Honda FCX Clarity Hype
If you see a lot of media coverage today about Honda announcing production of its new hydrogen-powered car, the FCX Clarity, don’t get overly excited. This is not a new car you can go out and buy. Nor can you even get on a waiting list. We wouldn’t blame you for being confused, Honda promotes it on its own website with language like “Hits The Streets Summer 2008.”
That’s true. A few dozen FCX Clarity models will go to pre-selected users in California as part of a test program. They will be leased for three years — at $600 a month — and returned to Honda at the end of the term. About 50,000 people applied to the program. Stars like Jaime Lee Curtis and other Hollywood celebs somehow made it through the process to get their names selected for the FCX, which will start showing up on roads in July.
Cars.com’s Joe Wiesenfelder one-upped the celebs, driving an early version of the FCX way back in November, and delivered these two videos. Take that, Jaime Lee.
The mass media is also quick to report that the major drawback of the FCX is the lack of hydrogen refueling stations. Even in California there are just a few. They neglect to mention that if someone were to pay the actual cost of an FCX, they’d be looking in the six-digit range. The technology is that expensive.
We still just want to drive the upcoming Honda CR-Z hybrid sports compact.
