Honda is ready to make two of its wilder concepts a reality.
The Japanese auto giant used this year’s CES show as an opportunity to reveal that it plans to put the 0 Series saloon and SUV concepts into production. If that wasn’t exciting enough, the futuristic EVs have already been confirmed for a U.S. release sometime next year.
More from Robb Report
Honda says that the 0 Series models will be built at its new multi-billion dollar EV production facility in Ohio. The SUV will arrive first and is expected to go on sale during the first half of 2026, while the saloon will follow in the second half of the year.
The automaker didn’t provide many technical details, though it did say that the vehicles will utilize an electronic steer-by-wire system. The technology, which was first touted when the saloon concept was unveiled at last year’s CES, will offer more control than the complex mechanical linkages found in most of today’s cars. A thin, high-density lithium-ion battery will also be present and is expected to give both vehicles a range of around 300 miles.
The EVs will also feature tech-laden interiors heavy on screens and low on physical controls, aside from their yoke-style steering wheels. They will also run Honda’s new ASIMO OS, which shares a name with the company’s 20-year-old humanoid robot and will feature multiple driver-assistance systems. The automaker mentions Level 3 automated driving capabilities—which would allow the vehicles to fully operate themselves in certain circumstances—but there’s yet to be any evidence the technology will have advanced that far by 2026.
Regardless of their tech, both 0 Series models will turn heads thanks to a unique design language unlike anything we’ve ever seen from Honda. The saloon, which look nearly identical to last year’s prototype, has a low-slung stance and a wedge shape that looks more like something from the film Blade Runner than the Tesla Cybertruck. Unfortunately, last year’s gullwing doors have been replaced by a traditional set. The SUV, meanwhile, has a familiar crossover-like profile, but its sweeping windshield and smooth, clean lines ensure it will stand out. The pixelated front lights the vehicles had in concept form look as if they will carry over to the production versions as well.
The 0 Series saloon and SUV aren’t the only battery-powered Hondas on the way. On Monday, the automaker showed off a near-production version of the Afeela 1, an EV it has developed in conjunction with Sony. Orders are already being taken for the sleek sedan with a launch expected to take place sometime next year.
Click here to see more photos of the 0 Series saloon and SUV.
Best of Robb Report
Sign up for RobbReports’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Click here to read the full article.
