Honda displays 21st-century supercar concept

Honda shows off the FC Sport hydrogen fuel-cell supercar.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

This century, vaunted supercar names such as Ferrari and Lamborghini might be displaced by Honda. At the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, Honda showed off a supercar concept, the FC Sport, powered by an electric motor with energy generated by a hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel-cell powertrain, which Honda calls V Flow, is being used in the FCX Clarity, the hydrogen-fueled sedan that Honda currently leases on a limited basis. The FC Sport is designed to be a lightweight, performance-oriented car, and should have a 0-to-60 mph time of under 4 seconds to achieve supercar status. While Honda is known for producing fuel-efficient compact cars in the U.S., it garners performance expertise by competing in F1 and IRL racing.

The rear of the FC Sport houses a cooling unit.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

In the FC Sport, the electric motor sits just in front of the rear axle, similar to the placement of engines in some sports cars, allowing for good weight distribution. The hydrogen tanks sit above the rear axle, and in a nod towards the glass-covered engines in Ferraris, the back glass of the FC Sport shows off the tanks. A long overhang in the rear houses a cooling unit for the fuel cells. The cabin is arranged in a 1+2 format, with a single driver's seat in front, and two passenger seats behind it. Don't expect to see the FC Sport on the road, ever, as it is just a design study.

See all coverage of the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.