Honda has officially unveiled its Open Study Model (OSM) concept at the British International Motor Show, at ExCeL, London.
The OSM concept is meant to show that it is possible to create a stylish and fun car that is also environmentally friendly.
"We're trying to show that low emission cars can be attractive," says Andreas Sittel, Project Leader for OSM. "There is no reason why a car that's more environmentally friendly can't look great too – and be sporty and fun to drive."
Honda claims that the OSM is strictly a design study and that it will not be produced and that it is not the next S2000.
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PRESS RELEASE:
LOW EMISSION HONDA ROADSTER BREAKS COVER
Two-seat design study unveiled at British International Motor Show
Honda's low-emission sportscar study model has been revealed at the British International Motor Show, at ExCeL, London.
The lightweight roadster design study displays one of Honda's core engineering principles – to design stylish and exciting cars that are also environmentally responsible.
Named the OSM (for Open Study Model), the two-seater joins the confirmed-for-production CR-Z sports hybrid and FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car on the Honda stand at the show.
"We're trying to show that low emission cars can be attractive," says Andreas Sittel, Project Leader for OSM. "There is no reason why a car that's more environmentally friendly can't look great too – and be sporty and fun to drive."
The concept for the project was 'Clean and Dynamic' – and this direction was followed for both the exterior and interior design, ensuring a joined-up, consistent 'language' between the two. One example of this can be seen at the rear of the car, where the body actually extends into the cabin between the seats.
The exterior design is a balance of smooth, rounded curves and sharp lines to provide definition in key areas. The headlights are cleverly integrated into the front end, stretching from the nose to the top of the wheel arches to look more like a part of the original body.
Inside, this uninterrupted, fluid approach is continued, with long sweeping curves extending from both door panels to form a frame for the instrument display. The concept for the dashboard was to avoid creating the traditional block of 'heavy' colour and material in front of the driver; in keeping with the clean and lightweight theme. For that reason, the dash is broken into sections, with the most important instruments in direct line-of-sight of the driver.
Key information is displayed in a rounded, enclosed central binnacle, with levels and figures in bright blue on a black background. This matches the trim inside the car, with the seats and door furniture trimmed in a new, gloss-effect blue leather, accompanied by white leather sections, in line with the exterior body colour, a one-off paint called Mystic Pearl.
The driver's main controls and functions are distributed in an intuitive layout, close at hand on a panel that curves downwards to the right of the driver. A centrally-mounted semi-sequential gear-shift points towards a fun-to-drive transmission, along with paddle shifts either side of the steering wheel. Integrated into the gearshifter itself is a red ignition 'start' button, which reinforces the sporty direction of the car.
The Honda OSM was designed by Honda's R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany. It's the latest example of the young talent being developed within Honda's design studios in Europe – following the Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept (Geneva 2007) and the Accord Tourer Concept (Frankfurt 2007).
At present, the Honda OSM is a design study model, and there are no plans for it to enter production.
Comments (15)
1st
It actually doesn't look all that bad. Hopefully by "sporty and fun to drive" Honda means rear wheel drive.
Posted by 1st is stupid | July 23, 2008 10:33 AM
Posted on July 23, 2008 10:33
I'm not holding my breath that we'll see anything even close to this. Just look at the Honda Sports 4 concept and the HSC that honda released. Both of which looked awesome and then never materialized. My first 5 cars were Honda/Acura, and those will probably be the last Honda/Acura's I ever buy unless they can get some decent models rolled out. Honda's lineup is about as exciting as watching molases roll down a tree.
Posted by Gary | July 23, 2008 10:47 AM
Posted on July 23, 2008 10:47
They should make it run on junk mail, or bunny rabbits because they can reproduce very quickly. Definitely don't hold your breath, their not selling it anyway.
Posted by Mongo Smurf | July 23, 2008 10:52 AM
Posted on July 23, 2008 10:52
that doesnt look like a RWD to me...
Posted by dracolnyte | July 23, 2008 11:51 AM
Posted on July 23, 2008 11:51
how can you tell its not rwd, i think maby its awd and tows a boat ...
Posted by dennisil | July 23, 2008 12:28 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 12:28
Interior is sick, domestic junks just wont learn...
Posted by will | July 23, 2008 2:15 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 14:15
Interior looks great, if you are twleve and love japanese cartoons.
Posted by therooster | July 23, 2008 2:22 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 14:22
I really just scratch my head when car companies come out with some nice designs and say, "Oh, that, it's an engineering model designed to help us learn." Learn? What have you been doing the last 40 years? I pretty sure the ideas and technology that go into an Accord are pretty well hammered out. It isn't like this is some radical race design, or even a EV or hybrid.
It always feels like they design these things just to go, "Hey look how cool of a car we can make. Now go buy that bland one over there."
Posted by Brian | July 23, 2008 3:36 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 15:36
Is a third brake light necessary when the rear lights run so long?
Posted by ToeJamFootball | July 23, 2008 3:54 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 15:54
@ToeJamFootball:
Federal law mandates you have a rear brake like a certain distance above the ground.. If that distance is greater than the first set of lights, you have to have a 3rd light higher up. That's the whole reason they started popping up on cars a while back.
Posted by Gary | July 23, 2008 4:09 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 16:09
Why waste money to design a car that people like, and then not build it... plus this thing looks like a 2+2, therefore reaching out to more buyers, id be intrested so far ,knowing in advance honda would have a reliable and decent performing engine
Posted by 5thgear | July 23, 2008 5:33 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 17:33
an awfull copy of that jelly Lexus two-seater
Posted by waldorf and statler | July 23, 2008 8:27 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 20:27
Is that a Cylon looking at me?
Posted by Turd Fergusson | July 24, 2008 5:34 AM
Posted on July 24, 2008 05:34
I wish it is the diesel version of the Beat from Honda!
Posted by Fontorio | August 2, 2008 11:04 AM
Posted on August 2, 2008 11:04
why is it that whenever a manufacture FINALLY comes out with something cool, aka the OSM, it NEVER comes to the market???? if Honda produced that OSM, it would be the next hottest car... the s2k was cool for its time, and the OSM REALLY should be produced!!!!
Posted by kazmist | October 13, 2008 1:36 PM
Posted on October 13, 2008 13:36