Exciting times lie ahead as Honda gears up to unveil its groundbreaking ‘Super EV’ concept! This electrifying new creation promises to cater specifically to urban dwellers, aiming to fill the gap left by the slow-selling Honda e, which bid farewell to the market in 2023. Details about the Super EV are still under wraps, but it beautifully aligns with our earlier insights shared at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. Those inside the industry were buzzing when Honda’s head of global electrification business, Katsushi Inoue, hinted at the automaker's intentions to roll out a successor to its now-defunct electric city car, underscoring that “we are at the development stage” and hinted at a future packed with innovative smaller vehicles.
Fast-forward six months, and that promising future feels tantalizingly close! The Super EV is set to make waves as a compact electric vehicle designed to compete fiercely with contemporary powerhouses such as the latest MINI Cooper and Fiat 500e, while also going head-to-head with cost-effective challengers like the BYD Dolphin Surf and Citroën e-C3. Currently, Honda has revealed just one teaser image showcasing the model cruising across the iconic Westminster Bridge, alongside the city’s famed black cabs. Despite the heavy camouflage, the car’s tall and upright stance evokes a Kei-car vibe—its compact dimensions suggest that it could indeed fit in that category. Regardless, the Super EV is poised to boast a footprint reminiscent of its predecessor, the Honda e, making it an ideal choice for city life.
But it’s not just its size that draws attention; the Super EV boasts a distinctive design palette featuring round headlights reminiscent of the 2023 Honda Sustaina-C concept, along with a bold front end and a cleverly positioned charging port. As is typical for vehicles built on dedicated electric platforms, the design features wheels strategically pushed out to the corners, resulting in a longer wheelbase that enhances passenger comfort. Honda emphasizes that the Super EV has been meticulously engineered as an A-segment compact electric vehicle, balancing everyday practicality with the exhilarating “joy of driving” synonymous with the brand. Honda is promising a “sporty and highly responsive driving experience” that’s sure to thrill anyone behind the wheel—think heart-racing driving moments cradled in modern, eco-friendly technology.
This stunning new vehicle will make its mark by tackling the famed Goodwood hillclimb, strutting its stuff alongside other legends like the next-gen Honda Prelude and the exciting Civic Type R Ultimate Edition. Back at CES, Inoue revealed that a future Honda electric vehicle priced below €30,000 would need to venture outside the brand’s ambitious seven-car 0 Series platform. He confirmed that this architecture would not accommodate anything smaller than a Civic-sized hatchback, emphasizing the need for separations in Honda’s electric lineup. “We are considering this outside of the 0 Series,” he stated, hinting at a thoughtful approach to developing a well-rounded electric portfolio.
The 0 Series roadmap includes seven confirmed vehicles slated for production by 2030, with both an SUV and a sedan set to launch globally as soon as next year. Fans can anticipate a smaller SUV revelation in 2026, currently earmarked primarily for Asian markets; however, there are strong indications that Europe could be part of the expansion. Looking ahead, a larger seven-seat SUV is expected to debut in 2027, most likely exclusively for the US. Following this, a compact SUV will grace the scene in 2028, closely accompanied by another diminutive SUV and a compact sedan by the close of the decade.
While Asian markets are prioritized for next year’s smallest SUV, Honda’s BEV General Manager, Mitsuri Kariya, has expressed a keen interest in introducing the baby electric SUV to Europe as well—further intensifying the excitement surrounding Honda's electric evolution. The automotive landscape is undoubtedly changing, and Honda is right at the forefront. So, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for an exhilarating ride into the future of urban mobility with Honda leading the way!