Honda IMAS Concept at Geneva

Honda IMAS Concept

A lightweight and wind-cheating hybrid sports car

Press Release

Honda IMAS Concept at Geneva

A lightweight and wind-cheating hybrid sports car

First previewed at the Tokyo motorshow, IMAS is a concept car that seeks to demonstrate that environment-friendly credentials don't preclude fun-to-drive, sportscar performance. Honda's designers have taken inspiration from and tried to capture the freedom of movement provided by a bicycle - a mode of transport that responds instantly to the rider's input, is highly manoeuvrable, environmentally friendly, and above all, provides that invigorating feeling of slicing through the air. To achieve this, they have created a highly distinctive and advanced design that is light in weight, aerodynamically efficient and powered by the latest version of Honda's petrol-electric hybrid system, IMA (Integrated Motor Assist).

Drag coefficient of just 0.20

Constructed mainly from super-light carbon fibre and aluminium, the IMAS concept car weighs in at only 700 kg. The body's sweeping contours feature sharp exterior lines combined with smooth planes to create an exceptionally aerodynamic form, and details such as faired in rear wheels and rear combination lights built in to the rear spoiler contribute to a very low drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.20 (Honda in-house figure). Rearward visibility is assisted by a transparent lower tailgate section, similar in principle to that of the original Honda Civic CRX. To maximise access to the luggage compartment beneath the tapered rear end, the tailgate is also split horizontally, the upper section lifting conventionally and the lower, vertical panel sliding down over the rear 'bumper'.

'Naked' interior

The interior makes no pretence at disguising the functional elements of IMAS, instead highlighting the high efficiency design philosophy behind it. Sparse and yet extremely stylish, it is dominated by an exposed central skeletal structure of polished aluminium housing the gear selector, padded armrest and secondary controls. The elements of its construction echo the frame of a racing bike, a design motif repeated in the door-mounted trims. The cabin's futuristic and minimalist look continues with a slim fascia in blue/black carbon that perfectly complements the exposed aluminium elements. An ultra-thin, transparent instrument panel and similarly styled navigation monitor provide precise, comprehensive information, including images from a CCD camera of the area to the sides and rear of the car. A steering wheel shape reminiscent of those used in dragsters ensures an excellent view of the digital readouts.

Advanced IMA technology: an exhilarating drive

Power is provided by the latest version of Honda's IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system which supplements a highly efficient petrol engine with a thin and lightweight electric motor to assist the engine when accelerating and recapture energy when braking or decelerating. IMA in combination with a slippery and light body results in an outstanding fuel consumption figure of 2.5 l/100 km (Honda in-house figure). Further technological sophistication is provided by a shaftless VGS steering system and a drive-by-wire throttle for a natural, linear response. Working in perfect synergy, these electronic control technologies produce a crisp and clean driving experience.