The road towards the creation of Honda Motor Co.’s new CR-Z sporty hybrid is not a smooth one. Engineers didn’t think that it was unique and US executives didn’t like it. There were serious doubts that the CR-Z — a wedge-shaped, two-seat hatchback — would ever make it through.
In 2004, when Norio Tomobe was appointed chief engineer of the project, the car was still a blank sheet. Early on, its working model had a traditional gasoline engine. In a recent interview, Tomobe said that he wanted desperately for a new idea, and so it was decided that they’d begin over.
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