2008 British Auto Show: Eco-Friendly Honda OSM Makes Debut

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LONDON, England — One of the design standouts at the 2008 British Auto Show is the Honda OSM — for Open Study Model — a curvaceous two-seat roadster designed with an emphasis on low emissions. Its creators were determined to prove that green isn't the automotive equivalent of sensible shoes — even though Honda does not give any specifics as to the OSM's powertrain.

Of perhaps greater significance to enthusiasts are the persistent rumors here that the OSM provides a sneak preview of the car that may replace the aging S2000 roadster in Honda’s future sports-car lineup.

Unlike the rear-wheel-drive S2000, the OSM appears to share the front-wheel-drive platform of the new CRZ hatchback, which also is being displayed here and has been confirmed for production in 2009. Although it has dropped some broad hints that it’s a hybrid like the CRZ, Honda has revealed virtually no details about the OSM’s powertrain other than the fact that it features a semi-sequential gearbox with paddle shifters.

"We're trying to show that low-emission cars can be attractive," said Andreas Sittel, Honda project leader for the OSM. "There is no reason why a car that's more environmentally friendly can't look great, too."

Honda said the car was designed by its R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany, and insisted that the OSM is not destined for production.

The exterior design emphasizes rounded curves, a one-of-a-kind Mystic Pearl paint job, and headlights integrated into the front end. The cabin has what Honda calls a "clean and lightweight theme," with a dashboard that is broken into segments. Cabin touches include new gloss-effect blue leather and a red ignition start button built into the gearshift lever.

What this means to you: For a vehicle that supposedly is not slated for production, the OSM looks awfully production-ready.
— Anita Lienert and Paul Lienert, Correspondents