PDA

View Full Version : Honda to Reveal OSM Concept in London



ShAwNeX
09-07-2008, 12:38 PM
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080708.014/honda-to-reveal-osm-concept-in-london

Back in October 2007, Honda debuted the CR-Z (Compact Renaissance Zero) concept car in Tokyo. Referred to as a “next generation lightweight sports car”, the CR-Z is confirmed for production starting in 2009.

Today, Honda has announced, using the same language as above, that an OSM (Open Study Model) concept, which bears many similarities to the CR-Z, except as a drop-top version, will debut at the London Motor Show on July 22. The OSM concept was drafted at Honda's R&D center in Offenbach, Germany.

In an interview with Automotive News, Honda spokesman, Steve Kirk, acknowledged certain similarities between the two cars, but did not confirm if the CR-Z and OSM were related.

"At present the OSM is just a design study, a clay model," Kirk said. "It is definitely not confirmed for production at the moment." However, he goes on to hint that if the OSM is approved for production, it “would fit into Honda's plans for a greener product range.”

Strategically, London is a good event to debut a compact convertible, since the UK is the world's biggest markets for open-topped sports cars.

Xplodin
31-07-2008, 02:25 PM
Taken from Honda Worldwide...
http://world.honda.com/news/2008/4080722British-International-Motor-Show/



July 22, 2008– Honda's low-emission sportscar study model has been revealed at the British International Motor Show, at ExCel, London.

OSM (Open Study Model)

http://world.honda.com/news/2008/4080722British-International-Motor-Show/photo/images/01.jpg

The lightweight roadster design study is a concept showing Honda's core engineering principals, designing 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.