Geneva show: Honda Urban EV concept is go

HONDA has confirmed that its retro-inspired Urban EV Concept from last year’s Frankfurt motor show will become a production reality.

Speaking at Honda’s press conference at the Geneva motor show, Honda Motor Europe senior vice-president Philip Ross announced that the cute and quirky electric hatchback would end up in dealerships.

“A production version of this highly acclaimed concept will be introduced to Europe during late 2019, and in response to the positive feedback to this model, we expect to open order banks for the Urban EV during early 2019,” he said.

The production-ready hatch will initially be offered in Europe with order books opening at the start of 2019, before being offered to other markets, including Japan, in 2020.

It is unclear if Honda Australia is considering offering the little EV Down Under.

Mr Ross told GoAuto at the Frankfurt show that production versions of the Urban EV Concept would be built in right-hand drive and it will be produced in Japan.

“We believe that if we can make a great car for Europe, then it will be great for all the other parts of the world as well,” he said in September last year.

The Urban EV Concept previews Honda’s first mass-market battery EV to be sold in Europe, the company says.

Honda is yet to confirm capacity and performance figures for the fully electric car, but it is part of Honda’s plan to ensure two-thirds of its global sales will be for electrified vehicles by 2030.

The 3869mm-long hatch is built on a new platform and features a striking exterior design that is reminiscent of the Honda N360 hatch from the 1960s as well as the original Mk1 Volkswagen Golf.

Inside the concept fits four occupants across the two bench seats, which have different materials to ensure a lounge-like ambience, according to Honda.

The dashboard has a wrap-around screen extending to the doors, offering a range of vehicle information, while the extended door screens function as the car’s side mirrors via digital camera displays.

Honda followed up the Frankfurt show-car reveal with the similarly-themed Sports EV concept at last year’s Tokyo show.