Honda Urban EV

grogi

Especially for Europe... I love the concept and the production is promised to have minimal changes...



No technical details given yet on the range though. First deliveries late 2019...

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-tokyo-motor-show/honda-urban-ev-due-2019-few-changes

unkel

Yep car was mentioned here when the concept was launched last year. I reckoned it looked like a cross between a R5 and a Golf Mk I and people seemed to agree

Love it too. It is beyond cool :cool:

80sDiesel

Saw it too. Pre-orders begin the beginning of next year. On my list for my wife's replacment car. She just doesn't know that yet.

scamalert

the two fins on the sides supposed to be side mirrors ?
dont know but likes of tesla still use glass ones which makes sense,and imagine required by law in most countries.

inside looks like mini living room with widescreen tv.wheels look cool and imagine to serve purpose in saving energy but cleaning em would be pain taking.

overall looks still like 3d printed concept, hybrid between mini and opel cadet or smth from 80s in design.

guess really will come down to price and range, which would need to be on the really low side.

grogi

scamalert wrote: »

guess really will come down to price and range, which would need to be on the really low side.

If it stays as cool, it might be expensive but still sell well. Demand for fashionable items is not driven by their actual capabilities.

unkel

scamalert wrote: »

the two fins on the sides supposed to be side mirrors ?

I presume they are cameras.

colm_mcm

If they’ve figured out how to make pillars that thin and still be safe, then they’ve stumbled on something big.

unkel

It will probably be one of these "minimal changes" in the production car, Colm

colm_mcm

And the suicide doors. Basically it’ll be nothing like what you see there!

unkel

What makes you think they are suicide doors? That wouldn't make much sense with rear passengers getting in and the wiring for the side displays in the doors would be awkward

grogi

unkel wrote: »

What makes you think they are suicide doors? That wouldn't make much sense with rear passengers getting in and the wiring for the side displays in the doors would be awkward

I bet this concept did not have a functional doors at all Check those armrests on the side

https://youtu.be/K4YXmTkOsYM?t=1m38s

That's a concept... What will stay is the overall shape and proportions of the body with those ridiculous big wheels, front lights and grill, dark pillars A and B that will make illusion the whole glass curves around etc. Interior will be toned down a lot...

n97 mini

Good overview of both cars here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi2wrqAlK5Q

unkel

It does have suicide doors so!

I like the idea the designer suggests you could drive it into your house, like have it in your living room

colm_mcm

unkel wrote: »

What makes you think they are suicide doors? That wouldn't make much sense with rear passengers getting in and the wiring for the side displays in the doors would be awkward

Article says

Entry and exit from the Urban EV is via rear-hinged coach doors.

TBi

Both cars look fantastic! Can't wait to see the urban ev in person.

cros13

colm_mcm wrote: »

Article says

I did see a later interview (can't seem to find a link) where it was strongly suggested that one of the minor changes to the production version would be more conventional doors.

Water John

Thought the Urban brand, would be owned by Toyota?

n97 mini

unkel wrote: »

It does have suicide doors so!

I like the idea the designer suggests you could drive it into your house, like have it in your living room

Yeah, I thought that was novel too!

liamog

Spotted out testing in camo

https://www.topspeed.com/cars/honda/2020-honda-urban-ev-ar183525.html

Dont be at yourself

liamog wrote: »

Spotted out testing in camo

https://www.topspeed.com/cars/honda/2020-honda-urban-ev-ar183525.html

So happy this is making into production. I'd be absolutely all over a premium 5d hot hatch.

liamog

Dont be at yourself wrote: »

So happy this is making into production. I'd be absolutely all over a premium 5d hot hatch.

Interesting that they're moving to make a 5d premium model, it's basically a halo car for Honda's electrification efforts. Will be interesting to see if they release something along the lines of the Jazz for the mass market.

n97 mini

liamog wrote: »

Spotted out testing in camo

https://www.topspeed.com/cars/honda/2020-honda-urban-ev-ar183525.html

Ooo, and it has the cameras instead of wing mirrors. Afaik, actual wing mirrors are a requirement in the US, but it does say this is Euro market only.

n97 mini

The Urban EV is no more! The new (and fairly different car) is the one they've been seen testing covered in camouflage. I have to admit it looks better than I thought it would.

200km WLTP and it's RWD!

Officially being unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfD67KCFxqI

eagerv

n97 mini wrote: »

The Urban EV is no more! The new (and fairly different car) is the one they've been seen testing covered in camouflage. I have to admit it looks better than I thought it would.

200km WLTP and it's RWD!

Officially being unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

Nice video, great to see more competition coming to market later this year hopefully.


Wonder if the electronic mirrors and door handles will come to the production model? Cannot really see the purpose..

n97 mini

eagerv wrote: »

Nice video, great to see more competition coming to market later this year hopefully.


Wonder if the electronic mirrors and door handles will come to the production model? Cannot really see the purpose..

The mules have them, so I'd say they will. Wing mirrors can add as much as 10% to drag, and that's the reason for cameras.

The illuminated H badge won't make production. The Top Gear video says they're illegal as "they're advertisements" which is plain wrong. The reason is they're illuminated, and three lights to oncoming traffic in the dark is confusing ("is that 3 motorbikes coming against me... It can't be a car")

grogi

eagerv wrote: »

Nice video, great to see more competition coming to market later this year hopefully.


Wonder if the electronic mirrors and door handles will come to the production model? Cannot really see the purpose..

Improved aerodynamic, so better range too?

eagerv

I can understand the drag from conventional wing mirrors, but this car has been designed as a city car. The front anyway looks to have the aerodynamics of a brick.:)


I love it though..

Dont be at yourself

I adore this car. 4 seats will make it a tough to get it past the wife, but I can start the sales pitch today.

Nedved85

It's a shame about the range though. Leaf 30 kWh range really.

n97 mini

Nedved85 wrote: »

It's a shame about the range though. Leaf 30 kWh range really.

Possibly slightly more. I'd guess the battery is marginally bigger. But, this is the first iteration, so things can only improve.

slicedpanman

Stunning

Any indications of price anywhere yet?

Patser

Loved to concept, so much so that I contacted Honda to express interest... but it seems to have lost a bit if poise in new model. The 5 doors takes away a lot it's aggressiveness - and it will be only available in 5 door. They've rounded off the bonnet so much that it's gone from old school GTi to bastard son of GTi and cutesy Fiat 500.

It's now borderline for me - and there's still the 2 biggest questions to be answered.

Yes its RWD but how much power? My i3 is 170 but I see suggestions this will be 150 or less.

And price, all articles use the same phrasing of 'Apple' pricing - as in charging a lot because it looks so sleek. But if it ends up pricey, slow and cutesy I'll be passing it up

unkel

Four doors is very unfortunate, but they have done a pretty good job trying to hide the rear doors. Like they did a good job with the 2006 Civic hatchback. Power is largely irrelevant in an EV for acceleration times, the torque and the setup / programming are far more important. With 150BHP this could be a fast little thing.

The Urban EV looked so cool and the looks were extremely well received everywhere. They should have just put the concept into production as is or as close as possible. That's what Audi did with the concept TT - back in 1995 (!) - car still looks fresh, and it was a huge sales success

That said, it's still a cool little car, can't wait to hear more about it, when available, pricing. With VW coming, this has to be a car not much over €20k after incentives

Nedved85

n97 mini wrote: »

Possibly slightly more. I'd guess the battery is marginally bigger. But, this is the first iteration, so things can only improve.

For sure, I like the look of it tbh. Will be interesting to see the price

bertie4evr

Everything I've seen is putting this at the expensive end of the scale

n97 mini

The reason given by the Honda lad for the 5 doors is that the doors are longer in a 3 door, and this is an urban car; longer doors won't do. Having said that the windows are all frameless in those videos, which is unusual for the segment.

Purely speculation on my part, but I'd be surprised if there was more than 120bhp on tap. Having said that they did say a Type R version is a possibility.

And all indicators so far suggest it won't be cheap.

unkel

n97 mini wrote: »

And all indicators so far suggest it won't be cheap.

It will have to be if it wants to successfully compete with a lot more offerings next year. Has to be roughly the same price as a similar spec Civic ICE now (after incentives)

slave1

Economically speaking can't see any reason to go for this over a well kept L30 which is a genuine 5 seater car with decent boot size.
There were 2018 L30 sold in the UK which will be hitting the used market which will be better value than these new I'd say

The more the merrier I say. This looks like a cool alternative for trendy folk like the Londoners currently driving their Fiat 500 Abarths.

Tom Dunne

Am I the only one that thinks it looks awful?

I'm just getting flashbacks of a Lada.

It could be you or it could be me. I think it looks like a breath of fresh air both literally and the way it looks. The desing doesn't have that "where can I add another pointless wing and a fold this door one more time". It's a really clean design IMO.

Mickeroo

It wouldn't be for me but I definitely see the appeal.

Sabre Man

I like what they've done with the side mirrors. It seems like a much better solution than the one offered by the Audi e-tron.

https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/28/the-all-electric-honda-e-is-bringing-its-side-view-mirrors-inside/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer_us=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_cs=DGIBUfBubYVHUiBpXGCm3A

Old diesel

Battery range of 124 miles is somewhat lacking when we consider.....

1) that's probably optimistic manufacturer speak.......

2). If it's going to be relatively expensive.

I wonder if the 80 percent in 30 mins is a 40 to 50 kw charge time.

fricatus

The charge port sits on top of the bonnet (see last picture here).

There’s no cover for the DC pins (the bottom bit of the charge port) by the looks of things, so when it’s charging on Type 2 in Ireland on a rainy night, is this going to get waterlogged? Indeed isn’t the whole port? Will there be a drain for water I wonder?

There’s a reason most cars have the charge port fitted vertically, rather than “lying down”.

unkel

Fully Charged today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEKq8jmckz0

That's a crazy turning circle

Looks like it will be a hoot to drive. RWD. Pity about the 4 doors though, but at least they tried hiding them a bit. Small battery (35kWh) for a short 200km WLTP range (inefficient!), but I think that's a clever choice. Most people buying a supermini don't need that range and we'll get better charging infrastructure soon

Price not known, but expected GBP28-30k

Batesy

They missed a trick not calling this E Honda.

krissovo

Stunning car, the wing mirrors are so innovative and beats Tesla for a modern cockpit. Add to that the screens this is a great city car, I do fear that the autopilot/pro pilot is inferior to the Tesla or Leaf.

slave1

Batesy wrote: »

They missed a trick not calling this E Honda.

That's fighting talk where I come from:pac:

Mike9832

Old diesel wrote: »

Battery range of 124 miles is somewhat lacking when we consider.....

1) that's probably optimistic manufacturer speak.......

2). If it's going to be relatively expensive.

I wonder if the 80 percent in 30 mins is a 40 to 50 kw charge time.

Don't see the big deal either

Its basically an i3, 10 years later

Lightweight, rwd, small battery, quick, good turning circle, expensive

Would have preferred to see Honda do what BMW didn't, release a 60kWh Civic or Accord

Patser

It would make sense as the 1st cheap, mass produced city car but looks like it'll be priced high, while offering limited range, power and space - lots of lively interior gadgets and great maneuverability though - and lacking the initial killer GT looks of the 1st prototype. It'll find a niche but could very quickly be squeezed out by a decent electric Fiat 500 at a lower price, or the e Mini cooper with better power and range.