Honda's green breakthrough

Japanese giant Honda will claim a world breakthrough at Nov­ember’s Los Angeles Motor Show when it pulls the wraps off the first commercially available hydrogen fuel cell car.

The newcomer is based on the FCX, seen at the Paris expo last year. And while technical details are still scarce, officials have revealed the four-seater will be sold as a rival to the Mercedes S-Class, and cost around £50,000.

Adding only front and rear bumpers to the FCX’s aerodynamic shape, the car will be powered by an advanced set-up capable of giving a 300-mile range on a full 171-litre tank.

Honda sources have described the machine as a huge leap forward in automotive history. They say the zero-emission car converts around 60 per cent of its fuel into energy; approximately three times that of a petrol vehicle and twice that of a hybrid.

What makes the Honda so special is its drivetrain design. In previous fuel cells, the hydrogen and water formed in electricity generation flowed horizontally. This model has a vertical-flow design, so gravity assists in discharging the water that is produced – thus improving performance and reliability.

Initially, the car will go on sale in the US and Japan, but could come here as early as 2010. At first, sales will be limited to areas where hydrogen fuel is available. But Honda also plans to sell reformers that create the volatile liquid from domestic gas. The fuel cell is linked to a CVT auto, and promises near silent progress. Performance will impress, with 0-60mph in nine seconds and a 100mph top speed.

Around town, the car will switch to hybrid-style power. It’s equipped with lithium ion batteries, and has a stop and start mode at low speeds to help keep the temperatures low within the fuel cell and improve efficiency.

While Honda sees hydrogen as the future for its luxury cars, it has hinted its performance models could turn to diesel. Top brass are looking at making a Civic Type R using the latest 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine – which we try in an Accord this week.

With as much as 180bhp, the car would do 0-60mph in less than 8.5 seconds and hit a 135mph-plus top speed, yet return up to 55mpg. The Type R D could go on sale in 2009.

Meanwhile, a sporty version of the new Jazz super­mini has been revealed. The Fit RS – the Jazz is badged Fit in Japan – has a bodykit and an uprated 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine said to produce 140bhp. There’s a choice of CVT auto and manual boxes, while the RS even gets stiffer suspension. It could arrive in the UK in 2009.

And finally, Honda’s petrol-electric powered CR-Z is set to go into production. It will spawn a range of new hybrids also arriving in 2009.