Wednesday 25th October 2017

Honda unveils Sports EV Concept

Tokyo show debut for Honda's plug-in performance coupe

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Honda has unveiled the second model based on its new electric car platform, a sporty sibling to the Urban EV.

We loved that car for its retro styling, with strong first gen Civic overtones, and from the 119 comments the story received, you agreed.

Opinion on this is likely to be a little more divided. Honda claims it possesses, "a striking silhouette, friendly face and supple body surfaces, all designed to ensure the car blends into any lifestyle." It's certainly a classic two seater coupe from the rear three-quarters, all aggressive haunches and slopey glass. From the front, however, things are perhaps a little less resolved; there's a definite Toyota 2000GT vibe from the long bonnet and enclosed headlight design though.

Whilst electrification is more easily accepted in a city car like the Urban EV, no doubt many will find the idea of it in a sports coupe a harder pill to swallow - particularly from the company which gave us that powertrain.

The torque-based benefits of battery power are well known, but there are no performance figures or specs as yet. Just the assurance that the Sports EV will provide "a feeling of joy and emotional unity to the drive." With the Urban EV not entering production until 2019 though, we'll likely have to wait till next decade to find out if Honda can make good on that promise.

[loudlashadjuster]

How can a company that come up with this also be responsible for the atrocity that is the latest Civic Type-R?

Hoping this heralds a new direction for Honda design, which used to be the last word in reserved purpose.

[HeMightBeBanned]

I love it. I wish Honda's current lineup had such unfussy designs. They're a complete mish-mash of vents, slashes and lines which make them into a poorly-resolved mess. Their two recent EV concepts are a model of elegant simplicity. Please make them real, Honda.

[bassett]

2nd pic could almost be a Corrado and mk1 golf gti.

[stuckmojo]

Very nice. One has to assume the electric motor is in the back, right?

[PhantomPH]

Great looking thing.

That being said, if Honda were to put the hatchback into production looking exactly like that, I'd put my deposit down today. I think that's a fantastic little thing and would be ideal for my short commute each day. Really reminds me of a Mk1 Golf.

Sadly, I don't expect production models to look anything like those those vehicles we see above. (Porsche Mission-E, I'm looking at you....)

[thatguy11]

I think that looks absolutely brilliant, perfect blend of cutting-edge modern and Japanese retro. And I find myself being genuinely excited by it as a car, not just as an object. This is now the second fully electric car I'd actually consider owning, this and the Porsche Mission E. Teslas don't do it for me and never have, but if I was to have a dream two-car fully EV garage....

[Fetchez la vache]

PhantomPH said:

Great looking thing.
That being said, if Honda were to put the hatchback into production looking exactly like that, I'd put my deposit down today.

Ditto. The thing is, if they put those in their current showroom it would really show how bad the design of their current efforts are.

I'm sure Honda would argue they are looking to the future with their current lot, as opposed to these which are unashamedly retro, but it's only the retro lot that wake me want to get my wallet out.

[m444ttb]

loudlashadjuster said:

How can a company that come up with this also be responsible for the atrocity that is the latest Civic Type-R?

Hoping this heralds a new direction for Honda design, which used to be the last word in reserved purpose.

Those were exactly my first thoughts. Living in Swindon there are now an awful lot of the new Civics and I still can't get over how bad it looks.

[Dave Hedgehog]

love it

now they just need to make one big enough for grown ups

[TheVole]

I'd happily buy either of these. Please make them reality and bring them to the UK, Honda.

[5harp3y]

these look incredible!

[cmahey]

bassett said:

2nd pic could almost be a Corrado and mk1 golf gti.

Or also a Mk1 Civic that it's based on

[PhantomPH]

cmahey said:

bassett said:

2nd pic could almost be a Corrado and mk1 golf gti.

Or also a Mk1 Civic that it's based on

Can it not resemble two things? Must have missed that rule.

[louismchuge]

Would have either in a heartbeat

[sad61t]

Lovely, simple, design and small enough for UK B-roads. I'd buy that if it was put into production, and had a 250 km real-world range (enough for a round trip to relatives).

[SeeSaw]

"From the front, however, things are perhaps a little less resolved...."

Really PH, you must be blind. To my eyes that is wonderfully resolved front to rear. A stunning, original looking, creation for which Honda should be applauded.

As others have said - just build it!

[anonymous-user]

Smashing looking thing

My i3 has about a year left on the lease, can mr Honda get one of these ready in time??

[anonymous-user]

That looks brilliant, not as good as the hatchback, but still good; as others have said, I would order the hatchback tomorrow if it was going to look like the concept.

[Mr2Mike]

The front end design (especially the huge gouge in the bonnet) ruins it for me, but a bit of restyling could make it very nice.

The city car concept is excellent, and received almost universal praise in a previous thread, despite people insisting it was styled around a Mk1 Golf for some reason.

[LordGrover]

Another thumbs up here. I'd have either/both based on appearance.
I hope performance is acceptable.