Yesterday

Honda Super-N Prototype previews UK-bound EV

A boost mode, virtual gears, classic kei car design - and destined for a city near you

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Those who can remember as far back as the Goodwood Festival of Speed might remember seeing a small Honda EV scoot up the hill. That was the Super EV Concept, wrapped purple and previewing a future tiny EV. Perhaps not the most thrilling vehicle seen over the weekend, and you wouldn’t have been alone in thinking that would have been its sole UK outing, but now the Super EV has assumed a new importance: not only has it become the very similar Super-N, but it’s going to be sold here next year… 

Yes, really. Just debuted at the Tokyo show, Honda says the Super-N will be sold in ‘select global markets, including Great Britain, from 2026.’ Which sounds like great news to us, looking as it does like something straight out of the Gran Turismo Sunday Cup with its ducts and bumpers, plus the recent boom in small, fun EVs. The Honda N Series of kei cars is already sold in Japan - here’s what happens when fun is the priority.

So there’s a boost mode for additional power (Honda hasn’t said exactly how much yet), ‘multi-gear shift’ tech that sounds like what features in the Prelude, plus Active Sound Control that hopefully makes it buzz along in merry fashion. All those things should make the Super-N a good giggle around city streets. ‘Dedicated interior displays and coordinated lighting sequences’ aim to spice up the interior. 

With Honda having already dabbled in the small electric car market here with the e, it’ll be interesting to see how the Super-N is marketed and received. The e was undoubtedly stylish and great to drive, but expensive for the performance and range on offer; even just a few years after that car, the market has changed along with expectations. 

Cars like the Renault 5 and Hyundai Inster didn’t exist when the e was on sale; hopefully, the Super-N can deliver the right price and range to tempt buyers this time. Because we all want to see more retro Japanese kei cars around, don’t we?

Honda UK’s Head of Automobile, Rebecca Adamson, said: “The Super-N Prototype promises to offer a great entry point to Honda EV ownership when it arrives in our market next year… By bringing Honda’s trademark ‘fun-to-drive’ performance to a compact all-electric model, we believe this is a unique proposition and we are excited for people to experience it from 2026.” That’s two interesting new Hondas on PH in the same week - it could almost be 2003 again…

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[GreatScott2016]

That is a cute thing, isn’t it? Not in the market for an EV, but looks fun as a shopping trolley

[RicksAlfas]

That looks great. I wish the Japanese would bring more of their domestic cars here.

[itcaptainslow]

This looks ace. Hopefully Honda will give it a bit more range than the E (the only thing that stopped me buying one - I adored the car when I test drove it).

[RA272]

"Honda UK s Head of Automobile, Rebecca Adamson, said: The Super-N Prototype promises to offer a great entry point to Honda EV ownership" Uh-oh, my mortal enemy from the Prelude thread ;-)

Edited by RA272 on Wednesday 29th October 12:37

[SydneyBridge]

Excellent, if they get the price right...

[EK9_CTR]

Would be cooler as a 660cc petrol IMO.

[trails]

EK9_CTR said:

Would be cooler as a 660cc petrol IMO.

[RandomCarChat]

I really like it, would make a nice stable mate to my FK8. I'll be interested to know what pricing will look like, the Honda E was quite expensive. Surely it needs to be in the Hyundai Inster / Renault 5 bracket.

[Jimbo.]

EK9_CTR said:

Would be cooler as a 660cc petrol IMO.

Believe there was that in the form of a Honda N-Box at the recent Bicester Scramble. The (very kind and decent) owner was more than happy to talk us through it. Cracking little car!

[RB Will]

looks like a cut n shut of a Suzuki Ignis and VW Up, like it though.

[HorneyMX5]

The want is strong. This is where EV's should be great.

[fantheman80]

RB Will said:

looks like a cut n shut of a Suzuki Ignis and VW Up, like it though.

I was thinking more Honda e front, Daewoo Matiz midriff and Abarth 500 rear

[wyson]

What's the point of this in the UK if it doesn't come with tax advantages like in Japan. You hardly seen tiny cars like the UP and i10 as it is, even in places like London which you'd think would be their natural habitat.

[dxg]

Need to know more about these "virtual gears."

[georgeyboy12345]

Looks pretty good, but then so did the Honda e concept and that turned out to be pretty disappointing compared to the original concept.

[fantheman80]

dxg said:

Need to know more about these "virtual gears."

will be same as the prelude and 5N - mimics ice gearbox, flick of paddle cuts power for nano second between gears little shove when new gear selected

[Bernt Tuakrisp]

I love a Kei car, this could be perfect for the station run if it’s quite cheap.

[Sulphur Man]

wyson said:

What's the point of this in the UK if it doesn't come with tax advantages like in Japan. You hardly seen tiny cars like the UP and i10 as it is, even in places like London which you'd think would be their natural habitat.

Agreed. In Greater London 'burbs, where the space taken up by SUVs on narrow high streets and residential roads is a real problem - Herne Hill being a good example. This would make so much sense

Central London is becoming the natural habitat for bicycles.

[ManyMotors]

I like it a lot and agree with positive comments here.

[nismo48]

That looks like a fun thing