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Honda shows concepts at 2007 L.A. auto show
Los Angeles, California – Honda showed two radically different concepts at
the 2007 Los Angeles motor show – a low-slung two-seater sports car, all sexy
curves and big wheels, and a box-like minibus designed to squeeze the most
possible interior volume into the smallest possible outside dimensions.
The Remix explores the shape and design of a two-seat sports car that can
also be practical as daily transport. It's pure sports car in shape and design,
with a wrap-around canopy reminiscent of the Saab Aero concept shown at Geneva.
The aluminium-colour exterior accentuates every line and curve of the styling
and there's surprisingly generous boot space inside the high tail.
American Honda senior vice-president John Mendel introduced the Remix.
"The concept focuses on a simple, lightweight and fun-to-drive philosophy," he
said, "that balances sports car virtues with real-world practicality."
The Remix is just a concept at this stage, created by Honda's Advanced Design
studio in southern California. It's built around a front-wheel drive small car
platform with a four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission.
It has sports suspension, chunky rubber and aggressive brakes to further
supplement its performance side.
Lead designer Ben Davidson explained: "The Remix blends familiar Honda themes
into a fresh design.
"Smooth, fluid surfaces provide a sports car identity to the geometric shapes
that form the functional aspect of this vehicle."
Step Bus
The Step Bus concept, by contrast, looks like a box on rollers – Honda says it's
an expression of the company's packaging prowess, with the biggest, most
versatile cabin possible on a very small platform, and sliding doors to let
passengers in and out easily in tight spaces.
Mendel said: "The Step Bus seeks to create the largest possible interior with
the smallest possible exterior.
"It shows how large functionality can easily exist within small vehicle
packages."
The concept was built at the Honda R&D design centre at Wako in Saitama
prefecture, Japan, on a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive platform with a small,
high-efficiency engine displacement power plant. Advanced technology includes a
next-generation navigation system
The five-passenger cabin is modular, with tracks in the doors to hold cooldrink
cans, cellphones etc., while the high roof makes room for a ceiling-mounted
storage tray
The body design, says Honda R&D, embraces a bold vertical architecture style
that creates a large presence within a small space – which is a nice way of
describing a tall, boxy urban runabout.
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