Following on the heals of winning the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization’s Good Design Award for the third year in a row, the Honda CR-Z just won the 2010 Japan Car of the Year Award.

This prestigious award has been given to the top cars in Japan for the past 31 years. The Japan Car of the Year is selected by a panel of 60 jurors, primarily journalists. They each pick a car and the car with the most votes wins.

The 2009 Japan Car of the Year was the Toyota Prius hybrid which barely managed to edge out the Honda Insight, so this must be a sweet victory for the people at Honda.

The Honda CR-Z was lauded for its combination of quality of driving experience and its excellent mileage. The original body design along with the large amount of high-tech gadgetry it packs. Basically, what we are saying, is that The Honda CR-Z is Big in Japan.

A pamphlet containing pictures of and specs for the 2011 Honda CR-Z was recently leaked to the media.

On the eco auto side of things, the 2011 Hybrid CR-Z boasts LED daytime running lights and turn signals in the mirrors, as well as three driving modes, Eco, Normal and Sport. The mode can easily be changed from the dashboard.

The Honda pamphlet gives the details on the new hybrid hatch CR-Z including a four-cylinder, 112 horsepower 1.5 liter engine which is assisted by a 14hp electric motor. The engine is capable of generating 107 lb-ft of torque with an integrated Motor Assist system adding another 57 lb-ft at a mere 1000rpm.

Not exactly a bolt of lightning, the 2011 Hybrid CR-Z goes from 0 – 60 mph in 9.7 seconds.