On sale from January 2013, the revised CR-Z is marked out by new front and rear bumpers, the latter featuring a new aerodynamic diffuser, and 17-inch alloy wheels on the range-topping GT. There are also subtle tweaks to the interior, which gains additional storage space in the doors and new fabrics.

The biggest updates are found under the skin, where the CR-Z’s 1.5-litre petrol engine now offers 119bhp instead of 112bhp in the outgoing version. Honda has also upgraded the hybrid system, replacing the nickel-metal battery with a new lithium ion version and boosting power from 14 to 20bhp.

As a result, the CR-Z now has a combined output of 135bhp using a combination of petrol and electric  power, but conomy and CO2 emissions are unchanged, at 56.5mpg and 116g/km respectively. Honda has also introduced a Plus Sport button, activated using a button on the steering wheel, which provides a ten-second power boost in all three of the coupe’s driving modes.