Can you imagine a sports car that's fun to drive and good to the environment? Well, with the release of the Honda CR-Z, Honolulu drivers can have all the fun of a manual-transmission sports car with a hybrid engine. That's right, it's the first production model of its kind, and Pflueger Honda is proud to say that we think the Japanese automaker has hit a home run with this one.

We're not just saying that either, in fact, the Honda CR-Z has landed on Wheels Car of the Year finalist list, competing against six other fantastic vehicles for the coveted award. Not only does it deliver a sporty performance while still pleasing the environmentalist in all of us, it boasts a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine coupled with an electric motor, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. And, with an EPA-estimated 37-mpg, you'll get where you need to go without breaking the gas budget.

Wheels judge, Jame Whitbourn, says of the Honda CR-Z, "Combine the grin factor with the efficiency promised by the hybrid system and there's little doubt the Honda coupe takes the car where it should be going - smaller, lighter, more efficient and more fun."¹ Editors say, "A fun-handling hybrid - finally! ...Genuine innovation and character pushes the Honda towards the finish line."²

The magazine has started their rounds of judging, which includes eight judges, four assistants, and a week of 3400 kilometers of critical testing at the Lang Lang Proving Ground in Australia. They have their work cut out for them, as well, with fierce competition like the Evoque, A6 and the Focus. Editor Bill Thomas noted that finalists were chosen from the largest pool of entrants in the award's 49-year history, and, "As always, the cars are not judge against each other but against a tired and proven criteria."³

Car of the Year will be announced on January 18^th, and we're sure the Honda CR-Z will come out on top, so be sure to stay tuned with Pflueger Honda. Want to learn more about Honda's award-winning manual hybrid? Contact us via our website, give us a call at 447-2131, or stop in and see us at 188 S Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813 to chat with any of our team members.

Sources:^1,3http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8389175/honda-hybrid-among-six-wheels-finalists
²http://motoring.ninemsn.com.au/slideshow_ajax.aspx?sectionid=75583§ionname=showroom&subsectionid=7804731&subsectionname=WheelsCaroftheYeartheFinalists