Doc Martins, shaving brushes and Mariah Carey: Sooner or later everything we thought was forgotten is now celebrating a comeback. Envisioning the mobility of the future, Honda dug out something else that was almost over and done with: Carpools!

Based on the belief of a re-urbanisation movement in the 2040's, Honda Designers Ben Davidson, Khrystyne Zurian and Shae Shatz advanced the old carpool model to face the jam-packed streets of tomorrow: The Honda 124 (One to the Power of Four) is a concept for a robotic modular vehicle comprising four pods. Thanks to a combination of artificial intelligence and molecular engineering each separate unit maintains its own power source. When coupled together they can travel at higher speeds and use a High Occupancy Vehicle Lane. When it is near to the passengers final destinations, it automatically transforms into four smaller single seater vehicles that are easily maneuverable.Module one (see slideshow) maintains most of the look and performance of the original vehicle and allows the driver to continue to travel significant distances at high speed. The modules two and three are light weight personal transport modes, perfect for traveling short, inner-city distances. The front and rear modules can re-join together and take advantage of the carpool system as one. There is no need to mention that the Honda 124 is an energy efficient car concept: The power comes from a solar hybrid power system with a very flexible usability: Two cars from the system can be recharged at one time enabling the two other cars to travel freely. Well, the only thing left to argue about: Who will use which module?Images: Honda

At the IAA Honda presents its fuel cell vehicle to be officially introduced to the market in the US and Japan by the end of 2008 - complementary working on a revolutionary concept of a Home Energy Station.

In the last 30 years the sustainable car development made huge progresses. Brian Cox talks about the fuel cell van NECAR1 of Mercedes, the Toyota Prius, the Tesla Roadster, the HONDA FCX and the Hydrogen 7 by BMW. All these cars mark the milestones in contemporary sustainable car development.