If there is an iconic car in the history of Honda, it is the Honda Civic. It is one of the best-selling cars in history and even has a high-performance version, the Civic Type R. However, before this, there was already a sports variant, although it was conceived as a separate model: the Honda CRX mk1. This is his story.
Talking about the CRX implies talking about the Civic. This was born in 1972, being a simple and low-consumption car, characteristics that made it a true mass success: just with the Oil Crisis hitting globally, a vehicle of these characteristics, which barely spent, made its demand it was huge.
Of course, taking this approach, it did not seem that there was much sense to create a sports version. Even so, Honda tried it with its RS version, which had good wickers, but the ‘H’ brand did not bet heavily on it, so it ended up being forgotten.
It was not until a few years later when the idea was taken up again, although instead of as a sporty variant, it was decided to develop a new independent model that, yes, shared a large part of the technical section of the Civic. This is how the Honda CRX was born.
The first generation Honda CRX
The first CRX is contemporary and was developed alongside the third generation Civic. It saw the light in 1983 and was conceived as a compact and light two-seater coupe that, at least initially, was intended to be marketed only in Japan, something that ultimately did not happen.
Comparing both models on a visual level, it is easy to establish a relationship, since both had similar features, with a predominance of straight lines, although logically the line of the Honda CRX was markedly sportier.
It sported a two-tone bodywork that separated the lower and upper halves, it mounted rectangular light groups, the almost solid rims with four circles on the inside are very characteristic, it had a large lateral glazed surface and the stylized fall of the roof could or could not be topped by a small spoiler.
It was a model with very compact dimensions: 3,675 mm in length, 1,625 mm in width, 1,290 mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,200 mm. It was only available with a three-door body and one of its strengths was its weight content, which varied depending on the version, but was very little above 800 kilos.
Thanks to this, it had a relatively agile behavior even despite the fact that the engines it mounted were all small-displacement and low-power, identical to those of the Civic.
Depending on the market, the figures varied, but it moved between 80 and 100 CV, figures that the following generations would raise. Its original engine was a 1.3 carburetted petrol block, but later it was also available with a 1.5 direct injection.
Its performance as a light sports car was very outstanding, but other characteristics for which it won integers is because, following the concept of the Civic, it also offered really restrained fuel consumption.
The first generation of the Honda CRX was on sale for a very short time, only until 1987. In that year its replacement would be launched, which did not have an excessively long journey either, ceasing its production in 1991. Then the third and last generation, the Honda CRX, arrived. del Sol, which would be marketed until 1997.
Although it is not a fourth generation as such, the 2010 Honda CR-Z is considered its spiritual successor, something logical given its coupe approach, its three-door body and the format of its rear. Its most relevant change compared to its predecessors is that it is a hybrid car.