Honda has sold 8,000 models of its new CR-Z coupe hybrid model in Japan, after it went on sale just three weeks ago.

According to news agency Reuters, the car maker confirmed today that it has already received around 8,000 orders for the new car-equivalent to eight times its monthly sales target.

The sporty hybrid model, which went on sale in Japan on February 26, is the carmaker’s newest hybrid model and joins the established Insight and Civic hybrid models.

As the world’s first full production hybrid sports coupe, Honda expects to sell around 40,000-50,000 CR-Z models a year worldwide.

The new model became available to order in the UK on March 5 (see story), with the first deliveries due in the summer.

Of the orders received in Japan, 40 per cent of customers have chosen the six-speed manual transmission version- indicated that the new model is proving popular among sports car enthusiasts- the carmaker told Reuters. Additionally, nearly 100 per cent of cars sold in Japan are automatic.

Despite having a growing hybrid range, Honda still trails behind the world’s largest carmaker, Toyota in the retail of hybrid models. However, the new CR-Z model looks set to significantly boost the brand’s sales and close the gap on its rival.

But the new model-set to go on sale in the US and Europe this summer-has yet to prove whether it can repeat its homeland success in key foreign markets.