Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Honda, First Drive
First Drive: AutoblogGreen drives the 2009 Honda FCX Clarity
by Sam Abuelsamid on Nov 19th 2007 at 9:26AM 
click above image for the First Drive of the 2009 Honda FCX
Following the conclusion of press days at the 2007 LA Auto Show, AutoblogGreen got invited to join Honda for a first drive in its FCX Clarity. In case you missed the announcement last week, when it becomes "available" next summer, the FCX Clarity will the world's first series production fuel cell-powered car. Another unique aspect of the FCX is the fact that it was designed from the ground up as a fuel cell vehicle rather than being converted from an existing vehicle. Previously only concepts like the Chevy Sequel had this distinction. The Clarity is remarkably complete and functional with all the amenities you would expect on a car like the Acura RL. Get the whole scoop on the 2009 FCX Clarity at AutoblogGreen.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Hamud 9:58AM (11/19/2007)
Hey guys, the link is leading to the comments page.
Reply
Otto Ingineer 10:10AM (11/19/2007)
I am not finding any article - just the "comments" link (same as Hamud observed). And this is about the 6th time I have tried. Grrr.
Reply
Jay 10:17AM (11/19/2007)
here is a working link
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/11/18/first-drive-2009-honda-fcx-clarity-worlds-first-series-produc/
Reply
Jerk Face 10:58AM (11/19/2007)
What a wonderful development! This is a big step in cleaning up this planet of ours. To hear that the car has plenty of torque and is pretty fun to drive is the best news to me - the only thing that has been keeping me from hyrbids is that they aren't fast enough for an enthusiast like myself.
So now we go a step further with a FUEL CELL vehicle that is fun to drive, produces absolutely no pollution, and looks good to boot? If fifteen years from now cars like this are available all over the country we are looking at some real progress!
Kudos, Honda!
Reply
ebm14 10:56PM (11/19/2007)
This will also help us sign the divorce papers with OPEC
and there won't be a threat with Venezuela and Iran if we go full steam head with Hydro. Hopefully our trucking and commercial industries are doing their part as well.
Bananas 11:11AM (11/19/2007)
YAWN.
I don't care who made this, it is USELESS without a refueling system IN PLACE for the masses. Available on ly in California? Great for them, bad for the rest of the country. If there is going to be a way to refuel it, I would get one too (why not help save the planet?), but since I cannot, I guess I will continue to buy gas and drive my V8 since it is all I can afford and I need the big vehicle for my large family.
Thanks for nothing Honda!
Reply
tankd0g 11:19AM (11/19/2007)
It has to start somewhere. Henry Ford didn't wait for a gas station to be on every corner before the Model T went on sale. Hydrogen transport and storage is at least as (im)practical as E85.
Bob-omb 11:31AM (11/19/2007)
Oh whine, whine, whine. As if there's just going to INSTANTLY be a fuel cell infrastructure built in the U.S. for a low-production car. Nice logic on the V8 for your "big family." Unless you need to move the Von Trapp family, there are tons of 7 and 8 passenger vehicles with V6's. You'll buy what you want to buy.
Tim 11:41AM (11/19/2007)
You Sir (and I use the term loosely), are a jackass.
Honda has some big brass balls to spend the money to get this off the ground with an all new vehicle designed specifically with a fuel cell powertrain.
Of course there's no infrastructure, YET! But who is going to build the infrastructure when there are no cars around to take advantage.
If you'd bothered to investigate even a tiny bit, you'd find that Honda is working on a home refueling system as well, so it's not like they are just dumping this car out there and saying "Good Luck!"
Pull your head out of your ass before you get in front of your keyboard. Makes sitting in a chair much more comfortable as well.
In2uition 11:44AM (11/19/2007)
As tankd0g said, it's a start. Once it gains popularity and other manufacturers take pursuit you will see a spread nationally and even globally. Kudos to Honda for doing this.
riggs 12:18PM (11/19/2007)
@in2uition
whos that in your avatar? :crush:
tanooki2003 12:43PM (11/19/2007)
Whine Whine Piss moan & complain.
Can't you see through your blinders that Honda is starting something new here. It's the first attempt that i have seen from anybody, well except Ford creating vehicles that run on LPG (liquid Propane).
All you can do is whine because it is not mainstream and not even have the patience to see it become the next way of the automotive industry. Geez you are such a loser.
Nothing in this world like this happens instantaneously. Oh and by the way hearing you whine about driving a big V8 monster SUV, why not try downsizing. There are many smaller engine cars and SUV's that can seat 7 people.
Like the last person, as well as other repliers to your abominably stupid comment will tell you, GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS and stop being a big baby throwing a temper tantrum.
Bananas 11:37AM (11/19/2007)
E85 is the worst! Less mileage per gallon than gas, what a horrible idea. I don't see a practical wide-spread usage of hydrogen anytime soon (like within 10 years) though. Maybe regionalized usage (like CA, but definately not wide spread).
And the Ford comment is a little off. It isn't like just because Honda has made this, that people/companies are going to start building hydrogen refueling stations everywhere (which IS what happened with gas stations).
I think a hybrid or plug-in electric LARGE CUV needs to be made that is efficient. Then I will buy one.
Reply
Tim 11:45AM (11/19/2007)
Yeah, just what we need. More trucklets on the road.
"My Ford Valdez Hybrid gets 18mpg instead of 12"
Whoopy-freakin-do!
2004m3driver 6:55PM (11/19/2007)
@Tim
I am going to assume that you're being sarcastic.
I hope you realize going from 12 to 18 mpg is a 50% increase. Which means you'll instead an average car with a 14 gallon tank will get 84 mile miles a tank and to me that is very significant.
Bananas 11:43AM (11/19/2007)
Ah, Bob-omb it IS nice logic. I already have a van (odyssey) and an SUV (avalanche). I am sorry that my large family life of 5 (soon to be 6) doesn't fit into your logic. See, I work full time and so does the wife, and we both have to transport the kids without being able to meet up, so anything smaller is useless. And I guess I should be able to sell my avalanche and get another van, huh? Then I cannot transport any of my tools/supplies for work. And the V8 is great for towing at jobsites.
Thanks again for fitting me into "your" agenda.
Reply
Bananas 12:03PM (11/19/2007)
Tim, You are a BIGGER ass than I. How do you expect me to get my family around? Magic? Obviously you are a troll living in the magical world of the Internet, where everything is A-OK. Here in reality, things cost money, and any improvement on fuel economy is a great step in the right direction.
Now, as to Honda doing this, it is USELESS until wide-spread refueling abilities are available (which a YEARS AND YEARS AWAY!). Just like GMs Volt is USELESS until they actually get them on the road and have a way to recharge them (WHICH IS YEARS AND YEARS AWAY TOO!). They are both the same...marketing hype for the manufacturers. When a manufacturer comes out with an efficient large vehicle, I will bite. Unless you want to lend me some money, I cannot afford a third car that is more efficient, and I would not even bother with a GM "hybrd" large SUV. Those beasts are a joke (albeit better than the non hybrid versions).
Now Tim, if you want to be civil and carry on a good converation, no problem my friend. Otherwise, go back under your bridge.
Reply
Bob 12:37PM (11/19/2007)
Sedatives my friend. Sedatives.
John R 12:48PM (11/19/2007)
So I guess that:
1) You want to see hydrogen fueling stations EVERYWHERE across the face of this country FIRST for a variety fuel-cell models that you can count on one hand, only ONE of which is, said Honda, will be available for consumers.
2) You want said vehicle to be a van or SUV which, even today, is still outnumbered by the passenger car.
Brilliant. In other news, the cart comes before the horse.
Not to be mean, but don't you see the flaws in your logic?
Yes, it maybe decades before this is common place, but this is how new technologies are developed and instituted, in small steps. Hybrids and diesels are great, but guess what? They still run off dino-juice, which is finite.
Get a grip.
Mark 12:08PM (11/19/2007)
Available next year? So in what way shape or form is this a 2009 car? Surely a car is associated with the year it was launched. This annoys me, like when my magazine subscriptions arrive stating "Happy new year" at the end of november, does anyone else find this absurd? Or have they invented time machines and not told me?
Reply