Honda project 2&4: new life to Honda?

So. As far as promises and ambition go, Honda has had a lot of Ambition but no actual delivery on its promises. At the start of the year, we had the promise of a McLaren-Honda F1 team ( which at the time I predicted could lead to dominance. Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't predict things any more) and the looming revival of the Honda NSX, a car I also looked forward to. So what happened? No one can wear a McLaren-Honda shirt without being laughed out of wherever they are, and the NSX has been delayed again into next year. It seems that Honda needs a pick-me-up. 

Now enter the Project 2&4, the concept that won the Honda Global Design Project this year, and is a collaboration between the Honda motorcycle design team and the Honda automobile design studio. Whilst there are no plans to build the thing you see here, you must admit that it is a promising proposition. There are many comparisons between this and the Ariel Atom, which also uses a Honda engine (albeit a 2-litre one). The 2&4 uses detuned RC213V V4 motorbike engine, the same as powers Marc Marquez's MotoGP bike. Now this doesn't sound particularly fast, especially when you add in only 212BHP, but this car weighs just 405KG, and is 370mm shorter and 200mm lower than the Atom. So despite only having 212BHP, it has a power-to-weight ratio of 532BHP per ton, which is staggering. And, mainly due to the bike engine, peak power arrives at a very racy 13,000RPM.

But mainly this concept really embodies all that (used) to be good about Honda. And if it was made, maybe Hondas year won't be all bad

Nev