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BTW I like where the are going with this. EV's used to be ugly and awkward (Toyota Prius I), and with few exceptions they haven't shown us a car of the future, just strange and ugly sharp lines that we think EVs should look like (Prius V, Mirai). It's time we stop thinking of EV styling as avante garde EV specific characteristics, and start thinking of them as canvases to really style forward. The Tesla S, X, 3, i8, and imho the i3 were exercises in inhibition from contemporary norms of car styling. EVs provide a unique opportunity to let car designers go wild, because for some reason bleeding edge design and risk taking is more palatable in the smaller EV market than the ICE market. I used to be a proponent of "make EVs look exactly like their ICE counterparts if you want them to sell", but I've had a change or heart. Go crazy, take it to the next level, we have a window, lets take it.
It's a nice looking concept and certainly it's designed to get some interest in EV's. But really how efficient is this vehicle? What is its basic function in life? Sure EV's get slammed for being spacey, ugly and odd. But the reason an EV even exists is to make the most, best efficient use of a transportation technology to get you as far as you can go.
Sure you can slam the Prius or Volt or any number of hybrid or EV's for fugly styling. I too find them ridiculous at times, but I kind of understand what their purpose in life is compared to enthusiast vehicles.
These are going to autonomous and you'll be just along for the ride. Just like your robot pilot, 20 years from now, announcing: "on your left you can see the lake where someone made a great decision at a difficult time, but then they built it anyway".
People now fly on Airbus and Boeing airliners. Do you honestly think they look "sexy"? They're essentially decades old tech re-purposed for efficiency and profitability.
This is a styling exercise that should perk some interest in Honda products, but it's hump-back styling and its limited C pillar sight lines suggest that's not an ideal commuter vehicle.
This will not work. EV cars march along with futuristic and modern styling. Retro styling, even if a little lucky, barely survive in the sports car segment.
I like it. Hopefully they can build a car that looks very very close to this below $40k. And with a mode for all the AI based driver aids to be turned completely off, since they mention they want AI to figure into this for some reason. Being able to shut those functions down so that the onus of control is completely on the driver should be key.
I love it that they are interested in building a driver-focused EV. I also like the other variant they showed based on the same chassis... a "city" EV reminiscent of the N600. If they make them fun and engaging to drive while emphasizing rather than masking their mechanical and electrical systems they will be true enthusiast Hondas.
For instance, at least in this concept video you can hear the faint ascending whine of the electrical motor(s). That is good. Being able to hear any reduction gear or multi-speed mechanical gear noise from the driveline would be good as well.
10-26-17, 04:33 PM
