Honda's Prius fighter - spy shots
 

Via ABG:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...ed-copy450.jpg

Fight Priuses with... Priuses!

More pics, info:

Spy Shots: Honda's hybrid-only Prius fighter! - AutoblogGreen

Man, I have spent about 10 minutes comparing that to a prius... if it's not a Prius body with a Honda drivetrain then it is REALLY REALLY REALLY damn close, the only difference I can see is the shape of the rear door is slightly different in the way it follows the wheel well.

copying the prius, or reaching for the same goal? If two people went out to design a ball, they'd come back with the same design, too. Maybe this is the "typical" car of the future.

It's hard to tell, but even on the emblem area on the grill looks like Toyota.

I think it's just that close. There are actually lots of detail differences, but the basic shape says: "Look! I'm a hybrid!", as well as "Cd .26" (or thereabouts) both of which Honda is after.

Looks like a carbon copy of a Pius to me....

Not surprising, since it's based on the FCX Clarity.

http://www.autospectator.com/cars/fi...CX-Clarity.jpg

This is what low Cd production cars look like.

If that's the most efficient design, I suppose a lot of other cars will start looking like that. Keep in mind, however, that that sloping hood was designed/used by Dodge and Honda for years before Toyota adopted (copied?) it.

Are you sure that isn't a toyota test vehicle just running around to make honda look goofy?

No seriously, I guess that means that the shape is an inherently good aero / size/ space compromise and the people who can't stand the Prius shape ( I know a few) are just gong to have to put up with it.

Edit: Honda if your reading you forgot the rear wheel covers. And Toyota if you are reading you should install rear wheel covers to beat Honda to the punch.

I think the clarity looks a TON better then the honda test vehicle whatever it is, maybe it's just the coverups on it, maybe it's because the test vehicle is a prius and I don't care for the prius shape (I know it's pretty close to ideal and i'd take one in a heart beat but i still don't like what they look like). It seems the clarity and the honda test are not alike at all looking at them...?

"Honda, if your reading, you forgot the rear wheel covers. And Toyota if you are reading you should install rear wheel covers to beat Honda to the punch."

Yes wheel covers are a no brainer for a 'free' mpg or two on the highway. I wonder if they were made removable, if that would help the neanderthals in the public accept the car? I wonder if the EPA would allow their cD value to be used in fuel economy ratings?

Anyway, when I saw that picture, two things popped into my head:

1) They are all using the same math. That's the reason the Russian space shuttle looks remarkably like ours.

2) The people who disguise these cars are purposefully trying to have a little fun with us and they tacked on shapes to make this thing look like the current Prius. ;)

Hi folks,

This picture shows the unnamed Honda next to a Prius:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...fight_hi08.jpg
They are close, that's for sure, but there are subtle differences -- and I'm sure thee masking makes it tough to judge.

Hmmm... I wonder about the price...

Hi,

When they announced it, Honda said it would be the lowest price hybrid available in the USA.

They also mentioned that they were intending to have a hybrid version be ~$1,900 higher than the regular version -- so for the Fit, it will be ~$18,000-19,000? The model in the spy shots is a hybrid only model, so we only have the statement about it being less money than the Prius.

That is good news. I hope that they can start a price war with the Prius.

They did a remakable job of hiding what is a very distinctive tail by making it look more like the Prius.

http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/l/3/1/..._rear_laas.jpg

I'm not sure a price war will erupt since they will sell every one of these they make. There will be long waiting lists.

I sometimes wonder if Toyota actually makes any money on the Prius.

On closer inspection it look like htey literally grafted a Prius rear hatch on it to hide it.

http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/D/m/ag_07prius_rear.jpg

Next generation Prius.
http://bp2.blogger.com/_XEEIzU0UA1M/...00-h/prius.jpg

SuperTrooper -

Yes, I call this the "box fish rear" because of the way the window tapers back :

Mercedes-Benz Bionic Concept Vehicle
http://img.worldcarfans.com/US/2005/...004.Mini3L.jpg

CarloSW2

That almost looks like cadillac styling. Im looking forward to seeing a larger array of fuel efficient vehicles on the road though

The front end kinda looks like a VW Passat and that front door is huge!!!! Ya it looks like it is going head to head in that photo with the Prius and the Civic Hybrid. The rear doors look dnagerous aswell because there is an awefull lot of door hanging from the top there were the masking tape is. As if to cover up a window. If you don't pay attention you could knock yourself out with it.

Hi,

Does anybody know the Cd of the FCX Clarity?

I wonder if either the Prius or the unnamed Honda have well designed belly pans?

I tried and tried to find Cd info on the FXC Clarity, and came up with nada. This was when the press first got to try it though - maybe there's some info floating around out there now.

Hello,

Honda has a page up for the new-as-yet-unamed-hybrid...

I know there is a general shape that factory made low .cd cars are going to have... but I have to say, Honda did a vastly better job at keeping the car aesthetically pleasing with the FCX Clarity than Toyota did with the 2nd Gen Prius! The rear-end styling on the Clarity look great! I especially like how they kept it from having that shunted looked by having the sides come together at the end. It's really hard to explain, but it seems to be reminiscent of the aero modded blue metro where the passenger side was removed and tapered down towards the trunk.

I hope that Honda's "Prius Fighter" takes on design cues from the Clarity instead of those from the Insight.