There's been lots of news over the last several years of what Honda is up to.

From ASIMO to HondaJet to the latest.... Link:

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090331/ap_...c_honda_robot_3

I think its no coincidence that things like robotics and jet engines and hydrogen cars (FCX Clarity) are what Honda R&D is up to, and not building the next great sports car or doing F1 development.

The S2K is dead this year. The NSX is long gone. F1 pullout. Etc....

I think Honda has "matured" and figured out that there's more to life to racing. Especially when they have "been there, done that" by wining F1 back in '88-'91.

Last year's F1 car had a very green, pro-environmental paint scheme...

I think all the fan-boys out there won't understand what's going on at Honda and are admittedly disappointed with the lack of sports cars available. I think the older crowd will see that Honda is maturing (or already matured) and are placing priorities on things that are important to the globe and not just things designed "for fun".

Who knows, maybe they'll come back to building sports cars and racing after they've solved global warming, ended world poverty and hunger and developed a robotic interface to drive your car with just mind control!

 

Gives a new meaning to the phrase, "The power of dreams."

 

So when do they create the Fem-bots who read your thoughts and grant every wish?

Gigity Gigity Goo!

 

I believe that Honda is thinking about the next step in Racing it is part of HONDA DNA
"Honda CR-Z"
This is a phase of no racing but the true spirit of Honda is to race, to lead rather than follow.
Shoichiro may you rest in Peace !!!!!!

HONDA DNA
Failure: The Secret to Success

 

Yeah, I just posted that Failure vid (well, kind of the whole series) in the forum ... it's funny that's the one you referenced, b/c I would have picked the one on transportation in 2088.

Basically, what I gathered from it is that (if motor vehicles are even around), vehicles will be automated and run on tracks off of electric current (sort of like trains) -- they will be fully stackable and reorganizable, and basically either portable or not owned by you so that you don't have to park a vehicle, then return to that parking space to retrieve your vehicle.

Anyway, the long and the short of it is that it seemed to say that the future of transportation was more in electrical engineering coupled with urban development, since this would be more practical for the majority of the world, who needs to get away from gas & diesel engines and run off of electric batteries or possibly hydrogen power.

The vast majority of Honda's R&D right now is being concentrated into electrical engineering and computer systems that run on automated circuits chosen by the end user. Unless/until hydrogen-powered vehicles become the staple of racing leagues, I wouldn't count on a whole lot of companies spending long term R&D on racing.

 

I think in order to get to 2088, we first need to arrive to 2018. I am thinking ahead just not so far ahead.
HONDA FTMFW