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Be Warned, Your Future Honda Might Suffer from PMS

What can you do to stand out when everybody - and we do mean everybody - is pushing out concept after concept that uses an electric powertrain and is completely autonomous (in theory, at least)?
Honda NeuV concept 1 photo
Photo: Honda
The last answer you would think of is "give the car its own set of emotions," which is probably why you don't work for Honda. The Japanese carmaker took a look at the current crop of cars and decided they all lacked something: soul.

Well, we're still some time away from being able to transfer our consciousness into an object, but since the advent of the self-driving technology meant that future cars would have very powerful computers on board, why not do more with the AI than simply have it drive you around in complete safety?

Honda will be presenting this intriguing new concept called NeuV at next year's CES in Las Vegas, which is probably the most appropriate venue considering it focuses so much on the technology inside. The company refers to NeuV's AI as an "emotion engine," but what exactly that translates to in real life is anyone's guess.

This new kind of engine is described by Honda as a set of technologies that "enable machines to artificially generate their own emotions." Well, somebody should tell Honda that the last thing we need when driving is another "emotional" being screaming that we drive too fast.

Emotions are hard to deal with, and that's because they are so easily misinterpreted. How exactly will Honda NeuV's emotions show is still a mystery, but whatever the case, expect all this to be just a gimmick meant to generate a little buzz.

The Japanese carmaker says the NeuV is designed for commuters, which presumably means it sacrifices style for practicality. Well, the minimalist design with the unconventionally shaped greenhouse might actually appeal to some, but the boxy shape lets everyone know what kind of interior space they should expect once the wide door is open.

The good news - and one that could suggest there's a tiny chance something remotely based on the NeuV will enter production - is that the concept has a steering wheel, despite claims of having self-driving capabilities. The length of the vehicle, however, makes it hard to imagine how the NeuV could accommodate more than two people on board. Then again, you'd be tempted to say the same thing about the Toyota iQ, and you'd be terribly wrong.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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