy sport hatchback
, having room for just two passengers. EU-spec, however, received a ZC 130 hp engine and 2+2 seats. Redesigned in 1988 and produced to 1991, the CR-X was popular for its performance, nimble handling, and good fuel economy. In the US its performance model, the Si (with the SOHC (D16A6) not the equally-sized JDM Si 1590cc (ZC) DOHC engine), was a favorite. Honda's 1992 CRX del Sol was marketed as a CR-X in some markets.
The original 1.3 liter car (chassis code AE532) and the later 1.5 liter American-market CR-X HF (High Fuel economy) model (chassis codes EC1 and AF) could reliably achieve very good gas mileage, more than a decade before gas-electric hybrids appeared on the market, and at no price premium over the base model; the 1.5 liter is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (under the new rating system) at 41 miles per US gallon city and 50 miles per US gallon highway. The Japanese Si and European 1.6i-16 models came with a 1590 cc DOHC engine
putting out 135 bhp in the UK-spec model and 140 bhp in the JDM model. Though similar versions of the same engine, the Japanese Si engine was stamped ZC, whilst the European engine was stamped D16A9.
The chassis was significantly changed in 1986 from its original torsion bar front and semi-independent rear, to fully independent wishbones all around in line with its sister Civic/Ballade models. Outside of North America, this generation 2 CR-X was available with a 1495 cc sohc or an updated version of the 1590 cc DOHC ZC engine. Many of these were fitted with fuel injection as standard.
In September 1989 Honda also added the 1595 cc B16A
VTEC
engine to the lineup outside of America. The VTEC engine used Variable Valve Timing to provide increased power in the high rev range, while still allowing low fuel consumption and better idling at low RPMs. The B16A produced 150 bhp in the European 1.6i-VT model (where the engine bore the designation B16A1) and 157 bhp in the JDM SiR model. The CR-X was the second car to receive a VTEC
engine, shortly after the Integra
, although the CR-X was more popular and common.
The VTEC-equipped models also received a makeover, with updated bumpers, lights, bonnet/hood, brakes, suspension and dashboard design amongst other things. Additionally, some of these design changes were added to the concurrent non-VTEC models.
One of the options for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) CR-X was a glass roof, a fixed glass panel which stretched from the top of the windshield to the top of the hatch opening. Relatively common in Japan, these are sought-after models in other markets.
Second-generation CR-Xs in the US could choose between three different trim levels: The standard (unlabeled, sometimes called the "DX") with the 16-valve 1495 cc "D15B2" engine and Dual-Point Fuel Injection (DPFI), the HF ("High Fuel efficiency") model with the 8-valve 1495 cc "D15B6" engine and Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI), or the Si (Abbreviation in debate) model with the 16-valve 1590 cc "D16A6" engine and MPFI. "DX" models were available with an automatic transmission, all others had five-speed manuals. The Si models all came with a power sliding moonroof.
In 1992, Honda replaced the CR-X with a new, Targa top
ped, Civic-based model called the Honda Civic del Sol, otherwise known as simply the Honda del Sol. The del Sol was also badged as the CR-X del Sol in some markets, and known as simply the CR-X in others. It is because of this that the del Sol is generally considered the "3rd Generation CR-X" among enthusiasts, although it was arguably a very different car and Honda had seemingly quite different design goals when they built it. In the United States, the del Sol came in three trim lines: S (VXi in Japan, later VGi), Si (ESi in Europe), and VTEC (SiR in Japan and VTi in Europe) ; the 1994-1997 models featured a 160 hp DOHC VTEC-engine. Production of the del Sol ended in 1997, and thus, the CR-X line was retired.
Articles on the CR-X have compared its appearance to that of the Honda Insight
.
Previous rumours of a CR-X comeback involved the Honda REMIX concept, which was presented at a Los Angeles International Auto Show. Designer Ben Davidson denies that any design elements were taken from the CR-X and Honda also claims there are no production plans for the REMIX; it was simply a design exercise.
's Import Car of the Millenium for 1990. It also made Car and Driver
magazine's Ten Best list
for 1985. The redesigned CR-X was on Car and Driver
magazine's Ten Best list
for 1988. The CR-X Si was Motor Trend
's Import Car of the Year
for 1988. The 1988 CR-X Si was named one of Road & Track's 10 Best Cars of All Time.
The U.S. version of the second generation CR-X employed the use of side impact door beams on some models. These models can be identified by the mounting position of the safety belts. If the belt is mounted in the door, the beams are present. If the belt is mounted in the body, there is no additional reinforcement.
(NHTSA) in the USA has determined frontal crash test ratings of Honda CRX of different model years.
Like the Civic, due to the wide availability of parts, the CR-X is popular for motorsport usage. In the United Kingdom, there was a one-make series dedicated to the series 2 of the CR-X which soldiered on a few years after the series 3 was introduced and was popular for showroom stock racing series. Nowadays, the car is popular for drag
, autocross
, and road racing
events.
Honda CR-X del Sol
The Honda Civic CRX del Sol is a 2-seater front-engined, front wheel drive, targa top convertible manufactured by Honda in the 1990s. Based on the crx platform, the del Sol was the successor to the popular Honda CR-X...
.
The Honda CR-X, originally launched as the Honda Ballade
Honda Ballade
The Honda Ballade was a subcompact automobile built by Honda of Japan. It began as a four-door version of the Civic in 1980. The Ballade was developed at the same time the Honda Vigor appeared, which was a higher content Honda Accord...
Sports CR-X in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, was a front-wheel-drive sports compact car manufactured by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
. The first generation CR-X was sold in some regions outside Japan as the Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
CR-X. At its introduction, the CR-X was available in Japan only at Honda Verno dealership sales channels, and accompanied the Vigor, the Quint
Honda Quint
The Honda Quint is a subcompact car manufactured by Honda Motor Co. Ltd. of Japan. It was introduced in 1980 in Japan as an upscale Honda Civic 4-door hatchback, and joined the Honda Prelude, Honda Ballade, and Honda Vigor at the then newly established Japanese dealership sales channel called Honda...
, and the Prelude
Honda Prelude
The Honda Prelude was a sports coupe produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1978 until 2001. It replaced the Honda S800, a front-engined, front wheel drive sports car...
.
In the US-spec, the CR-X was marketed as an economy sport hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
, having room for just two passengers. EU-spec, however, received a ZC 130 hp engine and 2+2 seats. Redesigned in 1988 and produced to 1991, the CR-X was popular for its performance, nimble handling, and good fuel economy. In the US its performance model, the Si (with the SOHC (D16A6) not the equally-sized JDM Si 1590cc (ZC) DOHC engine), was a favorite. Honda's 1992 CRX del Sol was marketed as a CR-X in some markets.
The original 1.3 liter car (chassis code AE532) and the later 1.5 liter American-market CR-X HF (High Fuel economy) model (chassis codes EC1 and AF) could reliably achieve very good gas mileage, more than a decade before gas-electric hybrids appeared on the market, and at no price premium over the base model; the 1.5 liter is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (under the new rating system) at 41 miles per US gallon city and 50 miles per US gallon highway. The Japanese Si and European 1.6i-16 models came with a 1590 cc DOHC engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
putting out 135 bhp in the UK-spec model and 140 bhp in the JDM model. Though similar versions of the same engine, the Japanese Si engine was stamped ZC, whilst the European engine was stamped D16A9.
The chassis was significantly changed in 1986 from its original torsion bar front and semi-independent rear, to fully independent wishbones all around in line with its sister Civic/Ballade models. Outside of North America, this generation 2 CR-X was available with a 1495 cc sohc or an updated version of the 1590 cc DOHC ZC engine. Many of these were fitted with fuel injection as standard.
In September 1989 Honda also added the 1595 cc B16A
Honda B engine
The Honda B-series are inline-4 DOHC automotive engines. They were made in 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, and 2.0 liter variants, with and without VTEC . Later models have minor upgrades including modifications to the intake valves and ports and piston tops, along with individual cylinder oil injectors...
VTEC
VTEC
VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
engine to the lineup outside of America. The VTEC engine used Variable Valve Timing to provide increased power in the high rev range, while still allowing low fuel consumption and better idling at low RPMs. The B16A produced 150 bhp in the European 1.6i-VT model (where the engine bore the designation B16A1) and 157 bhp in the JDM SiR model. The CR-X was the second car to receive a VTEC
VTEC
VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
engine, shortly after the Integra
Honda Integra
The Honda Integra is a compact luxury performance coupe made by Honda during the years 1985 to 2006. The sporty front wheel drive car is able to house five passengers with a two door hatch or four door sedan available.The Integra was on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list six times, in...
, although the CR-X was more popular and common.
The VTEC-equipped models also received a makeover, with updated bumpers, lights, bonnet/hood, brakes, suspension and dashboard design amongst other things. Additionally, some of these design changes were added to the concurrent non-VTEC models.
One of the options for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) CR-X was a glass roof, a fixed glass panel which stretched from the top of the windshield to the top of the hatch opening. Relatively common in Japan, these are sought-after models in other markets.
Second-generation CR-Xs in the US could choose between three different trim levels: The standard (unlabeled, sometimes called the "DX") with the 16-valve 1495 cc "D15B2" engine and Dual-Point Fuel Injection (DPFI), the HF ("High Fuel efficiency") model with the 8-valve 1495 cc "D15B6" engine and Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI), or the Si (Abbreviation in debate) model with the 16-valve 1590 cc "D16A6" engine and MPFI. "DX" models were available with an automatic transmission, all others had five-speed manuals. The Si models all came with a power sliding moonroof.
In 1992, Honda replaced the CR-X with a new, Targa top
Targa top
Targa top, targa for short, is a semi-convertible car body style with a removable roof section and a full width roll bar behind the seats. The term was first used on the 1966 Porsche 911 Targa, and it remains a registered trademark of Porsche AG....
ped, Civic-based model called the Honda Civic del Sol, otherwise known as simply the Honda del Sol. The del Sol was also badged as the CR-X del Sol in some markets, and known as simply the CR-X in others. It is because of this that the del Sol is generally considered the "3rd Generation CR-X" among enthusiasts, although it was arguably a very different car and Honda had seemingly quite different design goals when they built it. In the United States, the del Sol came in three trim lines: S (VXi in Japan, later VGi), Si (ESi in Europe), and VTEC (SiR in Japan and VTi in Europe) ; the 1994-1997 models featured a 160 hp DOHC VTEC-engine. Production of the del Sol ended in 1997, and thus, the CR-X line was retired.
Articles on the CR-X have compared its appearance to that of the Honda Insight
Honda Insight
The Honda Insight is a hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by Honda and the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. The first-generation Insight was produced from 1999 to 2006 as a three-door hatchback...
.
Previous rumours of a CR-X comeback involved the Honda REMIX concept, which was presented at a Los Angeles International Auto Show. Designer Ben Davidson denies that any design elements were taken from the CR-X and Honda also claims there are no production plans for the REMIX; it was simply a design exercise.
Awards
The CR-X was Motor TrendMotor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
's Import Car of the Millenium for 1990. It also made Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine's Ten Best list
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
for 1985. The redesigned CR-X was on Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine's Ten Best list
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
for 1988. The CR-X Si was Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
's Import Car of the Year
Car of the Year
Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best American automobile...
for 1988. The 1988 CR-X Si was named one of Road & Track's 10 Best Cars of All Time.
Safety
In Australia, the 1988-1991 CR-X was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "significantly worse than average" protection for its occupants in the event of side impact. On the other hand, both versions of the CR-X got good safety marks (5 and 4 stars) in the NHTSA Crash Test Results For 1997 US NCAPThe U.S. version of the second generation CR-X employed the use of side impact door beams on some models. These models can be identified by the mounting position of the safety belts. If the belt is mounted in the door, the beams are present. If the belt is mounted in the body, there is no additional reinforcement.
USA
The National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
(NHTSA) in the USA has determined frontal crash test ratings of Honda CRX of different model years.
| Model year | Make | Model | Type | Curb weight Curb weight Curb weight or kerb weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables , a full tank of fuel, while not loaded with either passengers or cargo.This definition may differ from definitions used by governmental regulatory agencies or other... (lb) |
Frontal driver rating | Frontal passenger rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Honda | Civic | CRX | 1,882 |  |
 |
| 1989 | Honda | Civic | CRX | 2,310 | |
|
USDM Curb Weights
| DX | HF | Si | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual | Manual | Manual | |
| 1984 | 1819 lb (825 kg) | 1713 lb (777 kg) | - |
| 1985 | 1819 lb (825 kg) | 1713 lb (777 kg) | 1883 lb (854 kg) |
| 1986 | 1819 lb (825 kg) | 1713 lb (777 kg) | 1953 lb (886 kg) |
| 1987 | 1865 lb (846 kg) | 1713 lb (777 kg) | 1978 lb (897 kg) |
| 1988 | 1922 lb (872 kg) | 1819 lb (825 kg) | 2017 lb (915 kg) |
| 1989 | 2048 lb (929 kg) | 1834 lb (832 kg) | 2075 lb (941 kg) |
| '90-'91 | 2103 lb (954 kg) | 1967 lb (892 kg) | 2174 lb (986 kg) |
Motorsport
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
, autocross
Autocross
Autocross is a form of motorsports that emphasizes safe competition and active participation. An autocross is a timed competition where drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course on either sealed or unsealed surfaces...
, and road racing
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
events.
External links
- 1988 Honda CR-X Brochure,(1987), p. 21-22.
- 2nd Gen Honda CR-X Brochures (US,UK,Holland)
- 2nd Gen Honda CR-X Specifications (European and JDM)
- Honda Press Library - CRX series - official library of original press information and "fact books" on all of the CRX series (in Japanese, though contains many images including concept artwork)
- http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Honda/classic/CRX.html - Article on the CR-X