This was the only new concept at the British Motor Show from a volume manufacturer. The Open Study Model is a two-seat roadster with two vestigial rear jump seats designed in Honda's Offenbach studio in Germany, under the direction of Masaki Kobayashi and the justification of the launch here is based on two factors: first, that the UK has a continuing obsession with sports cars and second, it remains Honda's most significant market in Europe.
The overall aesthetic has an Italian quality to it, particularly the previous generation Alfa Spider, with its short lean-forward rump, long front overhang and strongly-diving line running forwards from above the rear wheel. Given that the model was built in Turin, maybe that's no surprise, although neither of the two designers involved - Dimitrios Darkoudis and Andreas Sittel - are themselves Italian. The form language used here is softer than the current Civic or the previous CR-Z concept (also on display here) and gives a possible indication of where Honda is heading next for its European models.
Probably the most novel aspect of the design is the protruding front and rear lamps. A new twist here is the way the added surface continues as part of a plinth on the body surface itself. Note also the way the beltline twists up around the A-pillar and continues into the hood cowl line and the 6-spoke wheels with an interesting new treatment where the spokes are ‘dragged' around the rim.
The interior builds on themes seen in the Civic with its floating IP surface, split graphically into three areas: a dark gray functional area surrounding the driver with metallic blue waves either side. "We didn't want to split the exterior and interior, they should morph together," explained Sittel. The two tiny rear bucket seats are split by a central spine that grows out of the center console and are finished in the same metallic blue and white leather as the front seats.
The overall aesthetic has an Italian quality to it, particularly the previous generation Alfa Spider, with its short lean-forward rump, long front overhang and strongly-diving line running forwards from above the rear wheel. Given that the model was built in Turin, maybe that's no surprise, although neither of the two designers involved - Dimitrios Darkoudis and Andreas Sittel - are themselves Italian. The form language used here is softer than the current Civic or the previous CR-Z concept (also on display here) and gives a possible indication of where Honda is heading next for its European models.
Probably the most novel aspect of the design is the protruding front and rear lamps. A new twist here is the way the added surface continues as part of a plinth on the body surface itself. Note also the way the beltline twists up around the A-pillar and continues into the hood cowl line and the 6-spoke wheels with an interesting new treatment where the spokes are ‘dragged' around the rim.
The interior builds on themes seen in the Civic with its floating IP surface, split graphically into three areas: a dark gray functional area surrounding the driver with metallic blue waves either side. "We didn't want to split the exterior and interior, they should morph together," explained Sittel. The two tiny rear bucket seats are split by a central spine that grows out of the center console and are finished in the same metallic blue and white leather as the front seats.
