Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept: It's All In The Name

Motoring Channel Staff - 9/Feb/2007

London, England — Honda will display its continued commitment to hybrid car technology with the unveiling of a hybrid sports car at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The Small Hybrid Sports Concept is a sports car that features advanced hybrid technology – proving stylish design and driving enjoyment can be combined with low environmental impact. 

It was designed by Honda R&D Europe, based in Offenbach, Germany, and is styled with European markets in mind.

Honda will be showing off a number of other things at the Geneva Motor Show, including a fully driveable hydrogen fuel cell car, the FCX, and a new high tech, and super clean diesel engine that could set the European market alight.

Driveable FCX Concept

A fully-functional Honda FCX Concept will be on display for the first time in Europe. The concept model features a newly-developed compact, high-efficiency Honda FC Stack as well as a long-floor, low-riding, short-nose body. It offers a large, comfortable cabin according to Honda, and futuristic styling along with significant improvements in power output and environmental performance.

The FCX Concept has a range of 570km (354 miles) and a top speed limited to 160km/h (100mph). Limited marketing of a new fuel cell vehicle based on the FCX Concept model is to begin in Japan and the US in 2008 and sales will begin when the infrastructure improves.

Next-Generation Clean Diesel Engine

Honda’s next-generation diesel engine uses world-first technology to reduce emissions to the same level of a petrol engine. A revolutionary catalytic converter reduces NOx emissions to a level that enables the engine to meet stringent US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier II/Bin 5 requirements.

The catalytic converter features an innovative system that uses the reductive reaction of ammonia to ‘detoxify’ oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by converting them into harmless nitrogen (N2). 

However, unlike Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems which use urea injection, Honda’s innovative technology uses ammonia generated within the catalytic converter. Honda plans to introduce its next-generation diesel engine within three years in a number of different models, starting with the Accord.

Honda Motorsport

On public display for the first time will be the Honda Racing F1 Team’s brand new race car, and Jenson Button’s new ride for the 2007 season, the RA107. Also at the show is the Civic Type R race car, a motorsport-prepared car being developed in close cooperation with Italy’s JAS Motorsport, aiming for success on Europe's race and rally stages.

The car is being developed to Group N and Group A spec, as well as the new Group R specifications to be introduced in 2008.

Other models expected to be displayed in Geneva in early March will also feature examples of the brand-new CR-V and Civic Type R models, as well as the rest of the Honda range.

Related articles:
- Honda CR-V (2007)
- Honda Civic Hybrid (Road Test)
- Honda Accord Euro (Road Test)
- Honda Accord Coupe Concept (2008)
- Honda REMIX (concept)