Honda Pulls Back the Veil on a Less-retro Urban EV

We’ve gone from concept vehicle to prototype, but Honda’s upcoming Urban EV — a pint-sized commuter that’s arguably the first mainstream electric to garner legitimate youth enthusiasm — is no closer to coming to North America. It’s also less retro than its show car predecessor, but no one expected that trillion-inch flatscreen to make it to production.

Oh, you’ll still have screens galore, though.

Honda released an image of the Urban EV prototype’s interior Wednesday, ahead of the vehicle’s March debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The image show a sparse, flat dash with three separate screens spanning the space between driver to passenger, underscored by a piece of wood(grain?) trim.

First appearing in 2017, the Urban EV stirred the collective imagination and passions of a different type of eco car enthusiast: the young, less affluent one. The show car’s retro appeal conjured up memories of small, affordable, fun-to-toss-around hatchbacks offered in decades past, while its green mission alleviated any guilt felt by the ecologically sensitive.

Well, the two-door concept has since morphed into a more conventional (and marketable) four-door hatch, as Honda wants people to actually buy this, rather than admire it from afar. The hood calls to mind a Fiat 500, and spy photos of a pre-production tester reveals a side profile that apes Volkswagen’s Euro-market T-Roc. Japan gets the Urban EV in 2020, with European customers seeing theirs late this year.

As this model’s mission is getting buyers to and from work, range appears limited to 150 miles or less. The vehicle’s footprint (roughly four inches shorter than a Fit) and anticipated price point limit battery size. That’s okay, though, as European and Japanese commuters aren’t used to wide-open spaces.

Honda’s aiming for electrified vehicles to account for two-thirds of its European sales by 2025, with the Urban EV serving to attract mainstream greenies to the brand. As stated before, a North American launch seems very unlikely. Honda hasn’t breathed a word about a trans-Pacific trip.

[Images: Honda]