Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Green, Honda, Misc. Auto Shows
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
by Alex Nunez on Jul 22nd 2008 at 11:29AM 
Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Honda OSM
Honda says that the OSM roadster on display at the 2008 British Motor Show is merely a design study, but given that "design study" is frequently a euphemism for "future design language," we wonder if we're seeing the next iteration of Honda car styling. Frankly, we hope so, because this is worlds better than what we've seen from the automaker of late, from the Accord right on up to the bland and bloated Pilot. The OSM, short for Open Study Model, is a shapely two-seat convertible that we'd be happy to drive today. Well, maybe with headlamps that weren't lightsaber-sized. Other than that, we love the jaunty look, especially in back, where the taillamps sweep gently from one side of the car to the other. Since it's a styling exercise, there's no specific powertrain combination associated with it, but Honda assures us that the car is an indication that lightweight, low-emissions motoring needn't be boring. No kidding, guys. Inside, the cockpit basically evolves the two-tier instrument panel you'll find in the current Civic into a far more attractive driving environment that we hope to see in road cars sooner than later. While Honda says there's no plan to create a production sport/econo roadster like this anytime soon, somebody's obviously thinking about it. Future S2000 replacement, maybe? "Design studies" such as this don't happen by accident.
Gallery: Honda OSM Concept
[Source: Honda]
PRESS RELEASE
LOW EMISSION HONDA ROADSTER BREAKS COVER
Two-seat design study unveiled at British International Motor Show
Honda's low-emission sportscar study model has been revealed at the British International Motor Show, at ExCeL, London.
The lightweight roadster design study displays one of Honda's core engineering principles – to design stylish and exciting cars that are also environmentally responsible.
Named the OSM (for Open Study Model), the two-seater joins the confirmed-for-production CR-Z sports hybrid and FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car on the Honda stand at the show.
"We're trying to show that low emission cars can be attractive," says Andreas Sittel, Project Leader for OSM. "There is no reason why a car that's more environmentally friendly can't look great too – and be sporty and fun to drive."
The concept for the project was 'Clean and Dynamic' – and this direction was followed for both the exterior and interior design, ensuring a joined-up, consistent 'language' between the two. One example of this can be seen at the rear of the car, where the body actually extends into the cabin between the seats.
The exterior design is a balance of smooth, rounded curves and sharp lines to provide definition in key areas. The headlights are cleverly integrated into the front end, stretching from the nose to the top of the wheel arches to look more like a part of the original body.
Inside, this uninterrupted, fluid approach is continued, with long sweeping curves extending from both door panels to form a frame for the instrument display. The concept for the dashboard was to avoid creating the traditional block of 'heavy' colour and material in front of the driver; in keeping with the clean and lightweight theme. For that reason, the dash is broken into sections, with the most important instruments in direct line-of-sight of the driver.
Key information is displayed in a rounded, enclosed central binnacle, with levels and figures in bright blue on a black background. This matches the trim inside the car, with the seats and door furniture trimmed in a new, gloss-effect blue leather, accompanied by white leather sections, in line with the exterior body colour, a one-off paint called Mystic Pearl.
The driver's main controls and functions are distributed in an intuitive layout, close at hand on a panel that curves downwards to the right of the driver. A centrally-mounted semi-sequential gear-shift points towards a fun-to-drive transmission, along with paddle shifts either side of the steering wheel. Integrated into the gearshifter itself is a red ignition 'start' button, which reinforces the sporty direction of the car.
The Honda OSM was designed by Honda's R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany. It's the latest example of the young talent being developed within Honda's design studios in Europe – following the Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept (Geneva 2007) and the Accord Tourer Concept (Frankfurt 2007).
At present, the Honda OSM is a design study model, and there are no plans for it to enter production.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
SammySam 11:33AM (7/22/2008)
nice! but why does it have a digital AND analog speedometer??
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Rocketboy 12:37PM (7/22/2008)
Because digital speedos suck, but people (who don't have them) think that they want them...
phooky 10:13AM (7/23/2008)
why do digital speedos suck?
Doug 11:37AM (7/22/2008)
It doesn't. Just like the Civic, the analog gauge is a Tachometer, not a speedometer. The speedometer is only on the second tier of the dash.
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SammySam 11:39AM (7/22/2008)
oh, gotcha
Red 11:38AM (7/22/2008)
Before anybody starts claimoring, "this should be the S2000 replacement", I say no. IF it came to production, this would be more a successor to the mid-engined Beat than anything.
That said, this will never come to production. Honda doesn't produce any of its good looking cars. The only ones we ever get are the polarizing (read: ugly) ones.
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Torrent 11:52AM (7/22/2008)
Nothing this good-looking can come to Honda's....Or Acura's facility soon enough. After seeing the Acura Sedans, The new Pilot and the Ridgeline- Honda really needs to step up their game before they break the Ugly Limit.
s13hybrid 11:56AM (7/22/2008)
Yes it is way to short looking for a S2000 RWD replacement. I think a beat type car would be a big seller in the states, especially if it is low weight, good mpg, and convertable. It does not even need to be mid engined, as the people buying it could probably care less, they would get it because it is cute.
cheezwiz 1:20PM (7/22/2008)
it's more like a del sol "replacement."
Vintage 1:31PM (7/22/2008)
Don't understand where you guys get off calling the new accord ugly. The coupe is pretty aggressively styled, bold, and attractive. Very sporty looking car.
Torrent 2:17PM (7/22/2008)
@ Vintage.
The Accord Coupe is Beauty. Sedan.... Errrr not so much, but it's not hideous. It's not stylish either, maybe except for the taillights- that the Acura TL just recently stole.
Throwback 11:40AM (7/22/2008)
I get the sense that this is an open version of the production CR-Z coupe. If so, I like this alot.
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TJ 12:35PM (7/22/2008)
or what a 1991 Lotus Elan would look like today if it stayed in production....
timmer 11:44AM (7/22/2008)
looks like ass
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rouse42 11:45AM (7/22/2008)
must be crazy
James Sonne 11:54AM (7/22/2008)
agreed, looks horrible. The current S2000 looks drastically sleeker and more athletic and nimble. The bulbuous and lethargic, the sweeping sideways taillights are like horizontal stripes on a fat man. The short hood only adds to the overweight problem, and the squinty, beady eyes make the face all the more round.
Ssco 12:19PM (7/22/2008)
Looks a lot like the new VW roadster to me:
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/volkswagen-unveiling-two-door-elise-fighter-in-la-new-sports-ca/
meshies 1:10PM (7/22/2008)
maybe not ass, but its not exciting at all.
srivendel 11:53AM (7/22/2008)
That interior looks a lot more production ready than most.
Honda, please bring us a production two-seater CRZ that looks like this. Keep the interior. Make it lightweight, give it the new Fit's 120hp engine, and keep it really fun to drive. You'll have the perfect commuter car.
Then bring out a hybrid version for the greenies.
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Max 11:53AM (7/22/2008)
The S2000 Turned GAY.
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