The future of motoring

Top Gear's James May called it "the most important car since the car was invented" and "in a different league to any electric car we have seen before".

And he summed up this revolutionary new vehicle by saying: "This is the future of motoring."

He was talking about Honda's FCX Clarity, the world's first publicly available hydrogen fuel cell car.

Why is it so important? It runs on hydrogen — which, unlike petrol, will never run out, as it is the most abundant element in the universe.

As James May test-drove the Clarity around California, he explained that the reason it's the car of the future is that it is just like the car of today.

It can do 0-60mph in just over nine seconds, up to 100mph, and it doesn't take hours to recharge, like other electric cars — instead it takes minutes to refuel at a hydrogen pump. And the only thing it emits is water.

No wonder May said, "I am absolutely convinced that the Clarity is the most important car for 100 years."

While the Clarity is currently available only in California and Japan, in the UK Honda has another innovative car on the market: the affordable hybrid, the Insight.

It's part of Honda's drive to produce the sort of cars that our children and grandchildren will be getting into in years to come.

By using a combination of petrol engine and an electric motor to improve fuel consumption, the Insight reduces CO2 emissions by around 30 per cent compared to a similar-sized petrol car.

It also features an ingenious system called Eco Assist, part of which helps the driver to drive more economically.

And as it's the most affordable hybrid in the UK, more and more people can now afford to do their bit to help the environment.

As we all know, if everyone made an effort, we would go a long way to reducing CO2 and making an impact on global warming.

That is why Honda has linked with the volunteering charity Do-it.org — as part of the Look after London campaign.

Most of us worry about the environment and now is your chance to DO something about IT.

Honda recognises that it is the everyday things that all of us can do — such as recycling rubbish, turning off lights and driving a more environmentally friendly car — that are just as important as inspirational innovations such as the FCX Clarity.

AS HONDA'S CAMPAIGN SAYS:

Let's go do, keep doing and do some more.' So what are you waiting for? Every step or every mile we take, can make a difference.