Possibly we didn't muster enough excitement for the Honda U3-X unicycle-meet-segway shown at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show, and demo'd by the U.S. PR staff in this video.
But we won't make the same mistake with the P-NUT.
P-NUT for Personal-Neo Urban Transport. No images are out, but perhaps Honda's concept will borrow styling cues from this JIF Mini we spotted on Flickr.
The official unveil is set for December 2 at the 2009 LA Auto Show. The P-NUT "will demonstrate a futuristic concept for an ultra-compact, aggressively designed coupe," says Honda.
notabigdeal says:
10:49 PM, 11/18/09
This seems like a revenge ploy by the japanese where they are planning to make us fatter so that we kill ourselves off. Instead of buying one of these perhaps we can.... um... walk! Not sure where this revolutionary idea will take us...
On a more serious note it would make a seriously good unicycle for the circus
efinils2 says:
11:02 PM, 11/18/09
"Not sure where this revolutionary idea will take us..."
Not meant for the American market, but it makes perfect sense for the elderly, as Honda has been working quite hard to provide mobility alternatives to Japan's increasingly aging population.
On the flip-side, it is assdriving! So now it is legitimately accurate to say "that guy drives like ass!"
pat1usmc says:
05:21 AM, 11/19/09
For the elderly?! It looks like it takes a lot of balance to sit on that thing. I'm guessing it will go the way of the Segway,which also was going to revolutionize the world.
redliner says:
01:06 PM, 11/19/09
...when the battery dies, grandma goes SPLAT.
But in all seriousness, that is impressive engineering.
efinils2 says:
04:34 PM, 11/19/09
pat1usmc
Of course it is not a finished product, hence the reason why Honda is working on "mobility alternatives"; this alone may not be the answer, but when combined with what they have learned from this, the walking-assist brace, and the crouching-support brace, they can more accurately reach a mobility solution that fits the lifestyle of Japanese elderly. Remember, you cannot correlate the level of health between the elderly in Japan and the States, since diet and lifestyle are drastically different between the two countries.
civilag says:
09:10 AM, 11/20/09
redliner says:
01:06 PM, 11/19/09
...when the battery dies, grandma goes SPLAT.
PAHAHAHA! That was funny.