AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: HONDA URBAN SUV CONCEPT

On The Cover Review: Honda Urban SUV Concept

Editor's Note: Welcome to our annual look at the concept vehicles that were revealed to the world at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Part of determining used vehicle values is predicting the future. With that in mind, it makes sense to look at what the manufacturers believe the future will bring us. Whether it’s new ways to power vehicles or new ways to package them, there are lots of great ideas on the horizon. This is the fifth in a series of The Automobile Red Book’s annual review of some of the best concepts from COBO Hall.

Goldilocks would love the Honda Urban SUV Concept. Because while she may think the popular CR-V is too big, and the compact Fit is too small, she’ll think the Urban SUV is just right. Over the years, the CR-V has grown in size to the point where it almost isn’t a compact anymore. That’s why Honda believes the Urban SUV will be popular. For the most part, there is nothing particularly outstanding about the Urban SUV concept—it’s just a Honda SUV that’s smaller than a CR-V. So you aren’t going to find hydrogen power or fingerprint scanners or any of that other futuristic nonsense. In fact, this is just barely a concept. Picture it with more normal wheels, lights, and door handles, and you’re looking at a rig that will be for sale in the near future.

AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2011 HONDA CIVIC CONCEPT

On The Cover Review: 2011 Honda Civic Concept

Honda may call this car a concept, but there’s no reason to believe this isn’t mostly what we can expect when the 2012 Civic hits showrooms.  Honda introduced both a Civic sedan and a Civic Si coupe concept in Detroit, and they look about like what you would expect the next generation of this car to look like.  The white sedan actually looked a lot like some of the new offerings in the Volkswagen display, especially in the front grill area.  The coupe was finished in a sparkling orange metallic, and although it wasn’t a huge departure from the current Civic, it is still worlds sportier than this model from even a few years ago.  And of course, Honda touted the vehicle’s efficiency, offering that the gasoline-powered model would achieve 40-mpg on the highway, while hybrid and natural gas-powered versions will also be available. 

AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2010 HONDA FCX CLARITY

On The Cover Review: 2010 Honda FCX Clarity

What is that, the new Accord?  Well, not exactly.  In spite of its relatively normal appearance, the FCX Clarity is a very technologically advanced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.  And unlike the Accord, you can’t just run out and buy one at the local Honda store.  The FCX Clarity is more of an experiment than a real car.  A handful of people in the Los Angeles area were able to lease FCX Clarities for $600/month to see how they work in the real world—a pittance when you figure that each car cost upwards of seven figures to put on the road.  There are a few hydrogen refueling stations in southern California, which is why the test is there.  And just like that, we’ve revealed one of the drawbacks to hydrogen technology.  We have a nation that has been building and perfecting gasoline stations for some 100-years.  Changing the infrastructure to support hydrogen vehicles, as well as support the millions of gasoline-powered cars and trucks on the road, would be a monumental task.  Even Honda predicts this technology wouldn’t be available to the masses until around 2020.  So until then, the FCX Clarity is a concept car that is being tried out on the road.  It may or may not be the answer to eliminating our dependence on gasoline, but right now, it is way too early to tell.