Eliminate and blur genre boundaries, mix the unusual with the familiar and let the play instinct run free: Honda invited its playful designers to an internal competition. The only requirement was to combine the RC213V motorcycle engine originally developed for the MotoGP racing series with four wheels. The Japanese motorcycle branch prevailed with its ideas among 80 participating Honda creatives. The result goes by the somewhat cumbersome name Project 2 & 4 powered by RC213V and can be viewed at the Honda stand during the IAA.
The vehicle, which was designed under the direction of Martin Petersson, is not bulky. The hermaphrodite, which is only three meters long and almost one meter high, is somewhat reminiscent of the 1 Honda Formula 1965 car, the RA272. Honda thus quotes its successful motorsport history. However, the driver sits next to the mid-engine on an almost floating seat construction - without a roof or other protection. It is maneuvered with a car steering wheel. The trade fair study shows the model with only one seat. Martin Petersson, designer of the study, is also planning a two-seater variant in which the driver and front passenger are separated by the mid-engine.
Propulsion is provided by the slightly modified V4 four-stroke engine with 158 kW / 215 PS at high engine speeds of 13.000 rpm, typical of a motorcycle. The maximum torque of 118 Newton meters is at 10.500 revolutions. The shift work is carried out by a specially adapted six-speed dual clutch transmission. Since the hermaphrodite of motorcycle and four-wheel construction weighs only 405 kilograms, the acceleration values should not raise any questions. However, the study is not ready to drive, but the designers and Honda technicians are willing to continue to work on it and live out their playful instinct.
Author: Elfriede Munsch / SP-X