Honda Motor Corp will take the covers off from its third-generation fuel-cell system in a new version of its FCX concept vehicle. The new fuel cell system will debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show to be held in early December. The FCX concept is a five-passenger luxury sedan unveiled by Honda at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The FCX will be fitted with the third-generation fuel cell system. The exhibition in LA heralds that Honda is getting closer to a production-ready system. In fact, the automaker has announced that a production version of the FCX concept sedan may be realized within three to four years time.

Meanwhile, Honda already has a fuel-cell vehicle available although much smaller. Also called the FCX, this Civic-size hatchback is manufactured in very limited numbers only. More than a dozen of these FCVs were distributed to families and local governments in a number of states on short term-lease to provide the automaker with real-world experience with fuel cell technology. The hydrogen-powered 2006 Honda FCX has an fuel efficiency of 62 mpg in city driving and 51 mpg on the highway.