Honda EV Concept

The Honda EV Concept vehicles are a series of two concept electric cars created by the automobile division of Honda, designed with cues to historical Honda products. The Urban EV Concept made its debut at the 2017 International Motor Show Germany in September 2017,[1][2][3] while the Sports EV Concept debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show a month later.[4][5]

Common features

The front and rear ends feature screens that display messages to other motorists or the battery status.[1][2] Other common styling details include the shape and configuration of the headlights, taillights, and front grille; matte black rub strips on the sides; and the blacked-out A pillars.[6] The "Honda Automated Network Assistant" is a Honda-created artificial intelligence system that, according to Honda, "learns from the driver by detecting emotions behind their judgments."[2]

Urban EV
Honda Urban EV Concept
Overview
ManufacturerHonda
Designer
  • Yuki Terai (exterior)
  • Fumihiro Yaguchi (interior)
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact car (B)
Body style3-door hatchback
Dimensions
Length157.0 in (3,988 mm)
Prototype vehicle

Built on a new platform, the Urban EV Concept's exterior design is an homage to the first generation Honda Civic and is about the same length as the Honda Fit. The car features rear-hinged suicide doors.[1][2] Yuki Terai is credited with the exterior design.[7]

"We have come up with this cute-looking front, as well as simple and soft plane designs. Cars are becoming more high-tech, but they become friendlier to people," "We want to make these cars simple and easy to understand." Jun Goto, Sports EV Concept designer[8]

The interior fits four adults, with the front passengers seated on a single bench seat. The dashboard is decorated in wood trim with a long digital screen as the instrument and infotainment panel. On the upper door panels are additional screens that display feeds from the side-view cameras.[1][2] Fumihiro Yaguchi was the interior designer.[7]

Production version
Main article: Honda e

The production version of the Urban EV Concept is slated for a European release in 2019,[1][3] and then in Japan in 2020.[9] The target market for the Urban EV Concept is as a short-range commuter. Because of its target as an urban commuting vehicle, a release in the United States is unlikely.[10]

In February 2019, a pre-production prototype was unveiled, with the production version shown during the Geneva Motor Show[11] and in May Honda announced the production vehicle will be named Honda e. Production and sales are scheduled for late 2019.[12]

Sports EV
Honda Sports EV Concept
Overview
ManufacturerHonda
DesignerMakoto Harada
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door fastback coupé

According to Honda, the Sports EV Concept "combine[s] EV performance and artificial intelligence inside a compact body with the aim to realize the joy of driving with a sense of unity with the car."[13] Its exterior is inspired by the Honda S600.[5] It shares the front and rear lights, as well as the dash, with the Urban EV.[14] It features two seats and is meant to "embod[y] the 'beautility' of a sporty car."[10] Due to the short six-month development schedule, the interior of the Sports EV shown at TMS 2017 was not finished.[13]

Makoto Harada was the project leader and exterior designer of the concept.[14]

Awards

Automobile magazine awarded both cars with the 2018 Concept of the Year.[4]

2018 Car Design Award ‘The Best Concept Car’ [15]

References
  1. Estrada, Zac (2017-09-12). "The Honda Urban EV Concept is the cool electric city car we need". The Verge. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  2. Lorio, Joe (2017-09-12). "Honda Urban EV Concept: The Best or the Coolest EV?". Car and Driver. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  3. Adams, Keith (2017-09-12). "Honda Urban EV Concept previews all-electric supermini at Frankfurt 2017". Car. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  4. Cumberford, Robert (17 January 2018). "2018 Concept of the Year: Honda Sports EV and Urban EV". Automobile. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  5. Stoklosa, Alexander (October 2017). "Honda Sports EV Concept: Retro-Electric Futurism". Car and Driver. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  6. Stocksdale, Joel (25 October 2017). "Honda Sports EV Concept is exactly the EV sports car we want". autoblog. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. "Honda Urban EV Concept". Honda. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  8. Greimel, Hans. "Japanese design cuts deep at Tokyo Motor Show (1 Nov 2017)". Autoweek. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  9. "Summary of Honda Announcements and Exhibits at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show" (Press release). Honda. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  10. Okamura, Naoto (25 October 2017). "Honda previews potential sporty EV". Automotive News Europe. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  11. Golson, Daniel (February 27, 2019). "Honda e Prototype - Near-Production Version of the Urban EV". Car and Driver.
  12. Honda Confirms Name For Urban Electric Car: Honda e
  13. Bird, Guy (8 November 2017). "Honda design director talks Urban EV and Sports EV concepts". Autoblog. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  14. Miller, Ben. "Honda reboots the classic '60s sports car with its EV Sport Concept (25 Oct 2017)". Car magazine (UK). Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  15. "Honda Urban EV Named Best Concept Car - 2018 Car Design Award (7 June 2018)". InsideEVs. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
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