Honda Clarity is a front-wheel drive sedan "business" class (aka "E-segment" by European standards), available in three versions to choose from at once: hydrogen, hybrid and electric ... It boasts a peculiar design (especially for its body type), spacious interior and modern technical "stuffing" ...
The world premiere of the hydrogen sedan Honda Clarity with the Fuel Cell prefix took place in October 2015 at the International Tokyo Auto Show, and the appearance of the production version was preceded by two concepts at once - FCEV and FCV (the first debuted in November 2013, and the second - exactly a year later). Well, in March 2017, at the bridegroom in New York, two more modifications of the "green" four-door were presented - a plug-in Hybrid plug-in hybrid and an Electric electric car.
Honda Clarity looks quite attractive, modern and peculiar - a stylish "physiognomy" with complex optics, a mesh radiator grille and a raised bumper with LED boomerangs of running lights, an expressive silhouette with a long sloping hood, intricate sidewalls and visually heavy "hips", upturned stern with large C-shaped lights and "curly" bumper.
Dimensions and weight
In terms of its dimensions, the Honda Clarity is a typical representative of the E-class (by European standards): the sedan is 4895 mm long, 1877 mm wide, and 1478 mm high. The vehicle has a wheelbase of 2750 mm and a ground clearance of 135 mm.
The curb weight of the four-door varies from 1827 to 1875 kg, depending on the modification.
Interior
Inside, the Honda Clarity boasts a beautiful, modern and very solid design - a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with tides in the correct grip area, a virtual instrument cluster and a laconic center console carrying a pair of asymmetric ventilation deflectors, an 8-inch touchscreen media center and an exemplary climate control unit. installation.
The interior of the Japanese sedan has a five-seater layout and provides riders not only with seats with an optimal profile, but also a sufficient supply of free space in both rows.
True, a high floor tunnel can deliver a certain discomfort to the average passenger of the "gallery".
The trunk volume of the four-door depends on the modification: so the hydrogen version is capable of taking on board 334 liters of luggage, the hybrid - 439 liters, the electric - 405 liters.
Specifications
As already noted, there are three modifications to choose from for the Honda Clarity:
- Hydrogen The Fuel Cell variant is powered by an AC traction motor generating 177 horsepower (113 kW) and 300 Nm of torque. The power plant is "powered" by a block of hydrogen electrochemical cells, and hydrogen is stored in two tanks (24 and 117 liters) under a pressure of 690 atmospheres, which provides the car with a "range" of 750 km in the JC08 test mode.
- Hybrid The Plug-in Hybrid sedan is equipped with an 183-horsepower electric motor generating 314 Nm of peak thrust, which is powered by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 17 kW * h (2.5 hours is enough to "charge" it from a 240-volt outlet), providing mileage up to 68 km on pure electric traction. In addition to this, the hybrid is also equipped with a 1.5-liter petrol "four" operating on the Atkinson cycle, the main task of which is to turn the generator, but under certain conditions it can transfer power to the front wheels.
- Electrically driven Electric is equipped with an AC electric motor developing 163 hp. and 300 Nm and powered by a lithium battery with a capacity of 25.5 kW * h. It takes a little more than three hours for a four-door car to fully charge the battery from a 240-volt network, but its autonomy is not impressive - only about 130 km.
Design features
At the heart of the Honda Clarity is a front-wheel drive bogie with a monocoque body, in the power structure of which high-strength grades of steel are widely used. Independent suspensions with hydraulic shock absorbers, steel springs and lateral stabilizers are installed on both axles of the car: on the front - MacPherson struts, on the rear - a multi-link system.
As standard, the sedan is equipped with a gear-rack-type steering with electric power assistance. All wheels of the four-door are equipped with disc brakes (ventilated at the front), working together with modern electronic assistants.
Options and prices
The hybrid version of the Honda Clarity can be purchased in the United States at a price of $ 33,400 (~ 2.1 million rubles), while the hydrogen version is offered there exclusively on lease with an initial payment of $ 2,878 (~ 182 thousand rubles) and a subsequent monthly payment of 379 dollars (~ 24 thousand rubles) for 36 months.
In the basic configuration, the car has: front and side airbags, full LED optics, ABS, ESP, a media center with an 8-inch screen, 18-inch alloy wheels, power windows for all doors, an audio system with six speakers and other options.
