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

More Honda FC Sport Pic's

Here is my orig. post on the subject with more pic's and information;
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-la-auto-show-honda-fc-sport.html

2008 LA Auto Show; Honda FC Sport Hydrogen Car

Honda FC Sport Design Study Suggests Hydrogen Sports Car Future
Innovative fuel cell packaging demonstrates green performance potential

11/19/2008 - LOS ANGELES -
Honda today revealed the Honda FC Sport design study model, a hydrogen-powered, three-seat sports car concept, at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

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

"The Honda FC Sport explores how to satisfy automotive performance enthusiasts in a world beyond petroleum," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "People who love sports cars will still have a reason to love in a hydrogen-powered future."

The high-output Honda fuel cell powertrain and a sleek, aerodynamic body contribute to the vehicle's performance potential. A modular approach to fuel cell component packaging and the electric drivetrain contribute to the FC Sport's low center of gravity with the majority of vehicle mass distributed between the axles, creating the balanced weight distribution sought after in sports cars.

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

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

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

The glacier white body color conveys the FC Sport's clean environmental aspirations while the dark wheels and deeply tinted glass provide a symbolic contrast befitting of the vehicle's unique combination of clean power and high performance. Green construction techniques further contribute to a reduced carbon footprint. An organic, bio-structure theme is carried through to the body construction where exterior panels are intended to use plant-derived bio-plastics.

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

Honda R&D Americas, Inc. 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 design and development. Recent development efforts include trend-setting products such as the Honda Pilot, Ridgeline, Element, Civic Coupe and Civic Si.

In 2008, the company opened two new design centers in Southern California: the Acura Design Studio (Torrance), for the research and design of new Acura products; and the Advanced Design Studio (Pasadena), for the exploration and development of advanced design themes for both Honda and Acura.

The company operates 11 major R&D facilities in North America, including a full vehicle development center in Raymond, Ohio, and three design studios in Southern California. Honda R&D designers, engineers and support personnel are engaged in the development of Honda and Acura automobiles, powersports products, and power equipment for North America and global markets. The company's main centers of operation include the Los Angeles Center (Torrance, California), responsible for market research, concept development and styling design; the Ohio Center (Raymond, Ohio), responsible for complete product development, testing, and support of North American supplier and manufacturing operations; and a dynamic test facility in Cantil, California.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/4879