Honda challenges Toyota for the hydrogen spotlight (pictures)

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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The automaker unveiled the new Honda FCV concept here in Detroit.

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The flowing sedan is powered by hydrogen, pulling power from the element to power its electric motors.

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The design is highly conceptual; these tiny LED headlamps will probably not make it to the road.

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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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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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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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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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Honda expects that it will showing a production car based on this design and fuel cell system in 2016.

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The FCV has a cruising range of about 300 miles and can be refilled in about 3 minutes.

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Inside, the FCV concept features a highly stylized cabin. We don't expect much of this to reach production.

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A tablet-like, floating infotainment panel displays a broad range of information about the vehicle.

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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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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.

Be sure to check out the rest of CNET's coverage of the 2015 Detroit auto show.