Honda shows three visions for electrified future

Honda Motor Co. will debut three concept cars at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show that foreshadow the Japanese automaker's vision for a battery-powered future: a plug-in hybrid touring sedan, an electric small city car and a sporty, open-cockpit electric vehicle. The concepts presage cars that could come to market about two generations from now; say, in 2020. A key feature of the cars is a pair of steering handles that are pulled backward and forward to direct the car instead of a wheel. Honda says that the technology is intuitive and much like steering a bicycle. When you want to turn left, you move the right handle forward. When you want to move right, you do the opposite. The first concept, the AC-X, gets its name from Advanced Cruiser Experience. It is a wedge-shaped plug-in hybrid sedan that takes heavy styling cues from the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. F1-inspired To improve aerodynamics, it has an adjustable rear diffuser and body undercover that extend during highway driving to improve mileage. Formula One-inspired wheel covers also help. The AC-X, with a drag coefficient of 0.21, targets fuel efficiency of 110 kilometers per liter, or 258 mpg, with its 120-kilowatt electric motor and 1.6-liter engine, Honda says. The AC-X is envisioned as running 50 kilometers (31 miles) in electric-only mode. Also on display will be the Honda Micro Commuter Concept. The three-seat city runabout follows in the tradition of the Nissan Pivo concept series and the Toyota iQ minicar. Its lithium ion battery gives it a range of 37 miles. But the so-called Loop Batter battery pack also can be taken out and plugged into other vehicles, including an electric minimotorbike. That two-wheeler, dubbed the Motor Compo, can be loaded aboard the Micro Commuter Concept. Swap your body panels Another feature of the angular micro vehicle: colorful body panels that can be swapped in and out like the exchangeable skins of a smartphone to customize your ride. The third car of tomorrow is the Small Sports EV Concept, a compact convertible electric vehicle. Honda is waiting until the show to give detailed specifications. But sketches released in advance depict a stubby, low-slung car reminiscent of the CR-Z sporty hybrid. On the production car front, Honda will present the N Box, a new 660cc minicar for sale in Japan. It also will show a so-called N Concept hinting at a possible direction for next-generation minicars.