Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2010 | Page 72

motoring

Island Life - October/November 2010

NANNIES can
be sporty!
WORDS: ROZ WHISTANCE PICTURES: MARTIN POTTER

It’s the last thing you expect from a

(sometimes known as children) only

hybrid. Hybrids are nannies, they’re

– suggestive of hedonism not green

out to save the planet and want

hubris.

everyone to know it. You expect

The really clever thing is the CR-Z

them to look like the box their

has built its green credentials into its

battery came in, the money-box

oh-so-cool presentation. You can opt

you save those little green pennies

to drive it on Economy mode, where

in. They are sensible. Prematurely

at the touch of a button a reassuring

middle-aged.

green leaf appears on the very busy

The Honda CR-Z, the first

72

dash, the steering column is lit in

manually-geared hybrid puts its

green, and – far more to the point

driver back in charge of her fate.

– an in-the-background operation

Its arrow-shaped body, raised back

begins to check your heating and

and glinty headlights says it wants

air-con is moderate, and ensures the

to cut a dash. The interior is sporty:

hybrid system comes into its own

alloy pedals, low-rise seats – the

with fuel efficiency. Perfect for idling

back seats are there for emergencies

in traffic The drive is, of course, safe

Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com