Honda FC Sport: Hydrogen supercar concept

This century, vaunted supercar names such as Ferrari and Lamborghini might be displaced by Honda. The Japanese company has showed off a supercar concept, the FC Sport, at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. Powered by an electric motor, the FC Sport's energy is generated by a hydrogen fuel cell.

The fuel-cell powertrain, which Honda calls V Flow, is being used in the FCX Clarity, the hydrogen-fuelled sedan that Honda currently leases on a limited basis. The FC Sport is designed to be a lightweight, performance-oriented car, and if it wants to be considered a supercar should have a 0-60mph time of under 4 seconds. While Honda is known for producing fuel-efficient, compact cars, it does have some performance expertise from competing in F1 and IRL racing.

In the FC Sport, the electric motor sits just in front of the rear axle, similar to the placement of engines in some sports cars, allowing for good weight distribution. The hydrogen tanks sit above the rear axle, and in a nod towards the glass-covered engines in Ferraris, the back glass of the FC Sport shows off the tanks. A long overhang in the rear houses a cooling unit for the fuel cells. The cabin is arranged in a one-plus-two format, with a single driver's seat in front, and two passenger seats behind it. Sadly, you shouldn't expect to see the FC Sport on the road, ever, as it's just a design study.