Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT)
Honda is showing its interpretation of compact city driving with the debut of the Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) at the Los Angeles auto show.
With the goal of providing optimal interior space in a small package, Honda designed the P-NUT's insides with a central driver's seat flanked by two rear seats. According to Honda, all passengers enjoy legroom equivalent to a midsize sedan. Flexible interior storage is present, thanks to rear seats that fold up and out.
The windshield houses a heads-up display for the navigation system and a back-up camera.
The rear powertrain and rear-wheel-drive layout contribute significantly to the P-NUT's compact dimensions. Honda says the modular rear engine bay was designed to accommodate numerous power options including a small gas engine, a hybrid setup or full electric propulsion.
Honda's director of advanced design, Dave Marek, said the funky-looking three-seater is just a concept. He was charged with looking at car design 15 years down the road, when perhaps a three-seater would be something the public would warm up to.
Honda's research shows that most trips are taken by drivers alone, so having the driver sit in the middle of the vehicle is not a big deal. Also, the rear seats fold up, so one seat could be folded up and a child seat inserted, sitting right next to the mother (or father, depending upon which one is doing the driving).
