A whole herd of intriguing small cars is on the horizon.

2011 Honda CR-Z

On sale: Late Summer 2010

Early hype for the upcoming 2011 Honda CR-Z pegged it as a replacement for the much-loved and sorely missed Honda CRX, which disappeared in 1992. The reality, however, may turn out differently. Although the CR-Z's two-seater styling clearly echoes the CRX, it is powered by a version of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid drivetrain. Sending 122 horsepower to the front wheels through a six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission, Honda promises that the CR-Z will be the first fun-to-drive hybrid. We'll wait until we drive it ourselves, but the car's nearly 2,700-pound curb weight and rumors of sluggish 0-60 times may put a damper on enthusiasm behind the wheel. On the other hand, its sub-$20,000 price tag sounds pretty tempting.