AUTO SHOWS: Honda will use its home turf of Japan to show off four small new
concept cars. The "mini vehicle," electric sports car, plug-in hybrid sedan, and
electric city car will all be shown off at the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of
this month.
The aptly named Small Sports EV Concept is an electric car that's said to be fun
to drive, while at the same time producing very few (if any) emissions. The car
has jagged, angular lines, and looks to be a two-seat affair with a targa-style
roof opening. Expect more specifications to emerge as the show grows closer.
Honda calls the AC-X a "next generation" plug-in hybrid, and says the car is
equally suited for urban and long-distance trips. The concept car can be used in
"engine drive mode" for maximum performance, or "automatic" mode which
apparently is suited for more leisurely driving. The four-door car looks like an
elongated version of Honda's Insight hybrid.
The Micro Commuter Concept represents Honda's vision for tiny electric city cars
of the future. It resembles a Smart Fortwo, but with wraparound fenders
surrounding each of the four wheels. A bare-bones cabin is home to just one seat
and a barren dashboard. The car's controls resemble joysticks and yokes, rather
than a traditional steering wheel.
Finally, Honda will show a tiny hatchback called the N Concept, which previews a
production model called the N BOX. The square, boxy design looks like a
shrunken-down Nissan Cube, and appears to be a car that meets Japan's "kei car"
rules. The N Concept is tall and skinny, with large tinted windows and minuscule
wheels.
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