The CR-Z and Gran Turismo 5 join forces

The CR-Z and 3-D Gran Turismo 5 have a lot in common. First and foremost, the new CR-Z is one of the vehicles players can drive in GT5. They both deliver a pure driving experience. And they were both introduced to the gaming community at E3 in Los Angeles. If geography or your day job prevented you from attending the massive expo, then take a look at the following video. For the record, the production model of the CR-Z debuts August 24—more than two months before the digital model.

Going where no other hybrid has gone before.

A hybrid and the curvy mountain roads of Mulholland for a first encounter and chance to drive the new 2012 Honda CR-Z seemed unnatural. You see, hybrids have been known to be strictly ultra-efficient econo-boxes. Don't get me wrong—current on-the-market hybrids are great cars that have fabulous functionality, but most will not put a smile on your face when looking for a fun, sportive drive down the road, especially a stretch of pavement that twists and turns around the Santa Monica Mountains of California.

Auto journalist James Bell drives the CR-Z sport hybrid and describes the experience.

I have been following the Honda CR-Z since it was introduced as a futuristic concept highlight during the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show, and I must admit to thoroughly enjoying the ride. After all, I was a big fan of the original Honda pocket rocket, the CR-X, and spent many happy miles in the passenger seat of my friend's 1991 red-on-black coupe...which was the simply amazing and prophetic "HF" model, by the way.

The genesis of the CR-Z.

Often, the final product has no similarity to the original sketch. In the case of the CR-Z, the final product is, perhaps more than any other car in recent years, the incarnation of the designer's dream.