GOOGLE IMAGES: HONDA FC Sport

[aerohead]

GOOGLE has a number of photos of this concept car including a plan view.It's worth a look.
If they narrowed the rear track like EV-1,and 1st-gen Insight we'd really have something.

[COcyclist]

Originally Posted by aerohead

If they narrowed the rear track like EV-1,and 1st-gen Insight we'd really have something.

I agree. From this photo Honda FC Sport - Fuel Cell Concept - the Official Honda Web Site it looks like the greenhouse has a good plan taper but they added these giant wheel flairs like a New Beetle only squared off. Once again, styling trumps aerodynamics.

[Sven7]

Images would really help.

[Ecky]

Looks amazing. I hadn't heard about the Honda FCX either, I'm pretty excited about that. A production fuel cell car? Awesome.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by COcyclist

I agree. From this photo Honda FC Sport - Fuel Cell Concept - the Official Honda Web Site it looks like the greenhouse has a good plan taper but they added these giant wheel flairs like a New Beetle only squared off. Once again, styling trumps aerodynamics.

Yeah,we can nit-pick it to death but at least they're causing people to see that roof and body taper.Those with deductive reasoning skills will connect the dots perhaps,and make the mental leap to a more un-cluttered design.
I like to think that those who see it will legitimize the form simply because of Honda's reputation for engineering/efficiency.

[aerohead]

Sven7,thanks for the images! I've little skill with links,so I really appreciate (as ever ) supplying images for all to feast their eyes on.

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Sven7,thanks for the images! I've little skill with links,so I really appreciate (as ever ) supplying images for all to feast their eyes on.

No problem. I would like to say though, regarding body shapes, that I asked a GM designer who has worked for everything from Opel to Cadillac, "why don't automakers use aerodynamic rear-ends on their cars?" His answer was variety. He said Cadillac didn't want to build a Prius. Sounds like an excuse to me! They made streamlining cool in the 30's and I see no reason they couldn't do the same today, but make it work.

But I digress. I wish the FC Sport styling would make it into production but almost all hope is gone. Their cars just look Korean now.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by COcyclist

........giant wheel flairs .........

Not the only problem, the rear tapers at an angle greater than 20 degrees, air will not stick.

The only way to get the extreme cab-forward look (without causing a Pontiac TransVan effect of driver disorientation) is to put the drivers feet in the middle, out of the wheel wells. See attached image far below.

In a design I'm sketching up and playing with, I've resorted to a tandem 2-seater with electric hub drive. I'm sure that is not really socially acceptable either.

The two seats behind the middle front driver in the Honda are at odds with a true teardrop canopy greenhouse. Side head clearances may be a problem.

[botsapper]

Did a quick study with a verrry narrow rear track, reminiscent of the 1st gen Insight. The prominent rear haunches looks cool & very aggressive looking but hurts the aero-look. Honda will be coming with very angular designs in the future instead of the fashionable curvilinear swoops. Their new NSX halo will be their new design direction.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by botsapper

Did a quick study.............

I'm not sure what you consider "quick", but the results are excellent.

What program did you use?

Looks like this could easily be made into a 3-wheeler too.