Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.

Honda is P-Nuts debuts...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-04-09, 06:31 AM
  #1  
LexFather
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Post Honda is P-Nuts debuts...

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/02/h...-la-auto-show/

PRESS RELEASE:

Honda 'Personal-Neo Urban Transport' Concept Demonstrates Potential for Ultra-compact City-focused Vehicle

Small car maximizes style and amenities

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2, 2009 – The Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) design study model demonstrates a futuristic concept for an ultra-compact and sophisticated city coupe, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Conceived around a small "footprint" for maximum convenience in tight urban settings, the packaging concept integrates a center driving position configuration and a rear powertrain layout. The exterior styling leverages crisp angles with dynamic flowing lines that originate from the front of the vehicle and span outward toward the rear. The end result is a sleek and aggressive exterior that also allows for a spacious and open interior with excellent visibility.

"A new generation is discovering the benefits of living in urban centers that provide convenient access to business, entertainment and social opportunities," said Dave Marek, director of advanced design for Honda R&D Americas, Inc. "The Personal-Neo Urban Transport concept explores the packaging and design potential for a vehicle conceived exclusively around the city lifestyle."

The exterior styling is intended to capture a future direction for premium sophistication while balancing the need for maximum interior space and an aerodynamic appearance. The interior layout, in conjunction with the rear powertrain design, contributes prominently to the exterior's overall shape.

The layout of the interior space, with its center driving position flanked by two rear seats, provides generous legroom for all occupants, roughly the equivalent of a mid-sized sedan in a vehicle that has an exterior footprint similar to a micro car. Interior functionality is increased by rear seating areas that fold up and out of the way to increase storage capacity. The windshield serves as a heads-up display for the navigation system and the back-up camera.

The modular rear engine bay, depicted on the exterior by blue composite material, is designed to accommodate a wide variety of potential propulsion technologies including a conventional small displacement internal combustion engine, a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain, or a battery-electric powertrain.

"The objective of the exterior and interior designers was to explore the potential for a new type of small segment category vehicle that overcomes many of the objections for existing ultra-compact designs," said Marek. "While the Honda P-NUT concept introduces function-oriented concepts, it also shows that small cars don't have to compromise on style or amenities."

The Advanced Design Studio of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Los Angeles developed the P-NUT design study model. Honda R&D Americas began its operations in California in 1975 with local market research activities and has steadily grown its capabilities over the past 33 years to include all aspects of new vehicle research, design and development. Recent Honda-brand efforts include trend-setting products such as the Pilot, Ridgeline, Element, Civic Coupe and Civic Si Coupe.

Specifications
Size class: Ultra-compact
Layout: Rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Passengers: 3
Length: 3,400 mm
Width: 1,750 mm
Height: 1,439 mm
Powertrain: Internal-combustion engine, hybrid-electric or battery-electric
 
Old 12-04-09, 06:35 AM
  #2  
DaveGS4
Forum Administrator

iTrader: (2)
 
DaveGS4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 31,525
Received 2,242 Likes on 1,361 Posts
Default

Interesting look. Makes me think "Ack Ack" though, kinda like a cross between a Cylon and the Mars Attacks guys
DaveGS4 is offline  
Old 12-04-09, 07:17 AM
  #3  
GSteg
Rookie
iTrader: (15)
 
GSteg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 16,017
Likes: 0
Received 79 Likes on 61 Posts
Default

There's not a whole lot of room for any of these powerplants up front because the driver's leg room extends almost all the way to the front of the concept.
Good thing it's only a concept. Wouldn't want my legs to get crushed in an accident
GSteg is offline  
Old 12-04-09, 07:31 AM
  #4  
DASHOCKER
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
 
DASHOCKER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 12,191
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

This car reminds me of the egg shaped ship from the t.v. show Mork & Mindy.
DASHOCKER is offline  
Old 12-04-09, 08:49 AM
  #5  
(Cj)
Lexus Test Driver
 
(Cj)'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: somewhere out there
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Well it's Honda's first RWD vehicle in a long time
(Cj) is offline  
Old 12-04-09, 09:34 AM
  #6  
metalgear
Lexus Champion
 
metalgear's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: TX
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

looks like the head of a gundam robot lol
metalgear is offline  
Old 12-04-09, 07:45 PM
  #7  
kit cat
Moderator
iTrader: (6)
 
kit cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: US
Posts: 6,571
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

no relationship to 311?
kit cat is offline  
Old 12-04-09, 08:35 PM
  #8  
nthach
Lexus Champion
 
nthach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: California
Posts: 3,350
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Looks like Honda's take on a little deuce coupe...
nthach is offline  
Old 12-05-09, 12:11 AM
  #9  
Faymester
Lexus Fanatic
 
Faymester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 7,468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I don't get why so many manufacturers put ugly and eco-friendly together.
Faymester is offline  
Old 12-05-09, 01:33 AM
  #10  
bruce van
Lexus Champion
 
bruce van's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: California
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I just can't get over the black jock strap that thing is wearing.

Another ugly car from Honda. Surprised?
bruce van is offline  
Old 12-05-09, 07:20 AM
  #11  
joe80
Lexus Test Driver
 
joe80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: il
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

holy speedo!!
joe80 is offline  
Old 12-05-09, 12:25 PM
  #12  
eyezack87
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
 
eyezack87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 5,004
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

It didn't look much better in person. In fact, I didn't bother taking a picture of it...
eyezack87 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hoovey689
Car Chat
3
02-07-13 12:13 PM
Hoovey689
Car Chat
13
12-12-12 07:34 PM
bagwell
Car Chat
7
10-06-09 05:20 PM
Gojirra99
Car Chat
47
01-12-08 10:03 AM
Gojirra99
Car Chat
125
02-27-07 05:59 PM



Quick Reply: Honda is P-Nuts debuts...



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:21 PM.