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Fast & light - the Honda CR-X Story

Big Car

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When Europe produced hot hatches in the 80s it was cars like the Renault 5 Turbo and the Ford Fiesta XR2 – great cars that took the regular hatchback and added more power and better brakes. Over in Japan Honda took a different tack. They crafted a new, very low drag shape for the existing Civic. They also removed a lot of weight. Together with a range of powerful yet efficient range of engines they created a car with great handling, acceleration, and fuel economy that had more in common with the MG Midget than the MG Metro. Some car journalists heralded it as the future of compact sports cars. So, was the Honda CR-X God’s gift to small hatchbacks or did it have its flaws, and what the heck happened with the third generation car?

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Sources:
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-rev...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CR-X
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_C...)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_C...)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CR-Z
https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterlyo...
https://global.honda/jp/news/1983/483...
MotorWeek | Retro Review: '84 Honda CRX
MotorWeek | Retro Review: '86 Honda CRX Si
https://www.zagato-cars.com/contents/...
https://global.honda/jp/news/1987/487...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTEC
1993 Honda Civic Del Sol | Retro Review
Honda CR-X brochures
https://global.honda/jp/news/1992/492...

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20 Comments

@tetchuma 2 years ago

The 87-91 CRX still looks amazing

@jwc3104 2 years ago

Early 90's Honda.... CRX, Civic, Prelude, Integra... gorgeous cars, even for today.

@primeroo2nd 2 years ago (edited)

760kilo car. When cars were…. Just cars. Magical.

@philipjamesparsons 2 years ago

Light weight solves many problems in terms of economy and performance. Too bad we have gone the other way.

@elicaul6506 2 years ago

I didn't own a CRX, but I had access to an '89 Si as a 'demo' when working at a Honda dealership as a salesman. It had incredible power and handling, and felt like a much more expensive car than it was. The little glass panel in the back did help with rear visibility, but not by a whole bunch. That car had near-perfect handling, but it was subject to lift-off oversteer, something that really caught me by surprise the first time it happened (!) Thanks for another informative and enjoyable video!

@MrEliasdl 1 year ago

Those fuel economy numbers need to be highlighted everytime someone tries to brag about a hybrid's fuel economy.

@asterixky 1 year ago

To this day, I still miss my 85 CRX

@jbu999 2 years ago

Love the Burgess Meredith voice-overs on the US commercials

@dimekoza 2 years ago

VTEC meaning - Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control

@dolfandon7124 2 years ago

I owned a 91 CRX Si while stationed in Germany. Enjoyed it immensely more than the 10 year old BMW 528 it replaced. It was quicker, faster, more economical, reliable, practical and yes... comfortable than the old Beemer. I think the rear window was kind of a nod to the Fulvia. The bar was barely noticeable to me and made parking in downtown Frankfurt or Wiesbaden a breeze. The perfect car at the perfect time for me. Meinen Roter Blitzwagen

@KingOdieandOldmanMilo 2 years ago

The amazing thing with Honda, is that they were able to develop VTEC and also have it be reliable.

@2006gtobob 2 years ago

I owned 2 CRX's. Both were 1991 models. One was the Hf and the other was the Si. Both were FANTASTIC and hold 2 places in the top 3 favorite cars I've owned.

@asthalis 2 years ago

Too bad they don't make this kind of cars anymore ! I loved the 2nd generation, to me it was a very good looking car with a extraordinary engine (VTEC).

@legomansion808 1 year ago

I had a 1991 CRX SI in the mid 90s. I loved that car. I remember when I bought it the prevailing rumor was that the car would crush your legs if you got into a collision. Sadly an armored car slammed into me and totalled the vehicle. I was devastated. But I still have my legs! Rumor disproven.

@Soknik01 2 years ago

Owned an 89 crx. Smiled every time I drove it. Such a wonderful machine.

@Aaajjjjjjjjj 2 years ago

They really were on a roll in the late 80s and 90s.

@izzatfauzimustafa6535 2 years ago

Absolutely got the musical reference to the CR-X's Japanese TV advertisement in the beginning of the video. 😊

@michaelmorley7719 2 years ago

I had an '85 with the 1.5L engine. An absolute delight on a twisty back road.

@scottb926 2 years ago

It’s like a greenhouse. Very easy to see out the rear. Parking is easy as.

@jkim6200 1 year ago

I remember one of my father's friends fixed up a CRX to give his son as a gift. The son sold the car to purchase a camera for hos work. I remember crying that day. The son was like an older brother to me, but I had seen how much work my father's friend put into it.