Honda teases radical concept, gets ready to debut new global electric cars

Honda has partially revealed a new concept that will make its debut at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The automaker says the as-yet unnamed concept will be part of a display showing its “new EV [electric vehicle] series for global markets”. Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe will whip the covers off the concept and other vehicles on January 9, Las Vegas time.

Unfortunately Honda hasn’t provided any details about the new electric concept. The teaser image (above) shows it will have a distinctive sharply wedged body that includes a bonnet and front windscreen drawn in one straight line.

The new sharp-edged design theme was initially laid out by the e:N GT, e:N Coupe, and e:N SUV concepts revealed in China in 2021, and has now progressed into the China-only e:NP2 and e:NS2 crossovers that will go into production from 2024.

It’s unclear at this stage what types of EVs Honda is planning to unveil next January, but they could be based on the electric-only e:Architecture the company announced back in 2021.

At the time Honda said vehicles based on this platform would be unveiled first in the US before going on sale globally. Vehicles based on the e:Architecture are expected to enter production from around 2026.

The launch of e:Architecture would go a long way to helping Honda achieve its target of selling only electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles globally by 2040, with an interim goal of achieving 2 million EV sales by 2030.

Like compatriot Toyota, Honda has been slow to jump into the EV game, previously preferring to prioritise its hybrid drivetrains, as well as continuing development on hydrogen fuel cell technology.

At present Honda has a smattering of EVs in its range, including a pair of HR-V-based models, the soon-to-be axed E hatch, and the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX crossovers. The last two vehicles are North American models designed by Honda, but which utilise GM’s battery and EV technology, and are built by the General.

Last month, GM and Honda scrapped plans to jointly develop a range of “affordable EVs” for global markets to go on sale from 2027. The two automakers say they will now develop their own models based on their own architectures.

Honda has also joined forces with Sony to develop and produce a new range of EVs under the Afeela brand. Production is scheduled to commence at new factory in 2026, with cars sold around the world.

At present Honda Australia says it won’t bring any electric vehicles Down Under before 2028. Instead the local arm is concentrating on hybrids, with the latest CR-V and Civic both available with petrol-electric drivetrains.