Along with the Afeela 1, Honda can also be displaying two design research from the 0 Sequence at CES. The wedge-shaped 0 Saloon doesn’t but seem like prepared for collection manufacturing. In distinction, the 0 SUV already seems to be nearly like a manufacturing automobile. In line with Honda, each fashions will go into manufacturing from 2026 on the current Honda plant in Ohio. The market launch can also be deliberate for 2026, initially in North America and later in Europe.
The 0 SUV, which in keeping with Honda is a “medium-sized” electrical SUV, has already been introduced for the primary half of 2026. The entrance and aspect view look comparatively typical, however the rear is uncommon. In comparison with the massive rear finish of the Area Hub Idea from the CES 2024, it seems considerably extra delicate, however the view to the rear appears to be severely restricted. In any other case, the examine has camera-based exterior mirrors and flat built-in door handles.
Picture by: InsideEVs
Honda 0 SUV: The entrance seems to be pleasing …
Picture by: Honda
… however the rear takes some getting used to
Honda presents an image of the inside, which primarily reveals the big glass roof. Nonetheless, it’s also recognisable that the lounge-like inside of the Area Hub Idea has been changed by a traditional seating system. Steering is through steering horn and steer-by-wire system. As a substitute of a traditional inside mirror, there’s a mysterious gadget. It could embrace a head-up show that reveals the picture from a rear digicam.
Picture by: Honda
The monitor panorama consists of no less than two, maybe even three displays – the image isn’t clear. In precept, nevertheless, the dashboard ought to look much like that of the saloon. There may be a driver’s show, a touchscreen and a passenger monitor, in addition to two screens for the outside mirror cameras on the surface. The seats are totally different from these within the SUV, that includes unusually formed integral sports activities seats:
Picture by: Honda
The inside of the 0 Saloon with 5 shows, steering horn and sports activities seats
The 0 Saloon is the flagship of the 0 Sequence, which is seemingly supposed to compete within the luxurious class, i.e. towards the Mercedes EQS, Lucid Air and Porsche Taycan. One of many most important variations in comparison with the examine from CES 2024 is that the gullwing doorways have been changed by typical doorways. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless no recognisable door handles and the closed wheel rims hardly look appropriate for collection manufacturing. The identical applies to the entrance finish, which with its sharp protruding edge seems to be prefer it was made to shatter kneecaps within the occasion of an accident.
Picture by: InsideEVs
Wedge-shaped 0 saloon with typical doorways …
Picture by: Honda
… and an analogous rear finish to the SUV
Honda has not but formally offered any technical particulars on the drive and battery of the 2 fashions. Nonetheless, Autocar has already learnt a couple of key factors from Honda. For instance, there might be a alternative of rear-wheel drive with 245 PS or all-wheel drive with 490 PS. The saloon is to be fitted with NMC batteries with 80 to 100 kWh. Honda additionally desires to make use of the gigacasting course of acquainted from Tesla in manufacturing. This also needs to allow a decrease car weight.
Honda additionally offered its first personal car working system known as Asimo. The identify is harking back to Honda’s humanoid robotic, which was offered over 20 years in the past and proven a number of instances at motor reveals. The working system is meant to run on 0-Sequence automobiles. Degree 3 is to be doable for autonomous driving, i.e. “Eyes off”: you’ll be able to take your eyes off the street to look at a video, for instance, however should be able to take over driving once more.
Honda additionally introduced an settlement with the Japanese semiconductor firm Renesas Electronics for the event of a system-on-chip which is to be launched within the subsequent technology of the 0-Sequence on the finish of the 2020s. System-on-chip implies that a single microchip takes over the features that a complete circuit board usually fulfils. The benefit is alleged to be sooner info processing.
The underside line
Though Honda desires to construct its 0-Sequence automobiles within the USA, it additionally desires to launch them on the European market. A mid-size SUV just like the one proven on the CES would in all probability not be out of the query right here from the outset. However we do not see any future for a luxurious saloon from Honda on this nation. In Europe, folks often consider small and compact vehicles such because the Jazz or the Civic once they consider Honda. It could hardly happen to anybody to pay €80,000 (£65,000) for a luxurious Honda.
