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Puyo: It's Green, Safe and Glows

Honda concept car is soft to the touch and hydrogen cell fueled

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 24, 2007 4:25 PM CDT

(Newser) – Honda unveiled the unusual Puyo today, an in-development concept car with no sharp edges and a coating of soft silicone to absorb collisions, Reuters reports. Visitors to the Tokyo Motor Show were given a look at the car, which runs on hydrogen fuel cells, is driven with a joystick, and glows different colors when it is running or standing still.


Puyo's soft silicone surface, similar to mousepads and protective iPod sheaths, is designed to minimize damage to a person hit by the car and, being a soft gel, cannot be dented as other cars are by minor collisions. Honda did not say how strong a collision was required to permanently damage the car. Puyos are a decade or more away from production, with 2020 as a target.

Honda Motor Corp., President Hiroyuki Yoshino introduces the automaker's concept car PUYO at the Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007.  (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
Honda Motor Corp., President Hiroyuki Yoshino introduces the automaker's concept car PUYO at the Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)   (Associated Press)
Honda Motor Corp. President Hiroyuki Yoshino introduces the automaker's concept car PUYO at the Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007.  (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
Honda Motor Corp. President Hiroyuki Yoshino introduces the automaker's concept car PUYO at the Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)   (Associated Press)
Honda's new concept car Puyo which is unveiled prior to the coming Tokyo Motor show in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Cute, communicative and cubic seem to be the fashion statement as far as offerings from Japan's Big Three automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan, debuting at the Tokyo auto show...
Honda's new concept car Puyo which is unveiled prior to the coming Tokyo Motor show in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Cute, communicative and cubic seem to be the fashion statement as far as offerings...   (Associated Press)
Honda's new concept car Puyo which is unveiled prior to the coming Tokyo Motor show in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Cute, communicative and cubic seem to be the fashion statement as far as offerings from Japan's Big Three automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan, debuting at the Tokyo auto show...
Honda's new concept car Puyo which is unveiled prior to the coming Tokyo Motor show in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Cute, communicative and cubic seem to be the fashion statement as far as offerings...   (Associated Press)
Honda's new concept car Puyo which is unveiled prior to the coming Tokyo Motor show in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Cute, communicative and cubic seem to be the fashion statement as far as offerings from Japan's Big Three automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan, debuting at the Tokyo auto show...
Honda's new concept car Puyo which is unveiled prior to the coming Tokyo Motor show in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Cute, communicative and cubic seem to be the fashion statement as far as offerings...   (Associated Press)
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