An Unexpected Combination: Motocompo in the NSX Trunk
Honda’s reputation for ergonomic use of interior space has been built over decades, but few have dared to test it like this enthusiast. Can a scooter that resembles a suitcase fit in the trunk of a mid-engine supercar? Someone tried it. The result was surprisingly pleasant to witness, although such placement did not come without compromises.
Experiment by an NSX Owner
The experiment belongs to Chris Scott, an NSX owner from York, England. At a local Japanese car enthusiast meet, he met another enthusiast with a Honda Motocompo and decided to test if these two vehicles could work together.
History of the Motocompo and NSX
The Motocompo appeared in 1981 as an accessory that folded and fit into the trunk of the original Honda City hatchback. The NSX appeared almost a decade later, in 1990, and its 154-liter (5.4 cubic feet) trunk was never designed for a folding motorcycle. It was precisely this incompatibility that sparked Chris Scott’s curiosity.
How Did It Work?
As it turned out, the folded Motocompo fits behind the NSX’s mid-mounted V6 engine without any modifications or awkward shoving into the carpet lining. The secret is to lay the scooter on its side, rather than placing it vertically as it would sit in the City hatchback’s trunk, which had special mounting nuts and a strap for securing it.
Technical Details and Preparation Requirements
For those interested, the Motocompo has a length of 1.185 meters (46.7 inches) and a dry weight of 42 kg (92.6 lbs). Power comes from a tiny 49cc air-cooled two-stroke engine that produces just 2.5 horsepower.
To allow the scooter to lie flat in the trunk without creating a mess, Honda designed special mechanisms to prevent leaks. However, this does not make it completely leak-proof, so the NSX owner drained all the fluids before attempting such an unusual combination.
A video published by NSX and Motocompo owner Dominic Dubreuil proves that draining the fluids is necessary. When Dom laid the scooter on its side, it began to leak, forcing him to cancel the operation and save his NSX from dirt in the trunk.
An Alternative Solution
For those seeking a cleaner solution, it is worth looking to the modern era. Since 2023, Honda has offered the fully electric Motocompacto, which folds into an even smaller suitcase. Theoretically, it is compact enough to fit in the 110-liter (4.4 cubic feet) trunk of the modern NSX.
A video published by Dominic Dubreuil clearly demonstrates why draining the fluids is critical. When trying to lay the scooter on its side, fluid began to leak out, forcing the owner to immediately stop the experiment to save his supercar’s interior.
Another video from an enthusiast under the nickname HondaPro Jason shows how the Motocompo is neatly placed in the NSX trunk, highlighting the unexpected compatibility of these two seemingly incompatible vehicles.
Yet another video from Crazy 4 Honda demonstrates the process of loading the Motocompo into the NSX, delighting viewers with its unexpected simplicity and elegance of the solution.
All the same, there is something pleasing in realizing that the Motocompo and NSX are potentially compatible, even if such a combination requires some preparation before and after the trip. This experiment once again proves that Honda’s engineering thinking, even decades later, can surprise, and owner enthusiasm knows no bounds. Although the practical value of such a tandem is questionable due to the need to drain the fluids, the very fact that a 42-kilogram scooter fits into a supercar is a wonderful example of unexpected versatility and a tribute to the brand’s history. The modern electric Motocompacto version solves the cleanliness problem, making this idea much more practical for modern NSX owners.