Yet another impossibly ugly Honda concept

[sandertheshark]

Behold and despair:



(from Honda Press Release) ?PUYO? is a Japanese onomatopoeia that expresses the sensation of touching the vehicle?s soft body. It is meant to convey a warm, friendly impression.

The PUYO represents a new idea in mobility that brings together ?clean?, ?safe? and ?fun? functionality in an environmentally responsible, people-friendly minimalist design featuring an ultra-high efficiency, small frame and fuel cell technology to please both users and onlookers alike.



Exterior design

The development theme for the PUYO exterior was to create a cornerless, ?Seamless Soft Box? form that is kind to both people and the environment. The goal was to create a personable design with the feel of an adorable pet, while taking advantage of the maximum spaciousness of the box-shaped design. The PUYO?s ?gel body? features soft materials to promote greater real-world safety. Moreover, the body has been made luminescent to guide people into the proper operating position and notify them of the vehicle?s condition, facilitating a more intimate relationship between people and their cars.



Interior design

Developed to have a ?Silky Feel?, the PUYO?s interior is designed to provide a refreshing, people-friendly space imbued with a feeling of transparency. Features such as an instrument panel monitor, controls that take advantage of the elastic qualities of cloth to rise up when the vehicle starts up, luminous fluid meter displays, and a joystick for intuitive operation are all designed to gently support occupants? senses and sensibilities.


"Puyo" sounds like it would be a more accurate and appropriate onomatopoeia for vomit.

[TheIntrepid]

Dear me. Why do they even bother?

[CALL_911]

The steering feel must be amazing.

[Raghavan]

ODD.

[Soup DeVille]

ODD.

Intentionally so.

From time to time our preconceived notions of what a car is and what one should look like must be challenged, or we may as well give up on the idea of automotive styling altogether.

This is an experiment, nothing more.

[Northlands]

It looks like a boob on wheels.

"Japanese onomatopoeia that expresses the sensation of touching the vehicle?s soft body"

   

[2o6]

Dear me. Why do they even bother?

It's not a styling concept. It's a Technology concept.

[thewizard16]

That's interesting. Why?

[Soup DeVille]

That's interesting. Why?

Look at the front fascia alone. Not only is this a highly complex shpaede one-piece molding, but the headlights actually shine through it, so it must be highly translucent at least at certain places.

Making a piece like that can help to develop manufacturing techniques that will gain Honda an edge a few years into the future.

[jayeshks]

Makes me want to play puyo puyo fever on my dreamcast again

[S204STi]

It looks like a boob on wheels.

"Japanese onomatopoeia that expresses the sensation of touching the vehicle’s soft body"

   

So basically it's a tit that we're supposed to grope?

[cawimmer430]

It looks like a sperm - without a tail! 

[Tave]

As stupid as it looks from the outside, that view from inside must be incredible.

And I thought Discos had a lot of window space.

[ChrisV]

It's very Japanese, with an aesthetic that is decidedly non-Western. They have a completely different outlook on what machinery is supposed to be/do/feel like. Even though it's not an "enthusiast" vehicle, it's an interesting take on a basic commuter appliance, and a really interesting development of technology. Imagine a soft form sports car that could maybe change it's shape depending on what it's doing...

[jayeshks]

Wait, so if you get hit by one, will it feel like a massage?

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Looks like Jabba the Hut.