What's the news?
Following rave reviews for the concept version seen at the 2017's Frankfurt motor show, Honda has wasted no time in getting a production version of its Urban EV ready. This, the E Prototype is not quite the final, showroom-ready version, but it's pretty close and it'll be seen in full at next week's Geneva motor show.
The styling sticks very closely, thankfully, to that of the original concept, with that retro-esque front end with its twin round headlights, and the big black panel for the charging port prominent on the nose.
The biggest difference, stylistically, between this E Prototype and the original concept, is that the concept's twin rear-hinged doors have gone. They have been replaced by a more conventional front-hinged four-door layout, but the rear door handles have been carefully hidden in the c-pillar, so as to preserve the much-admired styling of the concept.
Helping keep the styling as clear, both visually and aerodynamically as possible, are door-mounted rear-facing cameras (which Honda says are unique to the small car segment) and flush-fitting door handles that pop out when needed.
Underneath, Honda has developed an entirely new electric car platform, which has a very long wheelbase by the standards of the compact hatch class, and which promises some seriously impressive cabin space. The interior gets a huge, almost full-width, digital infotainment screen and instrument panel, and the operating system looks to be a lot more up to date than Honda's current, rather disappointing, touchscreen setup from the Civic and CR-V.
The floor is completely flat, and Honda says that it has used sofa-like seating and materials to create a "comfortable lounge-like feel."
On the performance front, Honda says that the finished production model will have a one-charge range of more than 200km (that seems a little disappointing considering Peugeot's new e-208 claims better than 300km), and that thanks to being rear-wheel drive (the single electric motor is mounted at the back) it is "focused on delivering a fun and emotive experience."