Honda teases updated Urban EV ahead of Geneva debut
Much-adored concept car is almost ready for production
Despite having been a pioneer of hybrid drive and hydrogen technology, Honda has been relatively slow on the battery EV uptake. However, when it previewed its first pure-electric platform with the Urban EV concept at Frankfurt in 2017, the clean, approachable design was an instant sensation.
A development of the concept is due to enter production this year, but before it does, we will see a “new electric vehicle prototype” at the Geneva Motor Show, of which a teaser sketch has now been released.
The sketch shows a revised, rounder take on the glassy front mask with LED headlights that make a complete circle instead of the concept’s Alfa Romeo Montreal-style ‘low eyebrows’ look. The front bumper seemingly protrudes outwards more, too, no doubt in response to crash safety demands. A newly blacked-out roof suggests suitably fashionable two-tone customisation options, while rear-view cameras instead of mirrors are still present, but bigger than before.
Intriguingly, the wheel arches are much more flared and bulging than the concept’s subtle haunches, suggesting a more pumped-up look. However, we all know that car designers often take some artistic licence with their sketches, and if we study spy photos of the real-life prototype, obtained by Autocar, we can see that the reality is indeed much closer to the concept than this curvy sketch – and that it’s now a five-door car. Naturally, it also loses the comedy oversized wheels.
Prototype spy shot betrays flatter arches (photo ©Autocar)
The teaser sketch just barely reveals two separated front seats replacing the concept’s bench, but the glowing full-width dashboard suggests Byton-esque levels of pixel acreage for front occupants, as per the Urban EV. Smaller, angled screens either side suggest a more intuitive placement of the rear-view screens than the ones sat flat in the concept’s doors.
Technical details are scarce ahead of its debut, but the productionised Urban EV (or whatever it ends up being renamed in the process) will be the spearhead of Honda’s “Electric Vision” in Europe, wherein they aim for two thirds of total sales in 2025 to be electrified, with the pure EVs on a VW-style common scalable platform.
We will learn more about all this in the run up to the Geneva show.