Toyota, Honda, and Italdesign compete for attention in Geneva
By Donald Melanson 
posted Mar 6th 2007 4:06PM
posted Mar 6th 2007 4:06PM
Looks like Geneva's the place to be this week for those looking for a glimpse of a more fuel-efficient, sci fi-inspired future, with car companies doing their best to out-do one another with their respective concept vehicles on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Three of the vehicles unveiled so far are the Hybrid-X from Toyota (top left), the Small Hybrid Sports from Honda (top right), and the VAD.HO from Italdesign (bottom). Both the Toyota and Honda cars are based on advanced versions of the company's current gas/electric hybrid engines, which means that even if the concepts themselves don't make it to the assembly line, their innards could well find their way into some of the company's other vehicles. Italdesign's VAD.HO concept car, on the other hand, opts to use BMW's Hydrogen 7 engine, which is also equally capable of running on plain old gasoline. Sure to attract the most attention, however, is what's wrapped around that engine, with the car sporting a long and mean design with room for just one passenger, not to mention an interior equipped with joystick controls and a full compliment of video screens. Click on through for a couple of larger pics of each, then hit up the appropriate links below to check 'em out from every angle.Read - Autoblog Green, Toyota Hybrid-X
Read - Autoblog Green, Honda Small Hybrid Sports
Read - Winding Road, Italdesign VAD.HO
It's a "complement", not a "compliment". Don't rely so much on your spell checker!
The Honda is okay... but the Toyota looks like a 2012 Prius. And what the heck is up with the last one? What's the point of a sexy one-seater? "Hey babe, like my new ride? Well hop in the trunk and we'll head over to my place." One seaters are for efficient commuters, there's no need for high-end luxury. If you want luxury, efficience is rarely top priority, showing off by giving people rides is much, much higher.
But hey, what do I know... I drive a Jetta.
The Italdesign seats one passenger, not one person. The passenger sits behind the driver
The Toyota looks like craaaaaap. Bravo on the other two though. The Honda looks very not Honda-ish though.
I actually thought the Honda looked like an Aston Martin mixed with an Audi.
And the Chevrolet Volt looks better than all of them combined:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/07/detroit-auto-show-chevrolet-volt-concept/
http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/chevy-volt-concept-1/
Uhhh... The VAD.HO is a two-seater. Looks like it might be driveable from both seats too, although I'm not sure. It looks like there's one joystick for the backseat, but there're two for the front.
The Honda is hot. Look at the back when the brakes are applied
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2007/03/02.jpg
I actually like the Toyota best of the three... must be my love of suppositories.
One seaters won't get too far... make that bubbletop the right size, and aha!... you gat one nice machine..
I'm kinda surprised by the lack of geek comments. While the designs for the exterior are interesting, I'd like to know the alleged performance specs of these units.