Honda challenges Toyota for the hydrogen spotlight (pictures)
Honda unveils a concept for its FCX Clarity replacement and Toyota Mirai fighter at the 2015 Detroit auto show.
Honda FCV concept
DETROIT -- Honda, which has been in the fuel-cell electric vehicle business for a while now, wants to reclaim the spotlight from the Toyota Mirai.
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Wheel shrouds
The automaker unveiled the new Honda FCV concept here in Detroit.
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Fuel cell vehicle
The flowing sedan is powered by hydrogen, pulling power from the element to power its electric motors.
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Where are the lights?
The design is highly conceptual; these tiny LED headlamps will probably not make it to the road.
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Wheels
However, the broad strokes give us a good idea of what to expect: seating for five, four doors and front-wheel drive.
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New FCEV power train
The big news, however, lives under the hood. Honda has redesigned its hydrogen fuel cell power train, which will debut with its new FCEV next year.
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Smaller fuel cell stack
The new system uses a 33 percent smaller fuel stack and boasts a 60 percent increase in power density when compared with the automaker's FCX Clarity.
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Aerodynamic profile
The profile is sweeping with a strong emphasis on creating as little drag as possible, thereby boosting efficiency at highway speeds.
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Hitting the road in 2016
Honda expects that it will showing a production car based on this design and fuel cell system in 2016.
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300-mile range, 3-minute refill
The FCV has a cruising range of about 300 miles and can be refilled in about 3 minutes.
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Conceptual interior
Inside, the FCV concept features a highly stylized cabin. We don't expect much of this to reach production.
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Honda infotainment
A tablet-like, floating infotainment panel displays a broad range of information about the vehicle.
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Touch to go
Rather than a shift lever, the concept features a capacitive glass touch panel that's backed by wood. The wood is there to remind the driver of his or her connection to the environment.
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More from Honda
Along with the FCV and its new fuel cell system, Honda also announced that new plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles are in the pipeline and that the new turbocharged VTEC engine would go into production for the North American market at Honda's factory in Anna, Ohio.
Be sure to check out the rest of CNET's coverage of the 2015 Detroit auto show.
2015 Detroit auto show
Be sure to check out the rest of CNET's coverage of the 2015 Detroit auto show.