What is it? The FCX Clarity is the production version of Honda's second-generation, fuel-cell powered sedan. We were impressed with the finish of the concept version of this vehicle when we drove it last May, and this FCX looks appropriately enough more complete. The FCX Clarity uses a 95 kilowatt (127-horsepower) motor and a 100 kW fuel cell. Torque is rated at 189 ft-lb. Four kilograms of hydrogen (the equivalent of about 4 gallons of gas) are stored in a 45-gallon tank compressed to 5,000 psi. Honda claims a 270-mile range, which is significantly longer than the 192 miles of the original FCX hatchback. And the company cites a fuel economy figure of 68 mpg. Consumers in Los Angeles will be able to lease the vehicle through a Honda dealer for about $600 a month for three years, starting next summer.
What is new or notable: Everything. Most notably, the FCX uses a new fuel cell that is half the size of that in the previous FCX and fits under the center console between the driver and front passenger. Its vertical design uses gravity to move water through the fuel cell to increase efficiency.
CR's take: When we drove the concept FCX last May, we found it to be as nice as any current, traditional sedan-quite an accomplishment for a new entirely space-age drivetrain technology. Given the packaging challenges of storing sufficient gaseous fuel (which requires more space than a liquid), Honda has come through by maximizing efficiency with its vertical-flow fuel cell and low-slung aerodynamic shape. Honda engineers have taken the equivalent of four gallons of gas and figured out how to stretch it to go 270 miles, where other companies have focused on how to carry more fuel, often stored onboard at a higher pressure.
