Microcar fans might like this little concept from Honda it’s the Puyo. This car is built pedestrian friendly… it’s actually soft to the touch! One of the main things you’ll notice, besides looking like a cute, goofy, squarish marshmallow, is the fact that it has NO hard edges. So, GO AHEAD! Step out in front of it! It won’t hurt you, but instead with wrap you up in it’s warm, soft puffiness and invite you to settle into it’s soft chewy center. It’s like a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man poop.
Now for the big question. Would I drive one? Would I be seen rolling down the street… on my way to work… in a big, squishy, four-wheeled pillow-mobile? Eh, maybe. I mean, it is sorta cute, in an ET kinda way. Chicks would dig it… always coming by to poke at its doughy exterior hoping that one day it would let out a cute little Pillsbury Doughboy giggle.
Not nearly the “hotness” that the Honda CR-Z is… and if I HAD to choose between the two I might go with the CR-Z (if I were feeling less confident that day)… but it’s hard to turn down the “seamless soft box that is kind to both people and the environment”. Let’s go ahead and drop Honda’s description on you:
PUYO
‘PUYO’ is a Japanese onomatopoeia that expresses the sensation of touching the vehicle’s soft body. It is meant to convey a warm, friendly impression.The PUYO represents a new idea in mobility that brings together ‘clean’, ‘safe’ and ‘fun’ functionality in an environmentally responsible, people-friendly minimalist design featuring an ultra-high efficiency, small frame and fuel cell technology to please both users and onlookers alike.
-EXTERIOR-
The development theme for the PUYO exterior was to create a cornerless, ‘Seamless Soft Box’ form that is kind to both people and the environment. The goal was to create a personable design with the feel of an adorable pet, while taking advantage of the maximum spaciousness of the box-shaped design. The PUYO’s ‘gel body’ features soft materials to promote greater real-world safety. Moreover, the body has been made luminescent to guide people into the proper operating position and notify them of the vehicle’s condition, facilitating a more intimate relationship between people and their cars.-INTERIOR-
Developed to have a ‘Silky Feel’, the PUYO’s interior is designed to provide a refreshing, people-friendly space imbued with a feeling of transparency. Features such as an instrument panel monitor, controls that take advantage of the elastic qualities of cloth to rise up when the vehicle starts up, luminous fluid meter displays, and a joystick for intuitive operation are all designed to gently support occupants’ senses and sensibilities.
AND… if you wanna see video of girls poking at the Puyo, go HERE.
26. October 2007 at 2:28 am
From the Tokyo Times, August 8, 2010:
57 people were pleased today and some remain positively glowing after a man lost intuitive control of his Honda Puyo and pardoned it’s way through a street fair in a Tokyo suburb…..
26. October 2007 at 7:13 am
I don’t know if the technology can be applied to scooter safety, but I have a hunch that women would REALLY love a guy with a soft, fuzzy riding jacket. That is, assuming he’s comfortable looking like a seal pup.
27. October 2007 at 3:48 am
Strange, I think I’ve seen it before somewhere.
29. October 2007 at 5:06 pm
Regarding Android’s comment:
today — in-car DVD player
the future — in-car Orgasmatron!
Until then, scootering is the next-best thing.
29. October 2007 at 5:09 pm
By the way, there’s a good reason that big glass bubble canopies fell out of favor after the 1950s. Despite being very Jetsons, they really tax the A/C system. This would be especially bad for electric cars, where every watt counts.