LA 2007 Preview: Honda 124, modular solar-hybrid commuter
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This year's Los Angeles Auto Show includes the fourth annual Design Los Angeles conference for automotive designers. Part of the conference is the Design Challenge which this year tries to imagine transportation a half century from now. The entry from Honda designers Ben Davidson, Khrystyne Zurian, Shae Shatz envisions a robotic modular vehicle comprising four pods. When coupled together they can travel at higher speeds and use a car pool lane. Once they approach the destination they can separate into smaller single seater vehicles that are easily maneuverable. Power comes from a solar hybrid system and the name is One to the Power of Four.
[Editor's note: looks like a Jedi Starfighter to me. I want it]
Gallery: LA Auto Show: Honda 124
[Source: LA Auto Show]
Honda - 14 - One to the Power of Four
The solar-hybrid powered Honda 14 is an energy efficient, fully robotic commuting solution. A suburban community re-population movement in the 2050's has increased consumer demand for a truly flexible commuter vehicle.
The solar-hybrid Honda 14 solves the carpooling dilemma because it allows carpoolers to take advantage of HOV lanes, share commuting costs and once near the passengers' final destinations, robotically transforms from one to four separate and unique modes of transportation.
Through a combination of gyros, artificial intelligence and molecular engineering, each individual vehicle instinctively reconfigures as a fully functional vehicle. When traveling as one, the division points are undetectable. The latest advancements in molecular engineering allow the body panels to divide and reshape to form each individual vehicle.
Honda Research & Development
Design Team: Ben Davidson
Khrystyne Zurian
Shae Shatz
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony Belding 2:48PM (10/12/2007)
It does have wheels, right? Right??
Reply
Phil L. 3:25PM (10/12/2007)
Wait a minute: 1 raised to the 4th power is...
Still 1.
Perhaps the marketing people don't know math?
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Ping Wang 5:03PM (10/12/2007)
When one car combines with the power of three other cars, it becomes one unstoppable mega-car.
...Like the zords in Power Rangers.
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Ping Wang 8:45PM (10/12/2007)
apparently the car of the future spews dirty soot out of its tailpipes...
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Zola 1:34PM (10/13/2007)
Honda's this invention is unbeatable.
http://www.elitechoice.org/2007/10/13/one-to-the-power-of-four-unmatchable-honda/
Reply