LAS VEGAS — Honda did its half to show CES into the automotive kickoff present of the 2024 season Tuesday when it unveiled the primary two ideas in its new “0 Collection” (Be cool, BMW!) line of all-electric automobiles slated to reach within the U.S. in 2026. Constructed on the ideas of “Skinny, Gentle and Smart,” these new fashions will lay the groundwork for Honda’s electrified future.
Honda’s two CES ideas are dubbed the Saloon and the Area-Hub. The previous, Honda says, would be the first mannequin within the 0 Collection lineup, and Honda says it is going to be the flagship in its new EV lineup. It is constructed on a devoted platform developed utilizing Honda’s M//M philosophy: man most/machine minimal. Translation: it is low, huge and spacious. And critically, it will not drive itself.
That is proper; whereas Honda is promising developments in driver security tech and semi-automated security programs, the Saloon is meant to be a driver-oriented automotive, with new tech devised to make the expertise extra participating, not much less. And it seems wild.
“Along with the brand new exterior and inside design,” Honda’s announcement stated, “the Saloon additionally debuts developments of recent steer-by-wire and movement management administration programs. Leveraging the corporate’s many years of experience in robotics, the Saloon options posture management that may help the motive force in quite a lot of driving conditions to appreciate the ‘pleasure of driving’ within the EV period.”
That is lofty — and greater than a bit obscure — however promising. We intend to carry them to it.
The second idea, dubbed the Area-Hub, leans within the different course solely. Honda describes it as a “versatile area that instantly accommodates quite a lot of passengers and turns into a “hub” that connects folks to one another and the surface world,” no matter meaning. It seems so much like a Starfleet shuttlecraft that acquired tossed again in time and landed at Honda R&D. However hey, we might as soon as say the identical factor concerning the Dodge Caravan.
Particulars on this one are even thinner. The lounge fashion rear cabin space has been a well-liked inclusion in ideas with autonomous pretensions, however with Honda not making a devoted push to construct its personal AVs, we suspect this may find yourself trying a bit extra like a traditional… um… no matter it’s.
The 0 Collection may also put on a brand new badge. Honda has tinkered with its conventional “H,” and the brand new look is meant to convey the notion of open arms embracing new potentialities.
At the moment’s presentation was about broad strokes, absolutely, but when we all know something about Honda, it is that their “idea” automobiles have a humorous means of turning out to be thinly-disguised manufacturing automobiles. With two years to go till launch and factoring within the complexities of evolving BEV tech, we’ll forgive them for not marrying themselves to any specifics. We simply know it is not Ultium. Keep tuned for extra.