This remarkable machine is the Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) concept, "conceived exclusively around the city lifestyle" and unveiled for the first time at the LA Auto Show.

In a refreshing break from the norm, Honda isn't vying for the 'Greenest Carmaker in the World Ever' trophy in LA, and is instead proclaiming the P-NUT as simply a nice, convenient way of getting around if you live somewhere cramped. As Honda USA Director Dave Marek put it, "the objective... was to explore the potential for a new type of small-segment-category vehicle that overcomes many of the objections for existing micro-car designs."

That's his way of saying city cars tend to look ever so slightly rubbish. Honda's bad boy is rear engined and rear wheel drive - and we all know which other seminal car adopts that particular layout to great effect.

But forget about the Tata Nano for a second and focus on the P-NUT. Rather cleverly, the car has been designed to accommodate a variety of drivetrains, be it a small, conventional internal combustion engine, an electric-only setup or a hybrid system. Three occupants can sit in the car, with two passengers sat behind the central driver and plenty of legroom for all. The back seats fold as well, to afford more luggage space if needed, and there's a head up display for the driver.