When naming the best Japanese car manufacturers, it's impossible to leave out Honda. Ever since its founding in 1948, Honda has produced some of the best Japanese cars of all time, including the NSX that crushed Ferrari and Lamborghini sports cars in the 90s, the incredible S2000 that had all the ingredients of a fantastic sports car, or the Civic that has been the daily driver for millions of Americans for decades.
Honda has earned millions of fans worldwide thanks to its ability to build reliable, fast, and well-performing vehicles that cost much lower than their European equivalents. Another reason people love Honda is its forward-thinking nature - as demonstrated by the amazing concept cars it has unveiled over the years. Let's delve into ten incredible Honda concept cars that every gearhead wishes were produced.
10 2017 Honda Sports EV Concept
Like many manufacturers, Honda has realized that the EV takeover is coming. As such, Honda aims to be producing some of the best electric vehicles that can rival what Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and other manufacturers have to offer.
The 2017 Sports EV Concept showed Honda's take on the futuristic EV design - and what a beauty it was. This two-door sports car wowed attendees at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show with its gorgeous design featuring smooth lines, glass roof, and round headlights that point back to the original Honda Civic. Although Honda didn't produce the Sports EV Concept, some of its design cues have been incorporated into the Honda E electric hatchback.
9 2013 Honda FCEV Concept
Honda has always been a pioneer in the development of fuel-cell technology. The 2013 FCEV Concept showed just how far fuel cell technology had come and pointed towards a zero-emissions future. According to Honda, the FCEV's fuel-cell powertrain could provide up to 300 miles of range and be refueled in just three minutes.
The powertrain could be packaged within a conventional engine space, allowing for space and weight savings. Other than its powertrain, another interesting feature about the 2013 FCEV Concept was its modern design that featured aerodynamic bodywork and seating for five passengers.
8 2009 Honda FC Sport Concept
Unveiled at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, the FC Sport was a concept Honda developed to show what a hydrogen-powered supercar might look like in the future. The FC Sport Concept had a similar profile to the original NSX, a cat-like front, and an ultra-low center of gravity, making it look futuristic and fast. Honda also indicated that the FC Sport would have a tandem seating arrangement similar to the iconic McLaren F1.
The FC Sport was designed to accommodate a high-power fuel cell stack between the rear seats with the battery pack placed in the middle of the vehicle.
7 1984 Honda HPX
In 1984, Honda asked Pininfarina - the same design house responsible for the Ferrari Testarossa - to design a futuristic sports car. The result was the HPX concept or 'Honda Pininfarina Experimental,' which looked unusual but utterly enchanting. Interestingly, the HPX had no doors - instead, a single-piece Perspex canopy acted as the windscreen, roof, side windows, and doors.
The HPX concept was powered by a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 - the same engine used in the fantastic Honda NSX a few years later. Had this car been produced, it would have been up there with the most beautiful sports cars of the day.
6 2001 Honda Dualnote
The Dualnote is a hybrid sports car concept Honda debuted at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show. This curious little creation was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine perfectly complemented by an electric motor, resulting in a total output of 400 horsepower.
The Dualnote would have been one of the best driving cars made in Japan, thanks to its mid-engined layout, a six-speed clutchless manual gearbox, and the fact that power went to all four wheels. It also had Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system, which ensured optimal torque distribution to each wheel depending on the driving conditions.
5 1997 Honda J-VX
In 1997, Honda wanted to showcase the new hybrid technology it was working on, so it built the J-VX Concept. The J-VX was unveiled at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show at the same time as the Toyota Prius, setting the stage for fierce competition between the two Japanese automakers in the following years. However, unlike the Prius, the J-VX couldn't use the electric motors alone.
Powering the J-VX was a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with innovative details like direct injection to boost efficiency. Interestingly, the J-VX didn't have batteries to store electric energy - instead, it used an ultracapacitor to quickly discharge energy when needed.
4 2007 Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept
Designed by Honda's European branch in Offenbach, Germany, the Small Hybrid Sports Concept showed that compact sports cars could have a low environmental impact without losing any of the driving enjoyment gearheads crave. The concept car was conceived around a front-wheel-drive system and featured an aerodynamic design characterized by curvaceous surfaces contrasting with its sharp 'folded' edges.
At the heart of the Small Hybrid Sports Concept was a four-cylinder petrol-electric engine sending all power to the front wheels. This was perfectly paired with a CVT transmission, ensuring nimble, agile performance.
3 2012 Honda EV-STER Concept
The EV-STER is an electric concept sports car Honda introduced at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Featuring an innovative and dynamic design, the EV-STER looked like it had been sent back from the future.
The EV-STER was powered by electric motors sending power to the rear wheels, making it a joy to drive, especially on curvy roads. The use of carbon fiber also made it extremely light, resulting in high driving performance and a range of around 100 miles. Honda also equipped the EV-STER with a twin-lever steering system for easier operation.
2 2012 Honda AC-X Concept
There are many beautiful four-door sedans but had Honda produced the 2012 AC-X Concept, it would have been the best-looking. Honda unveiled the AC-X Concept together with the EV-STER in 2012, and it immediately caught gearheads' attention thanks to its futuristic design.
The AC-X came with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with Honda's hybrid drive system. According to Honda, drivers could choose between an "engine drive mode," which uses the engine more for better performance, or an "automatic drive mode," which uses the electric motors more for a more relaxed drive.
1 2015 Honda Project 2&4 Concept
Honda is a master of two trades - making cars and motorcycles. So what do you get when you combine the two? Well, the answer is the Project 2&4 Concept. Developed by Honda's automotive and motorcycle engineers, the Project 2&4 Concept was a simple, lightweight single-passenger sports car with a 'floating seat' design - similar to the Ariel Atom and BAC Mono.
The Project 2&4 Concept was powered by a 999cc V-4 four-stroke engine developed for MotoGP but specially tuned for the road. This concept car had the maneuverability of a car and freedom of a motorcycle perfectly rolled into one.