Honda preview Geneva Show exhibit

Honda has previewed a range of new releases ahead of the Geneva Auto Show next month, including a new Civic model, a concept EV, and developments to their fuel-cell technology. The Honda Civic Type R, a ‘hot hatch’ developed in parallel with the standard Civic hatchback, is the centrepiece of Honda’s display. The Type R will contain the 2.0-litre VTEC TURBO petrol engine, with production to begin at Honda’s UK plant in winter 2017. The Clarity fuel cell will also be on show, and the first cars are scheduled to arrive in Europe at the end of the year. Honda claims the Clarity is the most advanced fuel-cell vehicle on the planet, with a maximum range of 620km. Retail sales of the 100kW sedan began in California last December, where the range was rated 589km by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Honda will also show the Honda NeuV for the first time in Europe, a fully-electric concept car with a “unique ownership proposition and a state-of-the-art emotion engine,” that can learn about its driver. The “emotion engine”, Honda claims, detects the driver’s emotions behind their judgements on the road, and can then apply what it has learned from past decisions to make new recommendations. The NeuV would also function has an automated ride-sharing vehicle when not in use, picking up and dropping off customers at local destinations, and could sell energy back to the electric grid during times of high demand when it‘s sitting idle.