Honda doesn't say too much about The Great Race 2025 Concept its designers have envisioned for the 2008 LA Design Challenge, but then it doesn't need to. Just look at it.

Based on the 1908 Great Race - also known as the 'toughest race ever devised' - which lasted six months and covered 22,000 miles over three continents, Honda's redux for 2025 goes a couple of steps further.

First of all, the future race lasts only 24 hours, and secondly, the single vehicle must compete by land, air and sea; American land, European air and Asian sea, to be specific. Impressively, the 2025 concept can do all of those things.

The Great Race 2025 vehicle is so special because it looks like a computer rendering ripped straight from the pages of a hyperactive genius's primary school notebook. It's futuristic, complicated, sinewy, and more testosterone-fuelled than a Mr. Olympia posedown.

It has 'echolocation sensors' to detect environmental changes and automatically change it to any configuration, or in other words, it will instantly adapt as a land, air or sea vehicle depending on where it is.

That said, here's a quote from Honda:

'With expertise in automotive, marine, robotics, and jet technologies already in place, Honda possesses a distinct, competitive advantage over its rivals, allowing it to lead in the evolution of motorsports in the 21st Century."

So, Honda seems to think it can build this thing. Let's not get carried away, eh.

Grid Position: 1/9

Early Retirement or Podium Finish: Winner. No dirty tricks or strategy - the awesome Honda wins by virtue of its sheer awesomeness.

Mark Nichol - 22 Oct 2008