ZDan

If they wanted to build this car as a conventional gasoline ICE powered vehicle, I don't think they could do it with a conventional inline-4 like while maintaining the low hoodline and front fenders. Stupid pedestrian impact regs, look what happened to the Miata :P
But they probably could do it with a compact 2-liter V4. If I were in charge at Honda, I'd be working to bring this to market both ways, maybe hybrid as well. I fricking love this design

Chris_Lum

I completely agree, Honda design has dropped the ball for a long time now. Hopefully the positive response to the EV concept designs is what Honda needed to push their entire brand towards cleaner designs, like Mazda's direction. crossing my fingers.

iforyou

Honda mentioned about showing their new design direction in one of the auto shows in 2017. I'd imagine the Urban EV concept and Sports EV concept are examples of this new design direction?

I really like Mazda's designs in recent years. They are all sporty and good looking. Having said that, there seems to be a drawback for these sleek designs, and that's practicality.

For instant, here are some comparison figures:
Civic Hatchback cargo volume with seats up: 25.7 cu.ft
Mazda 3 Hatch cargo volume with seats up: 20.2 cu.ft
Civic hatch interior volume: 120.5 cu.ft
Mazda 3 hatch interior volume: 116.6 cu.ft

CX-3 Cargo Volume with seats up: 12.4 cu.ft
HR-V Cargo Volume with seats up: 24.3 cu.ft
CX-3 Interior Volume: 100 cu.ft
HR-V Interior Volume: 120.4 cu.ft

The key now is to combine practicality and sleek designs together.

Elistan

Nothing. I was answering why they might not be wanting to develop petrol cars using the new design ethos, not why they're not using the new design ethos today.

8 to 10 years seems like it could be a reasonable to build hype via concepts in vehicles that are 4 to 5 years out in anticipation of a legislative mandate that's possible 8 to 10 years out.

The Raptor

It has very clean lines. Maybe too clean.

cbehney

Looks a bit like a slightly squished one of these...

WolfpackS2k

I'm not a fan of the thought of electric only propulsion for cars of the future, but it just dawned on me that, besides possibly more freedom in styling cars, it will probably make it easier to build RWD cars.

That creates an internal dilemma inside my head, lol. Which is better? The emotional involvement of an engine and shifting your own gears, or the superior dynamics of RWD? Assuming for Honda here (historically just FWD).

TheDonEffect

This is a niche that makes alot of sense for Honda to exploit before the competition inevitably catches up, a user friendly sporty fun electric car. I'd be interested in the urban concept.

s2ka

cbehney

^^ Haha! Thieves!