CR-X (a.k.a. Ballade Sports CR-X or Civic CR-X)

[kos99ngel]

Honda CR-X

• Honda CR-X
• Manufacturer: Honda
• Production: 1983–1992
• Successor: Honda del Sol
• Class: Sports car
• Similar: Honda Civic Hatchback,Honda Del Sol,Honda Insight,Toyota MR2,Toyota Paseo

The Honda CR-X, originally launched as the Honda Ballade Sports CR-X in Japan, was a compact sports car manufactured by Honda. The first generation CR-X was sold in some regions outside Japan as the Honda Civic CR-X. The name "CR-X" is an acronym for "Civic Renaissance model X."

The Honda Civic CR-X was first produced in 1983 for the 1984 model year and was a lightweight sport hatchback. In the American market, the CR-X was marketed as an economy sport hatchback, having room for just two passengers. European markets, however, received a more powerful ZC 130 hp engine and four seats.

Redesigned in 1987 and produced to 1992, the CR-X was very popular for its performance (specifically the US performance model, the Si), nimble handling, and good fuel economy. The original 1.3 liter car and the later American-market CR-X HF model could reliably achieve better than 50 mpg, more than a decade before gas-electric hybrids appeared on the market, and at no price premium over the base model; the 1.3 liter was rated at over 50 mpg for highway.[1]

One of the rarest options for the CR-X was the "Cyber Glass" roof, which stretched from the top of the windshield, and went all the way back to the hatch opening; such equipped models are extremely rare.

The Japanese Si and European 16v models came with a 1.6 L dual overhead camshaft engine putting out 128 bhp. The Si engine was stamped ZC, whilst the 16v stamped D16A9. Honda refreshed the looks of the car in these markets in 1990 when it added the B16A VTEC engine to the lineup. This engine used Variable Valve Timing and Lift to provide increased power in the high rev range, while still allowing low fuel consumption and better idleing at low RPMs. the B16A produced 150 bhp in the European VT model and 160 bhp in the JDM SiR model. The CR-X was the second car to receive a VTEC engine after the Integra.

In 1992, Honda replaced the CR-X with a new, Targa-topped, 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. It is because of this that the Del Sol is generally considered the "3rd Generation CR-X" among enthusiats, although it was arguably a very different car. In the United States, the Del-Sol came in three trim lines: S, Si, and VTEC; The latter featuring a 160hp DOHC engine, Production of the Del Sol ended in 1997, and thus, the CR-X was retired.

There have been many rumours of a CR-X comeback, none of which have come to fruition. However, in August 2005, Autoweek reported that Honda planned a revival of the CR-X that is scheduled to be on the market in 2007; no official announcement has been made by Honda.

Awards
The Civic CR-X was Motor Trends Import Car of the Year for 1984. 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 Trends Import Car of the Year for 1988.

Safety
In Australia, the 1987-1991 CRX was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "significantly worse than average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash

Trivia
• The skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Underground features a drivable modified CR-X in the New Jersey level, owned by a group of street racers known as the "Street Warriors".
• The video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City intorduced a car called the "Blista Compact" which look extremely similar to the CR-X.

http://specs.amayama.com/honda/cr-x/Honda CR-X specs

http://www.clubcrx.org/brochures/1985honda.htm1985 Honda Civic Brochure

http://www.clubcrx.org/brochures/1986crx.htm1986 Honda Civic CRX Brochure

http://www.stefanoparis.com/crx/jeff...es/88brochure/1988 Honda CRX Brochure

http://www.clubcrx.org/brochures/1991crx.htm1991 Honda CRX Brochure

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/5263.shtmlGas Mileage of 1989 Honda Civic CRX HF

http://www.honda.co.uk/car/owner/Honda CRX workshop manual for the Mk 2 (it is officially free)

http://www.cr-x.org/home/JDM CRX Resource A wealth of information on JDM MK2

http://tuner-junction.com/TJForum/forumdisplay.php?f=77Tuner-Junction CRX Forum - Large and knowledgable CRX community.

http://www.crxcommunity.com/The CRX Community Forum - Friendly and helpful community of CRX afficionados.

http://board.hondacrx.co.uk/phpbb2/index.phpCRX-UK owners club Massive UK based forum

http://www.cr-x.org/home/forum/login...et=default.aspJDM CRX Forum Irish based JDM Forum

http://crxresource.org/CRX Resource - Serving the CRX Community (off and on) since 1995.

http://www.atlanticcrx.com/Atlantic Canada CRX - Atlantic Canada's CRX source

http://www.redpepperracing.com/Red Pepper Racing THE mark 1 CR-X forum also includes, manuals, FAQ, galleries

http://www.crxchaos.co.uk/CR-X SiR (EF8) - JDM specific resource for CRX tuning and maintenance.

http://www.honda-tech.com/zeroforum?id=3honda-tech.com's CRX forum

http://www.honda.co.jp/pressroom/lib...t_index12.htmlHonda Press Library - CR-X series - official library of original press information and "fact books" on all of the CR-X series (in Japanese, though contains many images including concept artwork)

http://www.redturtle.co.uk/crx/mark2.htmMark 2 CRX guide - Some extra information, and personal opinions

http://www.cardomain.com/MakeModel/Honda/CRXHonda CRX - Honda CRX car owners

http://www.ronincrew.de/Ronincrew.de - Honda and Asian Imports Racing Team -- check the website for real cool hondas and modification possibilities.

http://www.crxpt.com/CRXPT.com - Portuguese CRX Community

http://www.crxaustralia.com/CRXAUSTRALIA.com - Australian CRX Online Community

[kos99ngel]

2 Honda Civic CR-Xs. Note that original USDM Mk Is had recessed headlights due to American lighting standards, the flush-fitting ones were a revision in 1986.


1991 Honda CR-X Si - Tahitian Green

[B18CPowerEK]

I always wanted a CRX, however always needed more room. I could maybe swing an 07.

Good info, thanks

[EF_Hatch]

[92civicfreak]

Safety
In Australia, the 1987-1991 CRX was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "significantly worse than average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash


hahaha thats pretty funny

[bmxer_yoshi]

Cool.

[sikvic98]

i miss my 89 hf.... lots of info though! i still dont know why they call it the ballade sports, but w/e

[TeamSqueekyRex]

thats all really good stuff to know. thanks for taking the time! someone should make this sticky!

[kos99ngel]

Honda Ballade

The Honda Ballade was a compact automobile built by Honda of Japan. It began as a four-door version on the Civic in 1980 and was rebadged in the UK as the Triumph Acclaim.

Of the original 1980 models, 1.3 L and 1.5 L engines were offered in Japan.

After 1984, the Ballade shared most of its body panels with the Civic, except for a sportier front end, and formed the basis of the CR-X sports car and the original Rover 200.

The Ballade ceased to be offered in Japan after September 1987, replaced by the Honda Concerto.

However, the Ballade name continued to be used for a Civic-based model in South Africa, where it was used instead of Civic on locally produced versions, until 1999 and for imported versions until 2002. South African Ballades were assembled by the local subsidiary of Daimler-Benz, which wanted to market a smaller and cheaper car in addition to its Mercedes-Benz models. The Ballade name was adopted because it was perceived to have more luxury and upmarket connotations than the Civic name. This was important because the Ballade was sold through the Mercedes-Benz dealership channel.