Honda Bringing FCV Concept to 2015 NAIAS

Last month, Toyota did more than its part to fuglify the LA Auto Show with its fuel-cell-powered Mirai production sedan. Next, it’s Honda’s turn to show America what its version of the hydrogen-powered future should look like, with the company announcing that it will bring its new FCV Concept to the 2015 NAIAS in Detroit. A toned-down iteration of the rad-tastic FCEV concept that Honda rolled out at the 2013 LA auto show, the FCV Concept actually made its debut in Japan at almost exactly the same time that the Mirai was turning stomachs in LA, but its debut was overshadowed by the events in La-la-land, including Honda’s own launch of the HR-V cute ute.

Still technically a concept, the FCV previews Honda’s next-generation fuel-cell vehicle that will launch in 2016, with its fuel-cell powertrain now contained completely within the front engine compartment of the vehicle. Honda claims that this allows not only for efficiencies in cabin space (seating capacity is five, versus four for the Mirai) but also makes things easier for Honda to apply its fuel-cell technology to additional models in the future. Honda claims that output has risen over than 136 hp, while power density is up by 60 percent to 3.1kW per liter, and that the fuel cell stack has dropped in size by a third. Honda expects that the FCV’s driving range will exceed 300 miles, and that refueling time is down to three to five minutes at a pressure of 10,000 psi.

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We shall see if the sleek, beskirted FCV is received well by NAIAS show-goers, though it matters little, since the FCV likely won’t be sold anywhere near Michigan for quite some time. Expect it to follow the Mirai’s lead and go on sale first in California, where the hydrogen fuel infrastructure is making the most progress.

from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/1x2iiEd