phyregod
!!YTINASNI
I can't believe this thing hasn't been posted. I love it.
It's a car... it's a truck... no, it's the new Honda Spocket!
The Honda "Spocket" concept made its North American debut on January 7 at a press conference prior to the public opening of the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Spocket, created by Honda R & D in Torrance, CA is a convertible, pickup and sports car, all in one. At the touch of a button, the Spocket changes from four seats to two and the clamshell top retracts to provide open-air driving.
"The Spocket is the ultimate concept, combining a sports coupe, pickup and convertible to provide drivers with the maximum level of functionality, flexibility and utility," said Tom Elliott, executive vice president for American Honda. "The Spocket transports you to a whole new level of driving adventure and convenience."
The Spocket's futuristic style begins with an angular, lightweight body, dramatic tilt-up doors and a striking bright-red over gun-metal gray color. The interior features bucket seats made from durable fabrics that will withstand any weather condition.
"At Honda, we know that the market is never static and consumers are always looking for new ideas, so we asked our designers in Torrance to see what they could come up with, " says Elliott. "The result is an innovative vehicle that works in the many different ways consumers use their cars."
The concept car's four-wheel drive system features an advanced drivetrain, employing both a hybrid gasoline-electric engine powering the front wheels and two in-wheel electric motors for the rear wheels to provide full-time four-wheel drive. The semi-automatic, five speed transmission has shift buttons located on the steering wheel.
"With its hybrid gasoline-electric drivetrain and chameleon-like body, the Spocket exemplifies Honda's design creativity and technological ingenuity," says Elliott.
The interior features bucket seats, five point seatbelts and is completely waterproof, allowing easy clean up. Additional features include Honda's GPS Navigation system and heads up controls. Instead of side view mirrors, the Spocket has cameras that project rear images to a heads-up display on the front windwhield.
The Spocket was inspired by Honda's T360 mid-engine pickup truck, the company's first mass-produced vehicle. Launched in 1963, the T360 featured a high-revving, 4-cylinder DOHC engine with four carburetors. Its mid-engine layout and cab-over design provided ample cargo and cabin space.
Design and construction of the Spocket took just eight months to complete - a record for the vehicle design world. Like the T360, the Spocket is designed for maximum utility. The batteries that drive the rear motors are positioned under the bed for a more even weight distribution.
Other engaging design features include Michelin's new Pax system tires, an innovative technology that includes a
tire, wheel, run-flat insert and pressure loss sensor to offer driving up to 125 miles at 55 mph when the tire is flat.
