TORRANCE, California Honda R&D Americas is usually busy designing cars that are stylish, quick and environmentally friendly. Its latest endeavor is a sleek new model called the Honda Racer, which has an aerodynamic frame, solid die-cast construction and the best fuel efficiency of anything around. That's because it runs on gravity.
Sure, you can't exactly drive a 1/64-scale model car, but the Honda Racer should be fun for all ages nonetheless. Honda R&D created it for the Hot Wheels Designer's Challenge which, along with five other models from additional car manufacturers, is being produced to celebrate Hot Wheels' 40th anniversary.
Guillermo Gonzalez, senior designer, seems pleased with his entry. "The Honda Racer combines the excitement of Honda's racing heritage with Hot Wheels' reputation for speed, power, performance and attitude.... The core concept is built around our idea for an 'ultimate racecar' and leverages the design freedom made possible by a scale-model car."
The entire body of the Racer is in the shape of a Honda "H," and the exterior is reminiscent of old 1960s racing cars with side-by-side seating accommodating both a driver and a navigator. The styling cues are taken from the 1967 RA 273 Honda racing car, which also featured a white-and-red paint scheme, open cockpits, a large exhaust system and open wheels.
The Honda Racer will be available in stores in May. The Hot Wheels 40th-anniversary road trip down Route 40 kicks off at Mattel headquarters in El Segundo, California, in August. Look for a 1/5-scale version of the Racer to appear there along with the other five design contest winners.
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