Japanese marque Honda really hit the jackpot when they revealed their Urban EV concept back in 2017, which is why for this year’s Geneva Motor Show, they’re bringing a model that better represents something you or I could buy. It’s called the Honda e Prototype and while its name denotes its not-quite-ready status, we don’t expect the production model to be too far behind.
We’re unbelievably happy to report that the e Prototype has lost precious little of the design verve we loved about the Urban EV, with the blacked-out panels front and rear, contrast-coloured roof, flush A- and B-pillars, pop-out door handles and camera-based rear-view system. But despite the clear importance of the design here, it’s still a practical proposition, with a long wheelbase maximising the cabin-space for occupants within.
The cabin continues the ‘retro-reimagined’ theme from the exterior, pared with a minimalist approach. You’ll find two screens mounted on the dash (not dissimilar to Mercedes-Benz’s implementation of MBUX), which Honda says is “infinitely customisable.” The rear-view cameras display their feeds on smaller screens that sit on either end of the dashboard.
Honda’s made full use of the flat-floor that’s been afforded by the electric powertrain, with the result being a “comfortable, lounge-like feel,” by using sofa-fabric on the seats and other materials throughout the cabin that wouldn’t seem out of place in your living room.
They didn’t go into too much detail, but the Honda e Prototype sits on a bespoke EV platform, a first for Honda, with a rear-wheel drive layout. There’s a “powerful electric motor, driven though the rear wheels for next-generation small-car performance,” which promises a “fun and emotive experience.” Perhaps most importantly, the e Prototype offers a driving range of “over 200km,” and if fast-charged, can recoup as much as 80% of range in just 30-minutes.
The Honda e Prototype is scheduled to go into production later this year, though it’s said that it still hasn’t been marked for Australian introduction. Shame.
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