Honda FC Sport Concept: Hydrogen Performance CarMotoring Channel Staff - 20/November/2008
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Honda FC Sport Concept
As Honda pushes ahead with its hybrid range,
it is also working on hydrogen fuel cell designs
It looks like NOS, but is in fact super
cooled liquid hydrogen in those tanks
Part Tron, part Darth Vader, the Honda
FC Sport Concept boasts a sinister style
Though there is no need for exhaust pipes
on hydrogen cars, the tail end pays homage
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Los Angeles, America —
Honda took the wraps off a new hydrogen-powered zero emission vehicle, the Honda FC Sport concept, at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show. The
3-seater sports car concept shows off a futuristic design penned by
Jason Wilbur of Honda's Advanced Design Studio in California. It was developed "with the primary
objective of using existing fuel cell technology as the basis for an
ultimate Honda sports car" says the company. With Honda's Insight and CR-Z hybrid models heading for the show room
floor in the next couple of years, and Honda's commitment to sell a
quarter of a million hybrids in 2009, it's no surprise to see another low emission vehicle design. It
also lends weight to rumours that the upcoming NSX will have a low
emission cylinder deactivation mode, as Honda moves towards creating
the world's zero emission sports car. "The Honda FC Sport explores how to satisfy automotive performance
enthusiasts in a world beyond petroleum," said Dan Bonawitz, vice
president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "People who love sports
cars will still have a reason to love in a hydrogen-powered future," stated Bonawitz. With
three seats set up like the legendary McLaren F1 (the driver sitting in
the centre of the car and two passengers sitting behind with a clear
view), the Honda FC Sport sounds like a lot of fun. As Honda explains, the interior layout focuses primarily on the driver with a racecar-like
center driving position and the enclosed canopy opens upward from the rear
to allow for entry and exit in true futuristic style. Though
Honda didn't release details on whether the car is rear-wheel drive or
four-wheel drive, it has developed the car to have a low centre of
gravity and a light weight, both of which will improve its performance in most respects. Honda's V Flow fuel cell technology, which is already in use in the Honda FCX Clarity sedan, is used in the FC Sport concept to proved strong performance and zero-emissions. The hydrogen fuel cell system generates electricity which runs an electric motor that in turn drives the wheels. While the method of propulsion will be one of the key marketing points of the new concept car, the design is important too. Honda says the "sleek, low-profile body is designed to convey a high-technology
appearance with sculpting that combines angular shapes in the front of
the vehicle that taper into geometric, hex forms in the rear". It's
these 'hex forms' that house the cooling radiators for the fuel
cell and Honda has used the hydrogen storage tanks as part of the
design, making sure they're visible from the rear deck. The
Japanese car maker also used economical construction techniques
that contribute to a
reduced carbon footprint, including organic bio-structure body
construction where exterior panels are made from plant-derived
bio-plastics. Related Links:
- Honda Life Mugen (2008)
- Honda Jazz (Road Test)
- Honda City (2009)
- Honda
Civic Hybrid
(Road Test)
- Honda Insight Concept (2008)
- Honda
Civic Type R (Road Test)
- Honda
CR-V (Road Test)
- Honda Accord Euro (2008)
- Honda Accord V6 (Road Test)
- Honda OSM Concept (2008)
- Honda
Accord Euro (Road Test)
- Mugen Honda Civic Type-RR (2008)
- Honda
Civic Type R - sedan (2007)
- Honda
Legend
(Road Test)
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