Green Light For Green Hondas
Posted at 12:13, 2007-Oct-26
Honda is getting greener and greener thanks to the ever-flourishing environment-friendly technology. Honda President and CEO Takeo Fukui recently announced the company’s plans to bring 2 most innovative “green” cars to market.
At this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Fukui said a production version of Honda’s FCX concept fuel cell car will be unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show next month, with sales beginning in the United States and Japan next year. The FCX concept car is powered by hydrogen, emitting only water vapor through the exhaust pipe.
Fukui also revealed that a car based on the CR-Z Concept - a compact, lightweight sportscar powered by a hybrid powertrain - would also enter production. The stylish coupe will join Honda’s forthcoming ‘global hybrid’ family car, which is due to launch in 2009.
“The CR-Z is a model that symbolizes Honda's hybrid technology,” he added. “The CR-Z features a dynamic yet sharp exterior design that makes people want to get in and drive. Through this model Honda demonstrates a new direction for the next-generation hybrid sports car to enable people to enjoy sporty driving.”
The CR-Z Concept follows the Honda Remix Concept displayed at the LA Show last year, and the Small Hybrid Sports Concept which debuted at Geneva in March, all of which explore the potential of a compact sportscar that’s exciting to drive, but has minimal impact on the environment. The launch for the production version of the concept car is yet to be announced.
Honda UK environment manager John Kingston said: "Hybrids have always been seen as niche products and hybrid car design has mostly been based around practicality and versatility. The CR-Z Concept shows green cars can be sexy and exciting – but also minimize environmental impact. That we will be producing cars such as these shows hybrids are becoming volume products; Honda plans to sell more than 250 000 a year by 2009."
Honda Motor Co. (HMC) will display the PUYO, a fuel-cell-powered van with a soft body made of silicone that helps lessen damage in a collision. Honda PUYO is a fuel cell car based on out of the box designing to deliver fun for both the driver and the occupants.
“PUYO” is a Japanese onomatopoeia that conveys the sensation of touching the car’s soft body. It means warm, friendly impression. The concept represents clean, safe, and fun functionality of a car. The concept flaunts an environment- and people-friendly minimalist design that wraps superb fuel efficiency.