Honda 0 Series Reveal at CES

Two electric prototype 0 Series cars from Honda will go on display at the Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2025, kicking off in Las Vegas imminently. 

Honda has gone big on hybrids but has held back to a degree on EVs. And what they have marketed hasn’t sold especially well. The small Honda e and e:Ny1 EVs have hardly been raving sales successes. 

The 0 Series prototypes showcase a new design language. There’s a sleek saloon and a larger, more practical SUV inspired by the ‘Space-Hub’ concept. At the rear is a full-width light bar surrounding a ‘Honda’ logo. Up front is a headlight assembly that spans the width of these vehicles and a new ‘H’ Honda logo. 

Eventually, Honda will have seven 0 Series models available, including a larger, three-row SUV arriving in 2027. The saloon goes on sale next year. In 2028 the firm will debut a compact electric SUV and another small fry high-rise in 2029. A compact saloon rounds things off in 2030. 

Honda sees the 0 Series as “a lifeline to the future.” The Japanese market has been slow to embrace EVs, still only accounting for three per cent of new-car sales. That is one reason Honda has been reticent about embracing EVs. The firm says “we are considering full-scale expansion based on the best timing.” 

However, things are different in the European market, where EVs account for 14.6 per cent of total sales. Hence the 0 Series push.

Toshihiro Akiwa, head of Honda’s BEV Development Centre, told Auto Express “The strength of Honda is fun cars, which have a long history. Although it will not be easy as the [EV] battery is heavy, we will use our existing hardware know-how while incorporating the latest technology to provide customers with the pleasure of driving.” To this end, the 0 Series vehicles will have an aluminium body frame, lowering kerb weights by around 100kg. 

Special features include a 3D gyroscope stabilisation (thanks Asimo) to improve handling, regenerative braking based on steer-by-wire, and an external camera that can predict if you want the doors or bootlid opened. AI technology will scan occupants and suggest functions based on their behaviour. However, this will only be available in certain markets. We’d guess the US won’t be one of those.

Using 400V architecture, Honda says to expect battery sizes of 80 and over 100kWh, for over 500km of range for the former.