Honda Reveals Saloon Electric Concept, Announces New EV Line

by Matt Posky

Published: January 9th, 2024

honda reveals saloon electric concept announces new ev line

Honda used CES 2024 to reveal a couple of purely conceptual automobiles and then announced that one of them would serve as the basis for its new EV line coming in 2026. They’ll even have their own logo, which the company also teased this week.

Honda's ‘Zero Series’ vehicles are supposed to be the next generation of all-electric transportation and appear to be hellbent on embracing every industry trend that’s currently in fashion. That supposition is based on the Saloon concept, which the manufacturer had on hand at CES and claimed would be the first model in the lineup. Though the vehicle will undoubtedly have to change in order for that to become a reality. The Saloon looks like a minivan concept from the early 1980s — boasting a wedge shape and tons of glass.

A production version of the Saloon (or whatever the name they give the vehicle it’s based on) is said to arrive in 2026, serving as the Zero Series’ first model. The design allows for the concept to be incredibly spacious inside with staggeringly good viability. However, it doesn’t look like it would perform terribly well during a crash test in its conceptual form. It has a yoke steering wheel because that’s what designers assume people think is hip right now appears completely devoid of buttons.

We expect a lot about the vehicle to change. But Honda said the production model should receive a novel drive-by-wire system called “motion-control management.” Considering how lackluster electronic steering has been, we’re hoping it offers better feedback than what the broader industry has had on offer these last few years. The manufacturer is also making pretty bold claims about battery life, claiming less than a ten-percent degradation of its maximum charge over ten years.

Other than the vehicle slotting into the usual cliche of claiming it’ll be like a mobile lounge and Honda promising it’d be extremely lightweight for an EV, there’s not much to say here. It’s just too hard to imagine the production-ready version being anything like the concept once you take into modern safety regulations. But it remains a very cool concept, appealing to just above everyone who grew up thinking wedge designs and neon would be the future.

“We will create a completely new value from zero based on thin, light and wise as the foundation for our new Honda [zero] EV series to further advance the joy and freedom of mobility to the next level,” stated Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe.

The company has also shown off the Space-Hub concept, which is more like a proper van. It’s similar in nature to the Saloon, just larger and with a greater emphasis on pleasing passengers. Honda has fitted it with a massive panoramic roof and seating that’s more limo than shuttle bus. However, the company hasn’t expressed any intention to put it into production.

Assuming it keeps the name, the Saloon is supposed to launch in North America sometime in 2026, followed by subsequent Honda Zero model introductions in Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and the Middle East. The vehicles will use a new Honda logo (below), denoting their place among the brand’s newest all-electric products.

[Images: Honda]

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Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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3 of 25 comments

Macca on Jan 10, 2024

Can't claim prior knowledge here, but others have made the connection to Honda's own Kiwami concept from 2003, and it's undeniably similar...

https://s.aolcdn.com/dims-global/dims3/GLOB/legacy_thumbnail/1200x675/quality/85/https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims3/GLOB/legacy_thumbnail/800x450/format/jpg/quality/85/http://s.aolcdn.com/commerce/blogcdn/translogic.aolautos.com/media/2010/08/honda-kiwami614.jpg

1 Reply
- SCE to AUX on Jan 10, 2024
  
  Great find - no doubt they dusted that off for us.
  
  1
Cprescott on Jan 10, 2024

I see it keeps up the modern Honduh trait of being uniquely hideous and offers proof there is no design talent at Honduh with working eyesight.

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Lynn Joiner Lynn JoinerJust put 2,000 miles on a Chevy Malibu rental from Budget, touring around AZ, UT, CO for a month. Ran fine, no problems at all, little 1.7L 4-cylinder just sipped fuel, and the trunk held our large suitcases easily. Yeah, I hated looking up at all the huge FWD trucks blowing by, but the Malibu easily kept up on the 80 mph Interstate in Utah. I expect a new one would be about a third the cost of the big guys. It won't tow your horse trailer, but it'll get you to the store. Why kill it?
Lynn Joiner Just put 2,000 miles on a Chevy Malibu rental from Budget, touring around AZ, UT, CO for a month. Ran fine, no problems at all, little 1.7L 4-cylinder just sipped fuel, and the trunk held our large suitcases easily. Yeah, I hated looking up at all the huge FWD trucks blowing by, but the Malibu easily kept up on the 80 mph Interstate in Utah. I expect a new one would be about a third the cost of the big guys. It won't tow your horse trailer, but it'll get you to the store. Why kill it?
Ollicat I am only speaking from my own perspective so no need to bash me if you disagree. I already know half or more of you will disagree with me. But I think the traditional upscale Cadillac buyer has traditionally been more conservative in their political position. My suggestion is to make Cadillac separate from GM and make them into a COMPANY, not just cars. And made the company different from all other car companies by promoting conservative causes and messaging. They need to build up a whole aura about the company and appeal to a large group of people that are really kind of sick of the left and sending their money that direction. But yes, I also agree about many of your suggestions above about the cars too. No EVs. But at this point, what has Cadillac got to lose by separating from GM completely and appealing to people with money who want to show everyone that they aren't buying the leftist Kook-Aid.
Jkross22 Cadillac's brand is damaged for the mass market. Why would someone pay top dollar for what they know is a tarted up Chevy? That's how non-car people see this.