Anyone living in the UK, Germany, France and Norway can now reserve Honda’s new urban electric vehicle, the Honda e. A dedicated online reservation website allows customers to reserve a priority status to order the Honda e with a refundable reservation fee of £800. Customers will then be able to place an order from later this year with first deliveries of the vehicle from Spring 2020.
The prototype of the Honda e was presented at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show (and later at Milan Design Week) and confirmed that many of the signature features first revealed on the widely acclaimed 2017 Honda Urban EV Concept are being retained for production.
The first compact Honda car on a dedicated EV platform delivers a blend of efficiency, performance and usability that is perfect for urban environments. The Honda e Prototype will deliver a range of over 125 miles and the capability to fast charge to 80 per cent battery capacity in 30 minutes, making it ideal for everyday commuting.
The Honda e is characterised by clean external lines, facilitated by flush pop-out door handles and compact cameras replacing traditional side view mirrors, both of which are unique features for a vehicle in this class. The car’s advanced charging port is integrated centrally in the bonnet for ease of use from either side of the car, with LED lighting visible through the glass cover to inform the driver of battery charging status.
The smooth body contours lead from the bonnet to the panoramic windscreen to create a continuous surface up and over the front passengers. Further enhancing aerodynamic performance and to help deliver a quiet, refined journey, the stepless A-pillars sit virtually flush with the glass. Five colour options will be available, including; Platinum White Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Crystal Blue Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and Charge Yellow.
Finally, the appearance of a low, muscular stance – emphasised by the flared wheel arches that accommodate the wide tyres – lends a dynamic look to the simple exterior design.
Inside, the full-width dashboard houses the intuitive and customisable dual screen display featuring a range of intelligent applications and services. Combined with melange-style sofa fabric and other tactile materials often found in contemporary homes, and the sense of spaciousness enhanced by the walk-through flat floor, it lends the cabin a comfortable lounge-like feel.
The array of next-generation digital aids is presented alongside many of the car’s comfort and infotainment controls for easy multi-tasking and simple menu navigation. Screens showing the rear-view images relayed from the Camera Mirror System are integrated at either end of the dashboard ergonomically positioned to ensure a natural feel and vision for the driver. The vehicle also features a digital rear view camera increasing the driver’s field of vision.
Beneath the skin is an all-new, EV-specific platform that allows for compact proportions, while a relatively long wheelbase, wide track and short overhangs facilitate exceptional urban manoeuvrability and dynamic driving characteristics. The compact electric car offers trademark Honda driving dynamics, aided by the sporty rear-wheel drive format and advanced electric powertrain.
The Honda e will contribute to Honda’s commitment of 100 per cent of automobile sales in Europe with electrified powertrains by 2025. The Honda e may still be only in prototype form, but it has received an overwhelming response with over 20,000 registrations of interest across Europe, 6000 of those coming from the UK. Customers can visit https://reserve.honda.co.uk/en/reservation to make a reservation for priority ordering and we expect it to have a price tag of around £25,000 to £30,000, giving it the competitive edge over the BMW i3.
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