Honda Teases Geneva Motor Show-Bound EV Prototype

Honda has confirmed a previous report concerning anew electric vehicle prototype that will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The automaker has also released an early design sketch of the pre-production study, and it’s pretty clear we’re dealing with the electric city car previewed by the Urban EV Concept at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Honda says the new vehicle is developed “with a focus on functionality and purpose and the prototype sketch demonstrates this through its clean, simple and unique design.”

The sketch reveals a very similar design to the Urban EV study, with highlights including the round LED headlights, black “grille” that may or may not display messages to other drivers, a black element at the center of the bonnet, and rearview cameras instead of conventional mirrors.

As spy photos have shown last year, the production model will switch from a three-door to a five-door layout, with the interior offering five seats instead of the concept’s four. Furthermore, the doors will be front-hinged and not rear-hinged as on the Urban EV.

The automaker confirmed that a mass production version of the car will be on sale later in the year. That means Honda’s first EV for Europe will most certainly debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The company continues to keep the model’s powertrain secret, though.

The EV is a key part of Honda’s “Electric Vision” plan that projects that two-thirds of the brand’s European sales will feature electrified technology by 2025.

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