Green light for Honda Urban EV 25 | 10 | 2017

    GET YOUR WALLET ready: Honda has confirmed a production version of its eye-catching Urban EV Concept will be made in 2019. And it will go on-sale in Europe before it enters Japanese showrooms. (Related: 2018 Honda Jazz gets sporty facelift)

    Unveiled first in Frankfurt last month, Honda confirmed at the Tokyo Motor Show today that the production car, built on a new dedicated electric platform, will be largely unchanged from the concept.

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    “This is not some vision of the distant future; a production version of this car will be here in Europe in 2019,” Takahiro Hachigo, Honda president, said.

    Though Honda has yet to reveal details of the car’s powertrain or range, it’s expected it will be able to cover around 150 miles on a full charge. It will also include a high-density lightweight battery pack, integrated heat management and energy transfer functions, both to and from the vehicle.

    Honda-Urban-EV-Concept-3.jpg

    Sitting low and wide, and measuring 3895mm long, the Urban EV Concept is 100m shorter than the current Jazz supermini. And while the concept version is designed for four people, it’s understood the production car will accommodate five adults.

    Honda-Urban-EV-Concept-4.jpg

    The interior is dominated by what Honda calls its floating dashboard. This house the steering wheel column, and a set of simple control buttons. It’s dominate though by a huge panoramic screen which extends into the doors. This also encompasses the car’s wing mirrors which are relayed via a digital camera display.

    Honda-Urban-EV-Concept-5.jpg

    Entry is via rear-hinged coach doors, and visibility for driver and passengers is boosted thanks to slim A-pillars and a wide — very wide — windscreen.

    Related: Honda CR-V gets S Plus special edition

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    Jim McGill

     

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