Honda Project 2&4 inches closer to production

Honda's track-ready Project 2&4 concept could become a reality after the Japanese car-maker was caught registering blueprints with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

The leaked images are intriguing.

They prove time and money has been spent re-engineering and evolving the ultralight sports car that was unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show.

Honda has developed a new die-cast-aluminium beam that it will hang a pair of seats, suspension and four wheels off the concept's backbone chassis.

The location of the small motorcycle engine -- which was mid-mounted alongside the drive in the concept car -- has now moved rearwards to be mid-ship behind the driver and new passenger seat.

The new single-piece lightweight aluminium structure is claimed to introduce immense stiffness and rigidity, according to the patent applications.

The fuel tank, meanwhile, is encased within the chassis itself to cut weight and the complexity of having to package a separate tank.

According to the patent, Honda will even let owners easily remove the passenger seat to cut weight further and, if that's not enough, the Japanese car-maker is considering removing a rear wheel to create a trike.

Originally, the Project 2&4 came fitted with the heroic 999cc V4 engine from the Honda RC213V MotoGP racer.

Pumping out 158kW/118Nm, Honda's highly-strung race engine is matched with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, but new rumours suggest that a pure-electric powertrain is also being considered.

If so, it's unlikely the zero-emission street-legal racer will come anywhere close to matching the concept's sub-400kg kerb weight.

A separate related patent for an innovative inflatable rollover protection system that could help it meet crash test regulations has also sent Honda enthusiasts into a tailspin about the prospect of the Japanese car-maker pushing the Project 2&4 into production.