Honda concepts for the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show

Oct 16, 2003 – The IMAS follows on from the Insight production car launched in 1999 and the Dualnote show car from Tokyo 2001, in being a small sports coupe with a hybrid powertrain. This powertrain, called IMA (Integrated Motor Assist), employs an efficient VTEC petrol engine that is used on its own in normal driving, an electric motor for use in low speed urban situations, and the combination of both electric and petrol motors for high performance over short distances.

The Mazda Kusabi and Toyota CC&S shown at Frankfurt (both also to be displayed at Tokyo) share a similar approach in being sporting cars with innovative, fuel efficient powertrains, but the IMAS differs from these in having a very low drag coefficient (Cd 0.20). This, combined with a low weight of 700kg from its carbon fiber and aluminum construction, has led Honda to claim that the IMAS is "a sports car designed to provide that same invigorating cutting-through-the-breeze feeling (as a bicycle)"!

Although further away from a production design that the HSC, the IMAS preludes the forthcoming Insight replacement due next year, particularly in its overall package and aerodynamic features.

	Honda IMAS concept for the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show by Sam Livingstone
	Click for larger images	Oct 16, 2003 – The IMAS follows on from the Insight production car launched in 1999 and the Dualnote show car from Tokyo 2001, in being a small sports coupe with a hybrid powertrain. This powertrain, called IMA (Integrated Motor Assist), employs an efficient VTEC petrol engine that is used on its own in normal driving, an electric motor for use in low speed urban situations, and the combination of both electric and petrol motors for high performance over short distances. The Mazda Kusabi and Toyota CC&S shown at Frankfurt (both also to be displayed at Tokyo) share a similar approach in being sporting cars with innovative, fuel efficient powertrains, but the IMAS differs from these in having a very low drag coefficient (Cd 0.20). This, combined with a low weight of 700kg from its carbon fiber and aluminum construction, has led Honda to claim that the IMAS is "a sports car designed to provide that same invigorating cutting-through-the-breeze feeling (as a bicycle)"! Although further away from a production design that the HSC, the IMAS preludes the forthcoming Insight replacement due next year, particularly in its overall package and aerodynamic features.