Honda has been at the forefront of hybrid powertrain development for years. It plans to continue driving innovation when it unveils the Small Hybrid Sports Concept at the
Geneva Motor Show, alongside a working prototype of its FCX fuel cell concept first seen at the
Tokyo show in 2005.
Honda has not provided many details regarding the Small Hybrid Sports Concept (HSC) concept. Suffice to say that the
Toyota FT-HS, which won widespread acclaim when it was unveiled in
Detroit, has competition. Rival automaker Honda won't sit idly by and let Toyota reap the benefits of environmentally-conscious consumers seeking a bit of fun in the driver's seat.
The HSC is not an entirely new direction for Honda however; the company unveiled another HSC at the
Tokyo motorshow of 2003. The name stood for “Honda Sports Concept” and was powered by a mid-mounted 3.5-litre V6 engine good for 300bhp. Increased awareness concerning global warming and resource depletion has made Honda fit an alternative propulsion system to the new HSC.
As the name suggests, the Hybrid Sports Concept will achieve momentum through a hybrid powertrain. The concept was designed by the company's European centre based in Offenbach, Germany. Honda claims that it was developed to “explore the idea that a car can have a low environmental impact yet still deliver all the driving enjoyment expected of a compact sports car”. We'll be at the show to see if it lives up to expectations.
The Honda FCX, showcasing the company's advanced fuel cell technology, will also be unveiled for the first time at a European motor show. The working prototype features a newly developed compact and efficient Honda fuel cell stack which will power the sleek, low-slung saloon to a claimed (and limited) top speed of 100mph, with a range slightly over 356 miles. The large cabin and futuristic styling complement the concept's powerplant and promise to offer practical utility in non-polluting form. Limited marketing of a new fuel cell vehicle based on the FCX concept is set to begin in Japan and the US in 2008.
Eric Gallina - 9 Feb 2007