Video of Honda's CR-Z Hybrid Sports Concept that gets 1.5-Liter Engine and 6-Speed Manual Gearbox

One of the most important debuts at this week's Tokyo Motor Show is the near-production CR-Z Concept 2009. It harks back to the original CR-X small sports coupe of the mid 1980s and early 1990s but with a twist; the CR-Z features Honda's mild hybrid system comprising of a 1.5-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine (instead of the Insight's 1.3L unit) and an electric motor.

While the Japanese automaker has yet to disclose any performance or fuel economy figures, Honda did reveal today that the CR-Z will be the world's first hybrid vehicle equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

During today's presentation at the Tokyo Show, Honda's President and CEO Takanobu Ito said that the firm plans to launch the production CR-Z first in Japan in February of 2010 and Europe and North America, later in the same year.