A sporty hybrid? Yes, pretty sure we've heard that one before. There have been several attempts and several failures. Does the 2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid have a better chance of success? Let's take a look.

As you can see, the design of the Honda CR-Z coupe is eerily reminiscent of the 1980s vintage CRX coupe. Honda calls the new look a "one-motion" wedge and we can't argue with its assessment. Nearly every line on the car slants down to the pavement except the roof, which tilts in the opposite direction to give the CR-Z some balance. It's an interesting update on the CRX: not pretty, but not overtly odd like Honda's Insight hatchback.

Like the Insight, the CR-Z Sport Hybrid uses Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system, which combines the power of a gas engine and an electric motor. The CR-Z uses the same 10kW electric motor as the Insight, but the displacement of the CR-Z's four-cylinder gas engine is up from 1.3 to 1.5 liters. Between its engine and motor, the CR-Z develops 122 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque.

Not exactly tire-smoking numbers and you can't expect seriously fast acceleration with roughly 2,670 pounds to pull around. Notably, the standard transmission is a six-speed manual that Honda says is optimized for performance in gears 1-5 and fuel economy in 6th. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is optional.

The Honda CR-Z will feature three different drive modes (Normal, Sport and Economy). Sport mode changes throttle responsiveness, power steering effort and the programming of the electric motor assist. Honda has released no figures that estimate the CR-Z's performance, but it did mention that manual-equipped models will get roughly 31 mpg city/37 mpg highway. CVT-equipped models will do even better, with estimates of 36 mpg city/38 mpg highway.

If the CR-Z's engine credentials don't convince you that it's a sport coupe, you're not going to like the chassis setup either. It has MacPherson struts up front, but the rear suspension consists of an H-shaped torsion beam. The standard wheels measure 16-by-6 inches and wear 195/55R16 rubber. We're glad that 17-inch wheels with 205/45R17 tires will be optional.

Two trim levels will be offered: base and CR-Z EX. The base models are actually equipped quite nicely with features like electronic stability control, a six-speaker audio system, automatic climate control and keyless entry. EX models add HID headlights, a premium seven-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity and an optional navigation system.

Sales of the 2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid are scheduled to begin in August.