What’s Under the Sheets? Honda Readying Two Electrified Sports Cars
Honda has repeatedly stated that it will collaborate with GM on a number of electric vehicles, with the plans released thus far focusing on family vehicles, such as the planned Ultium-based Prologue sport utility vehicle. It held a deep dive on its future electrification goals, both nationally and globally, going into greater depth about how it hopes to bridge the gap between its present shortage of electric vehicles and the 2 million it expects to sell yearly by 2030. This week, before an unveiling at the New York car show, the automaker released teaser photographs of the two electric vehicles. As you might expect, the hour-long PowerPoint presentation was fairly regular business update fodder, packed with dry figure roundups, battery plans, and various home-market electric vehicles we’ll never see, and Honda didn’t demonstrate. However, near the end of the presentation, Honda mentioned that among the 30-plus EVs, it plans to launch by 2030. Honda did not specify a release date for the two electric sports vehicles in its newest announcement, although they are unlikely to arrive until 2026 at the earliest. This is due to Honda’s cautious approach to EVs in general, with the aptly called Prologue set to debut in 2024 as part of a promise of 30 electric cars by the end of the decade. However, we won’t see what Honda refers to as “cheap” vehicles for a while. As per Honda, one of the sports cars will be a “flagship” model, while the other will be a “specialty” vehicle, with the teaser image implying an S2000 and an NSX-style pairing.The “Flagship Model”
In the image revealed by what appears to be an electric Acura/Honda NSX replacement on the right side of the teaser image, Honda released, which we’ll assume is the “flagship” Honda mentions. This mid-engine-appearing design (again, simply pointing out the form, not the presence or location of an engine in the chassis) is every bit as sinuous as the first sports car, but the body is lower, longer, and places the cabin forward—much like today’s hybrid NSX. And, unfortunately, that’s the end of it. We don’t know anything else. In a new electrified vehicle world, we’re glad Honda is devoted to “a drive to give FUN for its customers.” Even in the era of electrification,” Honda claims, “the ‘pleasure of driving’ will be carried on to our models,” adding that the two sports vehicles “will embody Honda’s universal sports mindset and distinctive characteristics.” We’re not sure what to make of the glowing green rings that appear where the wheels should be, but the glow on both the front and back wheels could indicate that this sports car is all-wheel drive. In comparison to the more upright, classically designed sports car on the left, the shape suggests a more purposeful, possibly more expensive duty cycle for this sports cars.Also Read: Audi Ubransphere: The Van-Like Concept with First-Class Treatment in Second Row
The “Specialty Model”
The sports car on the left could be labeled the “specialist model,” we think. This would undoubtedly seem special in a throwback kind of way near the end of the decade, clearly in the classic format of a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe. Honda is likely to use the new e: Architecture platform, which is being developed in collaboration with GM for smaller and cheaper EVs than the Ultium-based components that will power Honda’s upcoming Prologue electric SUV. We imagine Honda will use the new e: Architecture platform, which is being co-developed with GM for smaller and more affordable EVs than the Ultium-based bits that will underpin Honda’s upcoming Prologue electric SUV (and an Acura-badged version). After all, the Ultrium setup for those first SUVs is pretty big. These sports cars don’t appear to be miniature—though the scale is difficult to discern except for the “H” insignia that flash through the sheets that cover each car—but we don’t know much at this stage.Tags: 2019 Subaru Forester Touring, 2020 BMW iX3, 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, 2020 dodge charger, 2020 EQC, 2020 Ford Super Duty, 2020 Honda Pilot, 2020 Kia Optima, 2020 Mercedes Benz, 2020 Nissan Versa, 2020 Subaru WRX STI, Audi SUV, BMW, Brandon K. Hardison, Chevrolet Car, Chevrolet Sonic, Dodge charger, electric vehicles, honda, Honda Pilot, Hyundai SUV, Mercedes Benz, Nissan Rogue, SUV, upcoming car, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line, Volvo Car
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