Honda Sports EV Concept: A Retro-futuristic Fastback
While I can’t say much for Honda’s concept-naming strategy, the company certainly knows how to make a retro-future-inspired dream machine. When the Urban EV Concept was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, everyone wondered, “Why don’t we have more cars that look like this?'”
The two-tone hatchback was the perfect balance of new tech and vintage charm, yielding something semi-fantastical that still felt totally grounded.
Using that design language once again, Honda has brought the Sports EV Concept to the Tokyo Motor Show. Possessing an equally uninventive name, the Sports EV harkens back to a different automotive era. Similar to the Urban concept, which seemed to be a modernized interpretation of the first-generation Civic or S600, the bodywork of the sporting model is pure Toyota 2000GT — although not so much as to get anyone into legal trouble.
It’s sexy, swoopy, and just square enough to remind you that the late 1960s was a pretty good time for automotive design. Exceptionally small, the two-seat sports coupe rides on architecture similar to that of the Urban EV and would be targeted at the Mazda MX-5 were it enter production. How likely that is to happen is anyone’s guess, though.
Honda has already stated that a production Urban EV is forthcoming for select markets in 2020, so a buyable Sport EV doesn’t appear to be out of the question. However, Honda has kept its lips sealed on the model thus far. We don’t have any details on its power source other than it will be electric — either completely or as part of a hybrid system. The manufacturer has said it incorporates artificial intelligence with the specific aim to achieve “unity with the car.”
While we’re less excited about computerized intrusions into the driving experience of a sports vehicle, we’ll wait to see exactly what Honda means by this before passing judgement. Hopefully, the manufacturer can clarify what this brand of A.I. will look like and give us some hints as to what will live beneath the hood of this lovely little fastback.
[Images: Honda]
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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Nice looking car! IF it goes to production, and IF it's pure EV, I think the styling choice for the nose is great. It still has enough of a "traditional" look that it doesn't seem odd - or "uncomforatble" - like the Model 3 does. It holds promise. Hopefully we'll see it become a reality on the streets.
How fun would this be with the CTR's engine?