BESTCAR Front Cover: Next Gen Honda Beat Rendering

Let's hope that if they do 'green light' something like this that we see this here in North America.

Source;

http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/07/latest-rendering-of-upcoming-honda-beat.html

Honda Concept: The Honda Zepplin

This is not an Official Honda Concept but made by a design student Myung Jin Jung.
Figure out which direction this thing drives yet? In the image above, the Honda Zeppelin would zip off to the left. At glance, you might be tempted to say that designer Myung Jin Jung's creation's most interesting quality is its asymmetrical design, but the real weird stuff is actually going on inside. The front seats of the Zeppelin swivel 180° (when the vehicle isn't in motion, or that's the plan), so that the occupants can interact with one another as if they were in a living room instead.

Supposedly the glamor of air travel inspired both the curvy, crazy exterior and the more personal interior — thus the Zeppelin. I don't want to sound like a downer, but when I think of flying on a plane lately, I don't think of having space to stretch my legs or wanting to talk to the folks around me. Still, pretty car.

What sets the Zeppelin apart?
The Zeppelin includes a slit-like windscreen, attached to a video display inside the car, which offers an extensive view and better driving perception to the driver. Moreover, the car comes with swiveling front seats, capable of rotating on an acute 180-degree angle to face the back seats, taking the Zeppelin into the “Entertainment Mode.” This makes the interior the car more adaptable while being luxurious.

Myung, who is a student designer from Hongik University, created the Zeppelin concept as a part of his final year thesis of the car design course.

Source(s);
http://dvice.com/archives/2009/04/crazy_looking_h.php?p=2&cat=undefined#more

http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/honda-zeppelin-is-luxuriously-adaptable/

Acura/Honda ZDX?

Burlapp's found another good pic, this time of what looks like the ACURA ZDX with a Honda badge. Some people are going to think that this is going to be the new Accord Wagon, but I'm going to say that the lines are pretty much identical to the photo's below of the upcoming Acura Concept (ZDX). For those that don't know, Acura is pretty much North American only, and if the car comes out in Japan or UK, it will be badged a Honda, so the 'H' does make sense.

Source;
http://www.burlappcars.com/2009/03/new-honda-non-carnon-suv-thingy.html

The above photo is from Acura which is a 'teaser' of what the concept is going to look like.
Above is a photo taken in good ol' Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was seen presumably being tested for cold weather climate effectiveness.

L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge Entries - Japanese & American Automakers

Honda’s The Great Race 2025

Honda designers forsee a reincarnation of the Great Race of 1908, in which 17 brave men dared to traverse the world. The race spanned twenty-two thousand miles and three continents, lasting six months. Honda's proposal for The Great Race 2025, 117 years after it was first devised, would take competitors across the US by land, Asia by sea and Europe by air.

In making such a race remotely feasible, Honda are keen to promote their brand's experience in all the necessary fields, from automotive and marine technologies to robotics and jet expertise. By possessing technologies that detect changes in speed, terrain and altitude, Honda's vehicle is able to adapt to any configuration.

Land!

Sea!

Air!

For the rest of the article with the other makes entries, click on the link below.
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9081020.009/la-auto-show-design-challenge-entries---japanese--american-automakers

Honda City Concept Debuts at Australian Motor Show

This is not a car slotted to reach North American soil anytime soon, if ever.

Already launched in Thailand last month, the all-new third-generation Honda City will hit Australian streets from February 2009. However, for the Australian International Motor Show, Honda is presenting a futuristic City model in concept form.

Foreshadowing the styling possibilities of the new light car, the City Concept features a redesigned front end with custom LED headlamps, fog lamps and tail lights, redesigned mirrors, 17-inch wheels and lowered ride height.

The City will be offered in two spec levels, ranging from $17,990 to $21,990. Power will be delivered via the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder found in the Jazz - to which the City is the sedan counterpart - making 88kW and offering a fuel economy better than 6.4L/100km.

Source;

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/9644/2009-honda-city-2008-sydney-motor-show/

Honda Insight hybrid goes on sale globally in spring 2009

Neil Winton / Special to The Detroit News

PARIS -- Honda's new Insight petrol electric hybrid will go on sale around the world in the spring of 2009, after the mass production-ready version of the car is unveiled at the Detroit car show in January, the Japanese company said.

The original Insight was introduced in 1999. It only had two seats, whereas the new one has room for five.

"For the long term, we believe fuel cell electric vehicle technology is the ultimate environmental solution. But to reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide emissions in the near term, Honda believes the best approach is to advance hybrid technology to mainstream customers," Takeo Fukui, President and CEO of Honda told a press conference at the Paris Car Show.

"We are developing this vehicle to achieve excellent fuel efficiency on a par with the Civic Hybrid, but at a significantly reduced price. The new Insight is equipped with a hybrid system that combines a lightweight and compact 1.3 litre (gasoline) engine with a motor that will achieve excellent fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions," Fukui said, without revealing any data.

The current Civic Hybrid uses a so-called "mild" hybrid system, which enhances the performance of the gasoline engine. "Strong" hybrids, like that in the Toyota Prius enhance efficiency, but also allow a limited amount of separate, battery-only powered driving.

Fukui didn't say which system would be used in the new Insight.

He said the Insight should sell up to 200,000 versions a year. Hybrid versions of the CR-Z SUV and little Jazz (known as the Fit in the U.S.) will bring hybrid sales up to 500,000 a year, but he didn't say when.

Fukui added that the newly redesigned Jazz/Fit, going on sale across Europe from next month, will be built in Britain, in addition to current capacity in China and Japan.

Source;
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/AUTO04/810020430/1001

More Pic's of the Honda Insight Concept at the 2009 Paris Auto Show

For more pic's follow the link below;
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/02/paris-2008-honda-insight-live-reveal/

Honda Introduces All-New Insight Dedicated Hybrid Concept Vehicle at Paris Motor Show

PARIS, France, October 2, 2008—Honda Motor Co., Ltd. presented the concept model of its all-new Insight dedicated hybrid vehicle scheduled to be introduced in 2009, at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (October 2–19; Press Days: October 2–3).

Based on a theme of achieving dynamic performance through excellent aerodynamics, the exterior design of the Insight concept model combines excellent environmental performance and a fun to drive spirit. The compact Insight Concept measures 4,375 mm (172.2 in.) in length, 1,695 mm (66.7 in.) in width, and 1,425 mm (56.1 in.) in height, with specially designed, ultra-light aluminum wheels and 205/40 R18 tires. With a cockpit that enables the driver to experience the joy of driving, the interior of the Insight Concept provides an advanced and futuristic feeling that is possible only through a hybrid vehicle.

The all-new Insight, which will be developed based on this Insight Concept, will be a five-door, five-passenger hatchback equipped with Honda’s lightweight and compact hybrid system, with a 1.3-liter gasoline engine serving as the main power source, assisted by an electric motor. While achieving fuel economy on par with the Civic Hybrid, the new Insight will also achieve excellent utility and light and comfortable driving through the adoption of a new platform developed specifically for this vehicle. Honda will begin sales of the all-new Insight in Japan, Europe and North America in spring 2009, and projects annual global sales of 200,000 units.

In his speech at the Paris Motor Show, Honda Motor president & CEO Takeo Fukui said, “This new Insight will give more people the chance to get behind the wheel of a high quality hybrid vehicle only Honda can develop.”

The name Insight was chosen to denote that this new vehicle provides "insight" into a new era in which hybrid vehicles come within reach of most car buyers.

Source;
http://world.honda.com/news/2008/4081002All-New-Insight/

Good Info on the Hydrogen FCX at H2O Daily

Honda brings the best hope for the future by introducing the World's First Hydrogen powered Fuel Cell car, the FCX Clarity. Honda says that it plans to produce a total of about 200 Clarity models during the next three years. It projects that it will cost close to $1 million to manufacture each car.

Built on the all-new Honda V-Flow fuel cell platform and powered by a highly compact, powerful, and efficient new Honda V Flow fuel cell stack, the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the hydrogen fuel cell car.

This hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle is propelled by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in the fuel cell. The vehicle's only emission is water, and its fuel efficiency is three times that of a modern gasoline-powered vehicle. The electric motor generates 127 horsepower and it can produce more electricity than needed to power all the gadgetry found in the vehicle.

This new hydrogen car has significant improvements over Honda's previous generation FCX. The powertrain on this next-generation FCX Clarity are listed here:

• Is over 397 pounds lighter
• Has 120% better power-to-weight ratio
• Is 20% more fuel efficient
• Has a powertrain that is 45% more compact and 10% more energy-efficient

This new model has a lower floor and sleeker overall design, integrating the more compact stack with a smaller powertrain. Its thin A-pillars allow better visibility. A flat-bottom underbody reduces aerodynamic drag and increases efficiency.

The FCX Clarity offers the amenities of a luxury sedan including limousine-like cabin volume, a new lighter lithium ion battery pack, electric steering, a climate control system within the seats to minimize energy use, Honda bio-fabric upholstery, rear camera, floating/layered instrument panel, XM satellite radio, thermo-electrically heated and cooled seats, electronic stability control, adaptive cruise control and a navigation system.

Source;
http://www.h2daily.com/index.php/20080921714/Latest/Hydrogen-powered-Fuel-Cell-Car-Introduced-by-Honda.html

Art Designer Leon Paz Comes up with a Modern Acura Concept

Acura's new design language, as seen on the 2009 TL, is fronted by a shield-like appendage that has received mixed reviews. The Acura 2+1 -- the numbers describe the seating arrangement -- by design student Leon Paz is what would happen if you took the shield theme to one natural conclusion. By maintaining the edge throughout the concept's "modern baroque styling," Paz has come up we something we kinda dig.

The body is fashioned from a plastic that is harder than fiberglass, and Paz has done a great job in creating lines that evoke skin stretched over a frame. The upper surface is one continuous window that shows off the twin-turbo V6 and the Acura logo for the cylinder covers. There is no hood -- at your yearly service, the dealer would lift the glass and perform any engine maintenance.

The 2+1 would be an aspirational step for those who want an NSX but can't afford one yet. Based on what we've seen of the NSX so far, we'd probably rather have the 2+1. However, our most pressing question about the car isn't about the design -- we really want to know what is the meaning of "OW AHH" scrolled in LED's across the rear? Check out the gallery of high-res images below, and maybe you can tell us...

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/20/acura-2-1-design-study-takes-superman-shield-to-next-level/

New Shots of Next Gen NSX's Driver's Side Dash

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/07/2010-honda-acura-nsx-spied-again-on.html

Priddy & Co. Catch the New Global Hybrid in the Wild

Looks alot like a morph from the FCX and the Prius.

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=776084