Honda Ends 2015 North American International Auto Show With FCV, Whimper
The “Year of Honda” display at the 2015 North American International Auto Show
Honda closed out the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit today with a presentation that was more whimper than bang. There were no big reveals – in fact, the futuristic Honda FCV Concept was the only car on stage, making its North American debut a full two months after it had its world premiere in Japan. The next-generation Honda fuel cell vehicle will ultimately launch in 2016.
The Honda FCV Concept, making its North American debut in Detroit on January 13, 2015
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Still, the automaker does have big plans for 2015, which it is calling “The Year of Honda.” Pending Federal Aviation Administration approval, Honda will begin delivering its advanced light jet, the HondaJet, which is powered by two GE-Honda over-the-wing engines.
Scale model of the HondaJet and its engine at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit
The company also hyped its upcoming return to Formula One racing, which will reunite the engine manufacturer with the McLaren race team. Additionally, Honda promised that before the end of 2015, the company will begin to introduce its new 4-cylinder VTEC® Turbo engines – an extension of Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology powertrain lineup – which “will deliver fun-to-drive performance and fuel efficiency at a very high level.”
“No other automaker in the world has the depth of R&D know-how and experience to create such a diverse array of advanced technology products, let alone bring them to market,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor. “These all-new products and technologies represent significant advancements for our customers and for the future of mobility everywhere; innovations that only a comprehensive mobility company like Honda can truly achieve.”
Looking even further down the road, Honda announced that by 2018, it will add a new battery electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle to its lineup, in addition to equipping more models with its two- and three-motor hybrid systems.
The 2015 North American International Auto Show began with the unveiling of supercars, ended with a lady on a scooter
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Then, to close out Honda’s presentation, Mendel brought out a Honda UNI-CUB scooter, admitted he was too heavy to use it, and instead showed that OK Go music video where the band rides around on UNI-CUBs. Then he literally said, “Okay, let’s go,” the audience tacitly agreed by letting out a collective shrug, and they all then proceeded to flee Detroit (the Most Fleed City in America).
So ends the 2015 North American International Auto Show. It’s closing time in Motor City, and we know who we want to take us home.
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