[The Citrus Smoothie]

These Honda concepts are interesting, especially for small dog owners . I like the Sports4 and Wow. Click the additional link for a few pictures:

http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news- ... s_id=13124



P.S. Here is one that will be of interest to James - the Mazda Senku - a rotary engined hybrid....

http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news- ... s_id=13123

 

[cainsight]

I saw the article earlier today about the Mazda Senku. I Like it

 

[james]

Don't know about the Mazda. On the one hand it's an interesting concept, but on the other, a 4-seat sports car? That's just not possible.

I rather like the idea of the dog-friendly Honda, though - even though mine (about 100 lbs) likes riding in the hatch. She seems to think of it as a den...

 

[No. 166]

The Sports4 looks like a cheap copy of the Mazda 6.
Absolutely booooring design imo .

The FCX on the other hand has a very interesting silhouette. 8)

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Further articles here -

The Sports4 might be the future shape of the Accord (not that boring No.166 !)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/CARS/news/n ... dbid=30660

and more details about the Mazda as well - solar roof?!? (like that is going to make it into the production version )

http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/147/

 

[james]

Not bad in profile. Get rid of the extra seats, shorten it about 6", and dump the stupid-looking doors, and it might fly

But the solar panel on the roof is dumb. Far better to leave the panel on your roof at home, feeding energy to the grid all day.

 

[figgy]

I think that they must have hired a bunch of completey INSANE people!

However, I like the dog space. If it includes its own cliimate control, that would be ideal. They seem to have a blower pointed at the dog. Perhaps that is to simulate the 'head out the window' feeling since the dog apparently would not be able to do that anylonger when placed in his little dog box space.

The WOW is fun, but I would rather see the flat rear entry like in the Element for easy in and out of stored item.

I am sure they'll fast a few more weaks and when completely delerious come up with some lizard and rat seats as well...

 

[Subterfuge3927]

Problem with a rotary hybrid, is that while rotary offer some of the best rpm limits and torque in ICE designs, thay are also the LEAST FE of ICE designs... why make it a hybrid? To keep the FE close to a standard ICE?

 

[james]

I'm not sure about the fuel economy. At least with my old RX3, it wasn't too bad on the highway, but made up for it by being terrible around town. (I had to drive long distances - like Phoenix-Las Vegas-Gallup - then, so was usually cruising 80+ and still averaging in the high 20s). So if the hybrid could be used to keep the rotary running at its best efficiency, maybe the fuel economy would be ok.

 

[flunkysama]

For those of you who don't read slashdot, Here is a link to more hard info on the new FCX
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/10/hondas_more_pow.html

here's the link to slashdot if you want to get in on thier disscussion.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/19/1749259&tid=126&tid=137