For starters, there's nothing wrong with your eyes, the screen or the picture; the twin set of horizontal headlamps flanking either side of the Li Nian Everus concept's chrome-happy grille are the real deal.
Li Nian is a newly formed brand from Honda's China branch, Guangqi Honda, formerly known as Guangzhou Honda. The brand has showed two other concept models in the past, a compact-sized crossover and a sporty roadster.
Honda said that a production version of the Li Nian concept will be introduced at China's Guangzhou Motor Show, scheduled at the end of this year, but did not release any more details on the car. However, we suspect that it is closely based on the City, a small sedan itself based on the Jazz platform.
A futuristic single-seater three-wheeled concept called "3R-C" will take a central role at Honda's stand at this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show. Created by European designers working at Honda's Research and Design facility in Milan, the 3R-C concept vehicle is motivated by a battery electric drivetrain which is mounted low in the three wheeled chassis. The 3R-C's features include a retractable clear canopy that covers the driver's seat while the vehicle is parked. When in use, the canopy serves as a windshield. Despite the 3R-C's overly compact dimensions, Honda has also managed to create a small lockable boot area in the front of the driver.
The three-wheeled study will be joined by the retro EV-N mini concept that will make its European debut in Geneva.
Honda selected the 2010 Chicago Auto Show to unveil the Odyssey Concept study that teases the next-generation of the Japanese firm's minivan. And by that, we mean that the concept is more of a garnished pre-production model than a pure study.
Just don't expect the shaved door handles, funky exterior mirrors, large alloy wheels, the futuristic light inserts and every other detail that makes the concept stand out to be present on the series production 2011 Odyseey that will debut this fall.
Compared to the current Odyssey, the concept has a slightly lower roofline (-1.0 inch) and wider stance (+1.4 inch), both contributing to a somewhat sleeker shape and a more dynamic stance. The wheelbase length remains the same at 118.1 inches.
The Japanese company said that the production version of the next generation Odyssey will boast enhanced aerodynamic properties and new powertrain technologies resulting to an increased fuel efficiency.
In particular, Honda anticipates that the 2011 Odyssey minivan will achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway on select models.
Japanese manufacturers, residents of the BLAND unit in the trauma ward that is the modern auto industry (for the most part), put out some huge and extremely popular sports cars in the 90's.
Toyota had the twin-turbo Supra; Mitsubishi had the 3000GT VR-4; Mazda had the twin-turbo RX-7 and Nissan had the twin-turbo 300ZX and Skyline GT-Rs. And Honda? Well, they tried to pick a fight with Ferrari with their naturally-aspirated V6-powered NSX, but as for the common man? That's where the SSM concept stepped in, foreshadowing the S2000 roadster.
Debut (Concept): Honda unveiled the SSM concept, which stands for Sports Study Model, at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show.
Debut (Prototype ; Production): Following the presentation of a pre-production prototype in September 1998, Honda launched the S2000 onto the market in April 1999 in celebration of the firm's 50th anniversary.
Lost in translation: While keeping the basic shape of the SSM, the S2000's styling was less extravagant with Honda's designers eliminating/redesigning several elements such as the large rear diffuser, low-riding headlights, geometric rollover hoops and passenger compartment divider.
But we got to keep: The same basic front-engine/rear-wheel-drive, 2-seat roadster layout, the fancy push-button starter, rigidity-enhancing x-bone monocoque frame, and that 50/50 weight distribution.
And gained: A roof as the folding soft top came as standard with an aluminum hardtop offered optionally.
Fun fact: Similar to Audi's TT (depending on who you believe), the Honda S2000's nomenclature was pulled from the company's past: the S made it a modern-day successor to Honda's small roadsters of the 60's (S500, S600, S800), while the number represents the engine's displacement (until the updated AP2 generation upped the displacement for the NA-spec model from 1,997 cc to 2,157 cc while retaining the S2000 name).
Did you know? The S2000 roadster's 240PS 2.0-litre engine 9,000 rpm VTEC four-pot (2.2-liter for the North American model from 2004 and onwards) remains one of the highest output per liter and highest revving series production engines ever made
Sales: Since its introduction in 1999 and until June 2009, Honda sold more than 110,700 units of the S2000 worldwide with more than 65,000 making their way to the United States alone.
Where is it now? After ten years in production, the S2000 reached the end of its life last year with the last ever car rolling off the line at Suzuka, Japan in June 2009. Unfortunately, there's no replacement in sight.
By Phil Alex
Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had an obsession with cars and travel. Currently he resides near Japan's international airport in Narita.
