Honda shows off three-wheeled 3R-C concept vehicle
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 25th 2010 7:22AM
posted February 25th 2010 7:22AM
Dig the idea of something like GM's P.U.M.A. personal transporter but wish it would make you want to say pew pew pew whenever you're driving? Then feast your eyes on the Honda 3R-C concept that's just been announced in advance of the Geneva Motor Show. Nothing even approaching a roll-out date, as you might expect, but the three-wheeled vehicle would apparently use a battery electric drivetrain mounted low in the chassis for improved stability, and it even includes a bit of room for storage in the front, along with a clear canopy that apparently shifts to a windshield to give the "pilot" a bit more headroom. Not much else in the way of details, unfortunately, but Honda might have a bit more to say after its official unveiling in Geneva next week.
Why do they create these far fetched concepts, they never stick them in mass production anyway. :\
@ratchetnclank
To make the news!
@ratchetnclank
Honestly if I had the money I would drive one of these. I Love all these awesome concepts and I wish they would start to model the production cars after these.
@ratchetnclank
That's why they are called concepts :) they let their designers create something freely without the restrictions from the present day expectations. They rarely go to mass production just because of those same reasons, people aren't ready for such a "wild" ideas, they want their tried, tested and familiar vehicles... It's a pity too, I myself would love to cruise around in one of these for example ^^
@mikachu
Concepts go through the artist's department. The thing with the artistic department is that they are not bound by real world things such as physics, aerodynamics, and even usability.
Before production, a car goes to the engineer's station, where they take the concept back to reality. There are simply some things that would be uneconomical, downright impossible, unsafe or not user-friendly from the concept.
lets thank god for that.
What purpose does this serve? It has every drawback of a four wheeled vehicle and every none of the benefits of a two wheeled. It's purpose? Honda have a bit too much time on their hands.
@dave england
The only positive I could think of is during an accident. You'd have more material that would be hit rather than your own body.
@fisher
yeah but it still has every drawback of a four wheeled vehicle and none of the benefits of a two wheeled.
@ratchetnclank
Not to worry, they will one day be mass produced..but just not in out lifetime.
I was gonna say.. do you have to be decapitated to drive this thing?
@gargle
http://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/2010/02/24/4beacf9c-2138-11df-b6c3-fe8d783881d2.jpg
Here's a pic WITH a driver.
For those who can't view the pic to which I linked, the thing that looks like a glass canopy is actually a windscreen, and it's folded down when the vehicle's not occupied. That red upholstery you see at the top is the seat, so the driver sits above the vehicle, out in the open (i.e. you'll need a helmet, biker gear, etc.).
. . . which is disappointing, really. From first glance, this thing looked like a sealed-cabin personal vehicle. Alas, it's just a glorified 3-wheeled motorcycle (albeit an electric one).
Agreed. The vehicle would be so much more usable if it had a full canopy which really wouldn't be much of an additional undertaking to accomplish. A full canopy would make it more feasible for commuting and the like by enabling you to wear your work attire without having to worry about getting wet or having wind-blown hair.
Looks like R2D2 got updated ;-)
looks like a giant robot's head....
like in those mazinger anime....
Does it tilt sideways?
Questions I don't normally ask about cars.
Which end is the front and which is the back?
How do the doors open?
How many people can fit in it?
@DDragon Front is facing us, one person.
So people don't get the wrong idea... the canopy opens up for the driver to sit vertical in, not lay down or forward like something from Tron. I think the newsites really need to put the picture with the driver in it... brings this back to "meh"...
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/honda-shows-off-three-wheeled-3r-c-concept-vehicle/#comments
Argh, I hate this comment system...
http://jalopnik.com/5479012/honda-3r+c-concept-will-we-never-learn
If it doesn't lean, using rounded motorcycle tires is idiotic. o_O
I am all for inverse trikes, but a much better design is a larger practical model like the Aptera w/ a wide base for stable high-speed operation or a narrow leaning version (enclosed or not) like the Piaggio MP3 scooter or leaning narrow four wheelers like the Lumeneo Smera or Nissan Landglider.
http://www.ohgizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/lumeneo_smera.jpg
R-Type ??? :)
But can it stop?
@Willis It's a Honda, not a Toyota, so yes it can stop.
@barry99705
ooooo Ouch..
From an engineering standpoint this vehicle is horrible. Very poor aerodynamic considerations. Why is the body work on the back of the wheel but not the front? There is a very large adverse pressure gradient over the front of the car and very low pressure regions on the back. The CG would be very high. Horrible car!
@pauldovi
"Horrible car!" - well, I think it can live with that... Given that it's a scooter. And the front wheels kind of start making sense once you look at pictures of your average large modern scooters... Also: psssst... It's a concept, a design study...
Wish they'd just make another CRX.
im thinking this one will hit the masses like woa. i mean that front end. it will be so easy to navigated on the roads or whatever. it looks like you can see so darn well dont it!
@emopoops Can you restate your comment in the form of a coherent sentence?
@barry99705 yeah man. sorry. i actually had a looksie when i googled the um thing. and theres another picture. this darn thing is like a tricicle motorcycle!
without reading the title, it looks like a dyson.
It should be illegal to show off cool concepts you have no intention of making. I'm still waiting for my damn Yamaha Tesseract.
It looks like a coffin...
Looks like someone's R&D team has been to movies recently...
http://www.theterrordrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Untitled-1-385x398.jpg
nice idea it's an interesting alternative for city slickers.. where can i sign for one of these?
Yeah that will hold up great in an accident.
@derrickONLINE
You don't think it'll protect the rider better than a regular scooter, given that it has three wheels instead of two, a super low center of gravity thanks to the batteries, and body panels vs nothing at all ? *boggle*
@MarcO Are you really comparing the safety feature of a scooter to this? Knowing this might be safer than a regular scooter doesn't exactly instill a sense of confidence in me.
But you're right, being hit while riding a scooter could leave you dead while being involved in an accident riding this just might leave you paralyzed. Silly me.
I love some of these concepts, if it actually came out in this form I may buy it, but we all know once they get serious about producing it, they'll be pressured into turning it into a regular looking car. To people who boo concepts all the time - um, it's called things change over time.
Is it just me, or does this remind anyone else of Boba Fett's Slave I?
The front grill has the same stylin' as my Prelude :-)
My 'Lude is 11 ye ars old and still kicking ass! I'm waiting for Tesla motors to make a cheaper car : /
So it's basicly a moon buggie/bike ?= moonbike... I'd hate hitting a moon rock with 20mph while trying to not kiss my kneecaps