Honda’s Mad Project 2&4 Concept [w/Video]

Combining its experience in two and four wheels, Honda has created this impressive concept that made its debut at the 2015 IAA.

The Project 2&4 is the winner of Honda’s “Global Design Project” contest and was created through the collaboration between the Japanese motorcycle design center in Asaka and its automobile design center in Wako, Japan.

It’s an open cockpit one-seater with very compact dimensions (3,040 mm in length, 1,820 in width and a height of 995 mm)and it’s supposed to bring the driver as close to the experience of driving a superbike as possible.

The extremely minimalist design brings to mind other track cars, such as the Ariel Atom, but it actually draws its inspiration from Honda’s RA272 1965 Formula 1 car.

Its most exceptional feature, however, is the engine. While the Project 2&4 is not the first to be powered by a motorcycle unit, it sure is the first with one that comes straight from a MotoGP racer.

The 999 cc V4 is the same engine that powers Honda’s RC213V factory-backed steeds of reigning champion Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa. In spite of being tuned for use on public roads, it still revs to a screaming 14,000 rpm. It pumps out 215PS (212hp) and 118Nm (87 lb-ft) of peak torque that are transmitted to the rear wheels via a six-speed DCT gearbox.

If that seems modest, factor in the 405 kg (893 pounds) weight and you’ll understand that this cute little pet project not only screams – it bites, too.

One can only dream of seeing it in production form, but you can at least view the new image gallery and the video that follow after the jump.