Honda CR-Z 1st generation (ZF1/2)

After developing minivans and other cars, Tomobe became head of development for the CR-Z. Taking it as a dream come true to be entrusted with a sports car at Honda, he threw himself into the work, got past many difficult problems and brought the car to launch. The customers targeted during development were young people and people in their 40s and 50s. In July, Tomobe joined former development team members at an owners' gathering attended by about 130 cars from all over Japan; surprised that there were many young participants even though more than seven years had passed since sales ended, he closed his talk with the message "The CR-Z is forever immortal."

At the press launch in February, Tomobe introduced the CR-Z as "the car we ourselves wanted." In that year's Japan Car of the Year, the CR-Z collected 406 points in the votes of 60 selection committee members, narrowly beating the Volkswagen Polo with 397. At the award ceremony Tomobe drew laughs by joking that he was proud "we won it on the CR-Z's own ability," and looked back on how he had wanted to create new values with a hybrid and to make a car that is exciting to drive.