In 2057, according to Honda, the hybridization of automotive powerplants will encompass solar power, making designers' One to the Power of Four concept eligible to travel in the HOV lanes of the future (who knew they'd still be around?). Designers also project the 50-year population increase will require much more flexibility than current cars allow. That problem will be solved by advances in molecular engineering, which will allow the car's body panels to shape-shift as needed. The use of gyros (no, not the Greek sandwich) and artifical intelligence will make such transmogrification possible. We'd imagine all this automotive mutability will get pretty unnerving in LA traffic. [Design Los Angeles]

Press Release:

Honda - 14 - One to the Power of Four
The solar-hybrid powered Honda 14 is an energy efficient, fully robotic commuting solution. A suburban community re-population movement in the 2050's has increased consumer demand for a truly flexible commuter vehicle.

The solar-hybrid Honda 14 solves the carpooling dilemma because it allows carpoolers to take advantage of HOV lanes, share commuting costs and once near the passengers' final destinations, robotically transforms from one to four separate and unique modes of transportation.

Through a combination of gyros, artificial intelligence and molecular engineering, each individual vehicle instinctively reconfigures as a fully functional vehicle. When traveling as one, the division points are undetectable. The latest advancements in molecular engineering allow the body panels to divide and reshape to form each individual vehicle.

Honda Research & Development
Design Team:
Ben Davidson
Khrystyne Zurian
Shae Shatz

Contact information for this author is not available.