CARazed

I’m mean please… Honda… WTF are you people thinking!? I’ve been a happy Honda owner and driver since 1988 and this has got to be the worst looking concept to come out from Honda in years. Its powertrain is yet to be decided but will be an internal-combustion engine, hybrid-electric or battery-electric. So in other words this concept is a styling concept only. Also please note that blasters and storm trooper helmets will be sold separately.

Photo credit Jalopnik.

This is a really curious future car concept… a driverless car. It would be electric with the batteries stored in the floor, electric motors at all four wheels, and solar panels on the roof. Instead of a steering wheel the passengers simple tell the car where they want to go and if they are in a hurry or want to take the scenic route or most efficient route. It’s one design that is definitely worth spending some time investigating. See it at core77. Photo credit Mike and Maaike.

Now on display at the Geneva Motor Show is the two passenger Lumeneo Smera concept. It’s an electric car that can travel 93 miles on a single charge. Top speed is 80 mph and 0 to 60 mph is accomplished in about 8 seconds. It’s proportions are rather unusal as is it’s suspension. As you can see in the photographs the passenger sits directly behind the driver in what is usually the cargo area. In fact the driver has a choice, cargo or passenger not both. To keep the center of gravity from knocking it over the car actually tilts just like a motorcycle rider leans into a turn.

In crowded urban driving like you might find in Paris a little car like this begins to make a lot of sense. 93 miles would seem like plenty of range. 80 mph would certainly be enough. The acceleration also seems appropriate, even generous. In fact I’m certain a little car like this would be a hit in many European urban areas. A great entry level car.

I think they also pave the way to larger all electric competitors for contemporary American cars. My guess is that the Lumeneo Smera would have little wide spread success in America but it should prove to be an excellent foot in the door and platform for fleshing out electric car technologies. I also think it does a much better job at making headway for electric cars than cars like the ZENN car because it actually performs like a normal car and is not limited to 25 miles per hour like the ZENN.

It is also worth noting that every auto show now seems to have greener and greener cars on display. Some only concepts and others previews of real production cars. It’s exciting to see so many new ideas and viable cars coming to market. Maybe there is hope?