12 Honda Concept Cars That Went Nowhere
Back in college, my roommate swore his dream car was a Honda concept he’d seen once at an auto show – something with gullwing doors and a glowing dash that looked straight out of Tron.
He talked about it like it was a long-lost soulmate, but that car never showed up at the dealership.
Honda has a habit of teasing the world with wild designs, futuristic features, and names that sound like anime characters, only to quietly sweep them under the rug like a forgotten mixtape.
1. Honda FC Sport
Unveiled in 2008, this low-slung, hydrogen-powered beast looked like something straight out of a sci-fi blockbuster.
With its dramatic scissor doors and Formula 1-inspired three-seat layout (driver in center, passengers flanking), the FC Sport was Honda’s radical vision for sustainable performance.
Engineers positioned the hydrogen fuel cell stack between the rear seats for perfect weight distribution.
Despite generating serious buzz at the LA Auto Show, Honda quietly shelved the project as hydrogen infrastructure failed to materialize.
2. Honda EV-N
Channeling serious 1960s N360 vibes, the adorable EV-N stole hearts at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
This boxy little electric runabout featured swappable seat fabrics, solar panels on its roof, and even a UX-3 unicycle stored in the passenger door for last-mile transportation!
Its retro-futuristic design language combined nostalgic elements with forward-thinking mobility solutions.
Despite enthusiasts begging Honda to produce this charming urban EV, executives deemed the market not ready for such a specialized electric vehicle.
3. Honda SSM
Jaws dropped when Honda revealed the sexy Sports Study Model (SSM) at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show.
This sleek, mid-engine roadster packed a 2.0-liter VTEC engine and promised driving thrills in a package that looked ready for production.
Many automotive journalists predicted it would challenge the Mazda Miata’s dominance in the affordable sports car segment.
Although the SSM never made it to showrooms directly, its spirit eventually influenced the Honda S2000 that debuted four years later with a more conventional front-engine layout.
4. Honda Gear Concept
Billed as a car “by young people, for young people,” the Gear concept ambushed the 2013 Montreal Auto Show with its boxy, utilitarian charm.
Drawing inspiration from fixed-gear bicycles popular with urban millennials, this compact hatchback featured minimalist design and customizable exterior panels.
Honda claimed it would offer the functionality of an SUV in a microscopic footprint.
The Gear’s promise of affordable, stylish urban mobility vanished almost as quickly as it appeared, leaving hipsters everywhere stuck with their bicycles instead.
5. Honda P-NUT
Resembling a futuristic escape pod, the Personal Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) concept from 2009 reimagined city driving with its bizarre triangular seating arrangement.
The driver sat center-front while two passengers could squeeze in behind, creating a vehicle barely larger than a Smart Car but with room for three.
Its ultra-compact dimensions and modular rear engine bay could accommodate gas, hybrid, or fully electric powertrains.
Despite its ingenious space utilization, the P-NUT proved too nutty even for Honda’s innovation-friendly executives.
6. Honda Urban EV Concept
When Honda unveiled the Urban EV Concept in 2017, the automotive world collectively swooned.
This adorable electric hatchback blended retro Honda Civic styling with modern minimalism, featuring suicide doors, bench seating, and a panoramic display spanning the entire dashboard.
Honda actually promised production, and prototypes were spotted testing.
Sadly, when the Honda e finally launched in 2020, it had lost much of the concept’s charm and never made it to American shores, making this one of Honda’s biggest concept-to-reality disappointments.
7. Honda Sports EV Concept
Building on the Urban EV’s popularity, Honda stunned the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show with this delectable electric sports coupe.
With its perfect proportions, retro-future styling, and AI-enhanced “emotion engine,” the Sports EV promised to make electric driving exciting rather than just practical.
The concept featured an illuminated Honda emblem and an AI assistant that could recognize the driver’s emotions and preferences.
Despite enthusiastic reception and rumors of production intent, Honda quietly abandoned the project, leaving sports car fans high and dry.
8. Honda 3R-C
Motorcycle? Car? The bizarre 3R-C concept from 2010 defied categorization with its tadpole-like three-wheel configuration and fighter jet-inspired canopy.
This single-seater electric commuter offered weather protection missing from motorcycles while maintaining a minimal urban footprint.
A transparent canopy covered the cockpit while parked, then slid forward to become a windshield when driving.
Despite its ingenious approach to urban mobility challenges, Honda never developed the 3R-C beyond the concept stage, perhaps fearing it was too radical for mainstream acceptance.
9. Honda Kiwami
Looking like it teleported from 2050, the Kiwami concept debuted at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show as Honda’s vision for future luxury transportation.
Its impossibly sleek, low-slung body featured a cab-forward design with suicide doors and a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain decades ahead of its time.
The minimalist interior resembled a zen garden more than a car cabin, with a steering wheel that emerged from the dashboard only when needed.
Despite its breathtaking design, the Kiwami was too conceptual even for Honda’s forward-thinking product planners.
10. Honda WOW Concept
Long before pet-friendly vehicles became trendy, Honda created the 2005 WOW (Wonderful Openhearted Wagon) concept specifically for dog lovers.
This boxy wonder featured removable dog crates in the floor, special ventilation systems for canine comfort, and even a glove compartment that transformed into a small dog carrier!
The dashboard included a dog-shaped indent where small pups could perch while driving.
Though elements of the WOW’s pet-friendly features eventually appeared in production Hondas, this dedicated doggy transport never made it beyond the concept stage.
11. Honda NeuV
Say hello to the Honda NeuV. It’s the all-electric city car with a brain and a heart.
Designed for the urban jungle, it’s powered by HANA, an AI assistant that reads your emotions and adjusts your ride to match your mood.
The NeuV offers autonomous driving, a minimalist touchscreen cabin, and even moonlights as a ride-share vehicle when you’re not using it.
It’s smart, efficient, and surprisingly empathetic – the car that works with you and for you. Think of it as your four-wheeled sidekick from the future.
12. Honda IMAS
Before lightweight materials became automotive industry buzzwords, Honda’s 2003 IMAS concept championed carbon fiber construction to create an eco-friendly sports car weighing just 1,500 pounds.
Its refined, elongated body featured transparent panels revealing the high-tech chassis beneath.
Powered by a hybrid IMA system paired with a CVT transmission, the IMAS promised sports car handling with Prius-beating fuel economy.
Though the IMAS never reached production, its lightweight philosophy and hybrid powertrain technology eventually influenced Honda’s CR-Z sports hybrid, albeit in a much less exotic form.