Honda is already within the midst of aggressively ramping up its electric car portfolio. In China, it will likely be launching the e:NP1 and e:NS1 as early as February subsequent 12 months. This shall be adopted up with the manufacturing variations of the e:N Coupe, SUV and GT ideas (pictured above) inside the subsequent 5 years.
Conceived primarily based on Honda’s understanding of its China buyer base, the trio is designed round three core pillars – dynamics, intelligence and wonder. These are the identical ideas of which the e:NS1 and e:NP1 are primarily based on, so the automaker guarantees class-leading driving expertise, consolation, and security applied sciences.
In keeping with Honda Motor China government vp, Toshihiro Akiwa, the e:N fashions will present prospects with a “sense of unity” and “sense of being in sync with the car.” Sounds a bit like Mazda’s Jinba-Ittai philosophy, blended with a BMW-esque “final driving expertise” messaging.
Advertising and marketing hype apart, the EVs shall be constructed on Honda’s e:N Structure. The modularity of the platform allows Honda to create front-wheel drive EVs (designated e:N Structure F), which can primarily be used for small- to medium-sized automobiles, such because the e:NP1 and e:NS1.
In the meantime, the e:N Structure W shall be used for bigger, extra premium RWD and AWD fashions. As you’ll have guessed, the latter will characteristic two electrical motors for max efficiency and traction. Honda stated the applied sciences it developed from its huge motorsports exploits shall be funneled into the brand new crop of EVs, so prospects can count on prime ranges of dealing with plus a extremely responsive electrical powertrain.
A excessive capability battery pack will reside beneath the ground, positioned between the 2 axles for a low centre of gravity and optimum weight distribution. A single cost is alleged to offer a spread of over 500 km, although the capability and chemical composition of the cells stay unspecified as but.
Now, when it comes to design, Akiwa-san stated future e:N fashions shall be simply identifiable at a look. These vehicles will characteristic futuristic design cues equivalent to a pointy bodylines and expressive exterior lighting, together with the Honda badges. The tail shall be changed with a backlit Honda script, a therapy employed by a bevy of luxurious automakers like Porsche and Lexus.
As seen with the cockpit of the e:NP1/e:NS1, future e:N fashions will get a large Tesla-like vertical show that runs on e:N OS. It’s a model new software program that integrates the way more superior Sensing 360 and Join 3.0 methods, in addition to a wise digital cockpit with head-up show. The brand new ADAS system is alleged to supply greater than 20 sorts of driver aids.
Different notable options embrace wi-fi OTA software program updates, an AI voice assistant that’s programmed to grasp informal directives, and the power to hyperlink and work together with sensible gadgets at residence. A smartphone app may even permit customers to activate a large number of in-car features remotely, equivalent to local weather pre-conditioning.
