CAN YOU REALLY DO THAT?

MOTOR MYTHBUSTERS TACKLES AUTOMOTIVE TALES YOU MAY HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF

- AARON GOLD

This is the best Honda CR-Z we’ve ever driven. We’re pretty sure it’s the best CR-Z anyone has ever driven. Goose the gas and the unmuffled exhaust’s ear-splitting buzz is pierced by the jet-engine scream of the giant turbocharger that practically bursts out of the comically bulged hood. The instrument panel is awash in yellow warning lights, the car’s ECU dimly aware something is amiss with the hybrid system. It doesn’t know exactly what’s wrong, but we do: It’s been fooled into force-feeding extra juice to the CR-Z’s electric motor.

Downshift to second and drop the hammer—yeah, it’s a stick— and the “Hot Rod Hybrid” responds with a rush of air, fuel, electricity, noise, and acceleration, hunkering down on its lowered suspension and tearing through the corner. The CR-Z evokes village-idiot-sized grins—it’s fantastic! And better yet, it was created in the serious scientific pursuit of better fuel economy.

Who could have created such a marvelous monstrosity? To die-hard fans, the car’s duct-tape wrap is an instant giveaway: This Honda has MythBusters written all over it.

Cars and car-related myths were an integral part of the original MythBusters series, and the new Motor MythBusters show (it premieres August 4 on the MotorTrend app) focuses exclusively on automotive-related myths.