The development of this concept car was carried out in the design studio “Honda R & D Europe” in Offenbach, Germany.
The message conveyed by this project summarizes the user's willingness to have a car to enjoy more Honda's will to move towards a new type of technology applied to transport, a technology with more awareness and less damage.
The small sports car presented by Honda at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show uses a hybrid system that combines a tiny four-cylinder engine (naphtha) and electric power as a complement. This sport designed for the near future has front wheel drive and CVT transmission (continuous and variable).
This type of transmission does not engages different parts, but two pulleys vary their voltages to generate the same effect as gears of different sizes in traditional boxes. The CVT system is more efficient and even allows savings in fuel consumption because it generates less energy losses.
The exterior design contrasts smooth curves with sharp edges, as it is already fashionable, wearing very short overhangs both front and back. The design is intended to be innovative and familiar with the brand's products, as the front has an obvious and intentional resemblance to that of the new Honda Civic.
At the front, the front windshield has very thin walls (A-pillars) and the roof surface is made of a single piece of glass. That's why. The entire upper sector of the car shows a continuity of glass as elegant as it is interesting for the visibility of the driver.
The large diameter wheels emphasize the sporty character, complementing well the aggressive aspect of the front sector well defined by the large horizontal air intake and the strong logo of the Japanese brand.
The dimensions of the Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept are small, with a length of 4,000 mm, a width of 1,760 mm and only 2,350 mm between axles. The height is very small, 1,270 mm, while the rims stand out for their large diameter of 20 inches, on 165/60 tyres.
The trend of Japanese concept cars seems to mark in unison a desire to reduce the exterior size and optimize the interior use. Progress is also made in aerodynamics, trying to generate less drag to maximize efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
The dimensions of the Small Hybrid Sports Concept combined with its specially calibrated suspensions make this car a real sport, with even more powerful car reactions.
Some design details and technology applied to highlight are the LED taillights, which include the name of the backlit car. Another fact to mention is the replacement of the side mirrors with digital video cameras.
© Adrián Blanco 2007 - No full or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
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