Quicksilver Anode 826134q on 2040-parts.com

College Exhibition: IAAD - 'My First Renault'

Transportation Design students at Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design (IAAD) in Turin presented the results of a Renault-sponsored project with the theme 'My First Renault' in July. The students were given a fairly open brief to design a personal vision of a Renault vehicle of the near future. In addition to an exhibition in Turin, selected project work was presented at the Renault Technocentre to the directors of Renault Design.

Honday Odyssey minivan recalled due to fire risk

Honda is recalling some 886,815 Odyssey minivans manufactured between 2005 and 2010, citing a risk of fire due to a possible fuel leak. The cause of the recall, which was announced on the NHTSA website on March 13, is a a cover on the fuel pump strainer which Honda believes can deteriorate and crack. The manufacturer stated that the fault can lead to a fuel smell or to a fuel leak which would pose a risk of fire.

Concept Car of the Week: Honda Kiwami (2003)

As part of Honda's exploration into new, clean-performing technologies, the Kiwami concept was created to test public acceptance of the idea of a large, fuel cell-powered luxury sedan.  Unveiled in 2003, the simple yet striking design seemed like a Japanese twist on the Renault Vel Satis concept, which shared a similar wedge profile, wide stance and minimalist approach.  However, the Kiwami found its own interpretation of modern luxury, expressed through elegantly integrated technology rather than with crystal champagne glasses.  Up front, a full-width LED strip headlamp sat flush with the flat bonnet and the rectangular bumper to create a design of primitive beauty.  Further examples of the same simple Japanese aesthetic are found around the car, including the uncluttered body panels and a full-width tail-lamp graphic that matched the front theme.  The dramatic proportions of the interior were closely related to the package of the hydrogen power plant. Unlike other manufacturers at the time, Honda engineers did not create a 'skateboard' fuel cell chassis below the cabin. Instead, a sideways H-shaped layout for the control unit, ultracapacitor, fuel cell stack, hydrogen storage and other components was used, helping to create a lower center of gravity.