Subaru Impreza Berlinetta – The Rear Engined Concept Car

Subaru fans would soon have their prayer for a sports coupe from the Japanese maker answered. Subaru plans to launch their own version of the Toyota FT-86 soon. But until this happens there is the other Subaru coupe from the Italian design firm Beestudio albeit in a conceptual study form.

Subaru Impreza Berlinetta the name given to this concept is aimed to be a high performance two-seater sports car. It uses the platform of the Impreza STI but has been turned around such that the turbocharged engine would now be fitted at the rear-end of the Berlinetta.

The body panels would be made of fiberglass, aluminium or carbon fiber which would help in reducing overall weight of the car. The chassis would be from steel tubes which would also contribute towards lessening body weight of the car.

The CR-Z: Honda's fun little hybrid

Honda may have come up with the first fun hybrid car. The Insight, Prius, Camry, and Fusion are all very practical hybrids, and Lexus makes a few comfortable cruisers. But the 2011 Honda CR-Z made us want to drive fast. We wanted to find the most winding road around and torture the car through the corners.

Honda obliged during our preview drive, prescribing a twisty route north of San Francisco we've previously used to test the BMW M3, Porsche 911, and Audi R8. Those cars had it all over the CR-Z for power and speed, but the plucky little CR-Z showed its stuff in the turns. Honda also set out an autocross course so we could really thrash the CR-Z, a test that we haven't previously seen a hybrid put through.

The CR-Z certainly has its quirks. In other markets it is produced with 2+2 seating, but Honda removed the rear seats for the U.S., launching it as a two-seater. We assume Honda thinks Americans are too fat to use the tiny rear seats. We're not going to argue the point.

The CR-Z's hatchback design means it offers decent cargo space in back; removing the rear seats adds an oddly formed cargo area immediately behind the front seats, the two spaces divided by the former rear seat back rest.

Mixed Reviews on Honda CR-Z as Hybrid and Sports Car

Honda this week gave automotive journalists their first chance behind the wheel of the 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid. Honda’s goal with the all-new two-seater is to combine the fuel parsimony of a hybrid with the sportiness of the company’s classic CRX coupe—and to offer it as the most affordable hybrid on the market.

The fuel economy rating of the standard six-speed manual is 31/37 mpg, with the optional automatic (CVT) rated at 35/39 mpg.

"The CR-Z is as much about the driving experience as it is about our commitment to fuel efficiency and affordable hybrid technology," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales at American Honda Motor Co. "We lit the fuse on hybrids," Mendel said.

Did they succeed? On affordability, the answer is yes. The MSRP of the CR-Z, which goes on sale on Aug. 24, is not official, but is expected at less than $20,000. That does make it the lowest priced hybrid on the market—and the only one available with a manual transmission.