Honda Pegasus Study Inspired by... Harley Earl's GM Firebird Concepts

Automotive designers find inspiration in all kinds of places. For independent designer Andrus Ciprian from Romania, it was Harley Earls' legendary GM Firebird concept cars of the 1950s. The thing is that he didn't use this inspiration on a GM product but on a futuristic Honda racing car design study that he named Pegasus.

The Romanian designer has dreamed up a small gas-turbine jet engine as the power source for the imaginary winged prototype, while other features include specially designed wheels that increase air-flow to the brakes. Full mage gallery after the break.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/07/honda-pegasus-study-inspired-by-harley.html

Honda Design Explain Changes to Production CRZ

For the first time in its history, Honda invited a select group of North American media to pay a visit to its design studio this week following the Tokyo Motor Show. While we didn't see any secret new cars today, we did sit down for a chat with Nobuki Ebisawa, general manager of global design for Honda. Among other things we discussed the design of the new CR-Z hybrid sport coupe.

Honda unveiled an updated concept version of the CR-Z at the show that is actually a very thinly veiled version of the production model that will debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The new concept remained on the show floor while the original 2007 concept was on display in the studio along with two quarter scale clay models. One model was of the original proposal from early 2007 while the other model was the 2009 concept. The original proposal model and the production car are both the work of Motoaki Minowa, while the actual concept that was built in 2007 was produced by Makoto Iwaki. Read on to learn more about the changes.

In many respects the production car is closer in detail to that 2007 Minowa model than to the 2007 full-size Iwaki concept, particularly in the character lines on the flanks that yield a bit of a cutout in the middle of the car.The Iwaki design has flatter sides.

There are other differences from both original designs to the production car. The sides of the greenhouse have been more vertical than inward sloping tumble home of the concepts. This was done to provide a more spacious feeling interior for occupants. Further aiding interior space is a higher roof. The other big change was the wheelbase which was shortened although we don't have exact dimensions.The result is a longer front overhang on the production car although the overall length of the production model is unchanged.

Ebisawa-san explained that this was done for several different reasons. The longer overhang provides more crush space to help with crash safety performance. It also allows more tapering of the front corners (as seen from above) which aids both pedestrian safety performance and air-flow for reduced aerodynamic drag. Another benefit that Ebisawa-san highlighted was improved, more nimble handling that results from the shorter axle span.

Ebisawa-san also answered our question about the grille shape of the CR-Z and the similar nose of the SkyDeck concept that also debuted in Tokyo. We asked if this design would become the new Honda standard. Ebisawa-san explained that unlike Acura, Honda won't be using a single face for its entire lineup. Instead it will have different looks for different families just as the light truck/SUVs already differ from cars in the US. The CR-Z style scoop grille will be reserved for sporty models.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/honda-design-boss-discusses-changes-to-production-cr-z/

Honda FC Sport Concept Car to Make Canadian Debut

Hydrogen-powered Sports Car Concept Points to Future Direction

TORONTO, Feb. 2 /CNW/ - The Honda FC Sport design study model, ahydrogen-powered, three-seat sports car concept, will make its Canadian debuton February 11 to members of the press at the press preview of the 2009 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto which opens to the public on Friday, February 13.

The FC Sport emphasizes the design flexibility and potential of Honda's VFlow fuel cell technology - already deployed in the Honda FCX Clarity sedan -and reconfigures it into a lightweight sports car design with an ultra-lowcenter of gravity, powerful electric motor performance and zero-emissions. Thedesign study concept is inspired by supercar levels of performance through lowweight and a high-performance, electrically driven fuel cell powertrain.

"The Honda FC Sport explores new ways to satisfy automotive performanceenthusiasts in a world beyond petroleum," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vicepresident of Honda Canada Inc. "People who enjoy sports cars will not beforgotten by Honda in a hydrogen-powered future." The high-output Honda fuel cell powertrain and a sleek, aerodynamic bodycontribute to the vehicle's performance potential. A modular approach to fuelcell component packaging and the electric drivetrain contribute to the FCSport's low center of gravity with the majority of vehicle mass distributedbetween the axles, creating the balanced weight distribution sought after insports cars.

The ideal placement of the Honda V-Flow fuel cell stack and relatedcomponents demonstrates the benefits of a platform-specific, hydrogen-poweredfuel cell powertrain. The FC Sport is configured to accommodate acustom-formed high-power fuel cell stack, located between the rear seats, anda battery pack placed low in the middle of the vehicle. The electric motorresides just forward of the rear axle. Two fuel storage tanks, visible fromabove, are located above the rear axle.

The optimal placement of fuel cell components for performance also allowsfor a relatively large passenger cabin by conventional supercar standards withenough space for three seating positions. The interior layout focusesprimarily on the driver with a racecar-like center driving position. Theenclosed canopy opens upward from the rear to allow for entry and exit. Tworear passenger seats flank the driver's left and right side.

The sleek, low-profile body is designed to convey a high-technologyappearance with sculpting that combines angular shapes in the front of thevehicle that taper into geometric, hex forms in the rear. The rear hex formshouse cooling radiators for the fuel cell. Formula 1-style barge boards behindthe front wheels enhance high speed aerodynamics and convey the vehicle'sracing pedigree. The hydrogen storage tanks, visible from the rear deck,showcase the FC Sports fuel cell technology in much the same way that a "nakedbike" motorcycle showcases its engineering technology.

The glacier white body color conveys the FC Sport's clean environmentalaspirations while the dark wheels and deeply tinted glass provide a symboliccontrast befitting of the vehicle's unique combination of clean power and highperformance. Green construction techniques further contribute to a reducedcarbon footprint. An organic, bio-structure theme is carried through to thebody construction where exterior panels are intended to use plant-derivedbio-plastics.

The Advanced Design Studio of Honda R&D Americas in Pasadena, California,developed the FC Sport design study vehicle with the primary objective ofusing existing fuel cell technology as the basis for an ultimate Honda sportscar. Designer Jason Wilbur led the design efforts.

Honda Canada manufactures the Honda Civic and Civic Si sedan and coupe,and the Acura CSX sedan and MDX luxury utility vehicle at its two plants inAlliston, Ontario, and produces fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines at its newengine plant adjacent to its Canadian manufacturing facilities. With 135manufacturing facilities in 28 countries worldwide, Honda attracts more than24 million customers annually.

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/02/c4808.html

Here is my original post on the subject;
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-la-auto-show-honda-fc-sport.html