Notices
Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Innova

Honda is P-Nuts debuts...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 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
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 06:35 AM
  #2  
DaveGS4's Avatar
DaveGS4
Administrator Emeritus
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,737
From: North Carolina
Default

Interesting look. Makes me think "Ack Ack" though, kinda like a cross between a Cylon and the Mars Attacks guys
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 07:17 AM
  #3  
GSteg's Avatar
GSteg
Rookie
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16,018
Likes: 81
From: CA
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
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 07:31 AM
  #4  
DASHOCKER's Avatar
DASHOCKER
Lexus Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,191
Likes: 10
From: NYC
Default

This car reminds me of the egg shaped ship from the t.v. show Mork & Mindy.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 08:49 AM
  #5  
(Cj)'s Avatar
(Cj)
Lexus Test Driver
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
From: somewhere out there
Default

Well it's Honda's first RWD vehicle in a long time
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 09:34 AM
  #6  
metalgear's Avatar
metalgear
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 0
From: TX
Default

looks like the head of a gundam robot lol
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 07:45 PM
  #7  
kit cat's Avatar
kit cat
Moderator
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,571
Likes: 3
From: US
Default

no relationship to 311?
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 08:35 PM
  #8  
nthach's Avatar
nthach
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,350
Likes: 6
From: California
Default

Looks like Honda's take on a little deuce coupe...
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 12:11 AM
  #9  
Faymester's Avatar
Faymester
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,468
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
Default

I don't get why so many manufacturers put ugly and eco-friendly together.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 01:33 AM
  #10  
bruce van's Avatar
bruce van
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 1
From: California
Default

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

Another ugly car from Honda. Surprised?
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 07:20 AM
  #11  
joe80's Avatar
joe80
Lexus Test Driver
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 0
From: il
Default

holy speedo!!
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 12:25 PM
  #12  
eyezack87's Avatar
eyezack87
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,004
Likes: 3
From: CA
Default

It didn't look much better in person. In fact, I didn't bother taking a picture of it...
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hoovey689
Car Chat
3
Feb 7, 2013 12:13 PM
Hoovey689
Car Chat
13
Dec 12, 2012 07:34 PM
bagwell
Car Chat
7
Oct 6, 2009 05:20 PM
Gojirra99
Car Chat
47
Jan 12, 2008 10:03 AM
Gojirra99
Car Chat
125
Feb 27, 2007 05:59 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:52 PM.