2012 Honda FCX Clarity Review

The elegant form of the 2012 Honda FCX Clarity sets it apart from everything else on the road and complements the rational, environmental reasons for driving a fuel cell vehicle. The sharp, dark chrome trim that runs from bumper to headlight draws the eyes toward the front fenders, creating a powerful, dynamic look and a cool, clean, futuristic feel. The side mirrors complement the Honda FCX Clarity free flowing cabin. Mounted on slender arms that blend with the door molding, they emphasize the elegant lines of the side windows, with the molding embracing the mirror housing. The exterior door handles have a spare, clean look that emphasizes the slender lines of the body. Robust rear fenders reinforce the compact cabin for a bold, sculpted look. The rear glass and contoured design of the rear combination lamps emphasize the vehicle’s wide, confident stance.

The most distinctive feature of the new one-motion design is found at the rear of the 2012 Honda FCX Clarity. To take advantage of the high deck design and enhance rear visibility, the car is fitted with an extra window with visibility control a feature carefully designed to protect privacy. The rear tray is set high to ensure ample trunk volume, and windows are positioned in the upper trunk lid and in the barrier behind the rear seat to allow the driver to see into the trunk. A special polycarbonate film is applied to both sides of the window to make transparency dependent on the angle of vision, protecting occupants’ privacy. The result is excellent rearward visibility for the driver, with a high level of privacy for the rear-seat passengers. It’s no coincidence that the exterior design’s key features the front and rear fenders, the front pillars, the tapered rear cabin also contribute to outstanding aerodynamic performance. Superb aerodynamics are built right into the free-flowing, one-motion form. And because there is no engine and therefore no low-hanging exhaust system the car’s under body is flatter, reducing drag.

 The fuel cell new 2012 Honda FCX Clarity is the ultimate in clean performance. But Honda believes cars should always be fun, too the stuff of dreams. So when Honda set out to develop a fuel cell vehicle, the goal was to make it a car that delivers driving and aesthetic pleasure as well as outstanding environmental performance. Honda FCX Clarity has led the way in developing and improving fuel cell vehicle performance. Now the company is moving on to the next phase, exploring the enormous potential for layout versatility that is made possible by the fuel cell powerplant. This flexibility gives the fuel cell vehicle a new appeal that can set it apart from the internal combustion engine vehicle. That’s why Honda engineers have cleared away all preconceived notions of automobile design, challenging themselves to discover the new possibilities that can only be realized with the fuel cell vehicle.

First, Honda engineers set out to achieve the next advance in fuel cell stack design. The result was the V Flow Honda FCX Clarity Stack, which delivers outstanding improvements in lightweight, compact, high output performance. The team also made the fuel cell system, drive motor, hydrogen storage and other powertrain components more compact. We took advantage of the fuel cell vehicle’s unique layout possibilities to create a revolutionary new platform with a low center of gravity for sporty, stable driving performance. And the electric motor drive provides a distinctive sense of power and a feeling that acceleration will go on forever for an all-new dimension in driving feel. Honda has created a new era in personal mobility: the Honda FCX Clarity. The future of the automobile is about to change and become a whole lot more fun. Honda has embarked on the next stage in the development of the fuel cell vehicle.

There’s no engine this is a completely different powerplant. Free from common design constraints, the Honda team took an entirely new approach. The goal was to create a totally innovative, exciting design that suggests the future at a glance a dynamic, full-cabin sedan featuring innovative packaging that takes advantage of the fuel cell vehicle’s layout versatility and powerful driving performance. Since the motor is so compact, Honda engineers were able to create a revolutionary new platform with a low center of gravity and a long wheelbase. The result was a new type of sedan with unique proportions and a futuristic look. Ultimately, the appeal of a car emerges from its appearance a sense of motion even when it’s standing still. Features like the accentuated fender flares complement the dynamically tapered lines of the front and back of the cabin and the flowing side lines of the one-motion form. The innovative and attractive packaging of the FCX Clarity take it well beyond the realm of environmental responsibility.

Posted in: Honda