Daily Slideshow: Honda Urban EV Will Start Taking Orders Next Year
Honda looks to shake things up on the marketplace by announcing that the Urban EV will begin taking orders next year. Is this the car that will bring new blood to the brand?
Something different
Honda is moving forward with its EV concept car the Urban by announcing at the Geneva Motor Show that the brand will begin taking orders next year. This is the second auto show appearance for the pug-nosed concept as it debuted last year in Frankfurt. A car like this could really invigorate the brand and serve as a beacon to the exciting new vehicles that could spring from the EV line for consumers.
>>Join the conversation about the Urban EV Concept Going on Sale right here in the S2ki Forum!
It's an EV that looks like a normal car
Honda Motor Europe's Philip Ross told the folks at a press conference: "A production version of this highly acclaimed concept will be introduced to Europe during late 2019, and in response to the positive feedback to this model, we expect to open order banks for the Urban EV during early 2019." U.S.-market sales plans remain unannounced, but we are sure there are heaps of drivers who'd love to get the Urban into their garages. The thing that the Urban EV has hit the nail on the head with is the same thing that the Tesla Model 3 has: it's actually pleasant to look at.
>>Join the conversation about the Urban EV Concept Going on Sale right here in the S2ki Forum!
A first for the automaker
The Urban EV will mark its production version as Honda's very first mass-produced battery electric vehicle sold in Europe. The EV seats four by way of wide-opening rear-hinged doors to a cabin that showcases a large console display. Door mounted screens serve as side mirrors but we're sure these will make way for the run of the mill versions on the production models. The Urban EV is four inches shorter a Honda Fit and features a design that is a throwback to the first and second Civic hatchbacks.
>>Join the conversation about the Urban EV Concept Going on Sale right here in the S2ki Forum!
So much room for activities
Like the Tesla Model 3, the interior is a spartan environment with a lack of buttons or switches but we will see if this minimal motif carries over. Honda says the Urban EV will come packaged with a Siri or Alexa type of voice-activated assistant called the Honda Automated Network Assistant. This assistant will "learns from the driver by detecting emotions behind their judgments.” If the lack of buttons and switches carries over to the production model an AI assistant could make things a lot easier to deal with so drivers aren't left distracted while navigating touchscreen menus.
>>Join the conversation about the Urban EV Concept Going on Sale right here in the S2ki Forum!
When will we see it?
The biggest question out there for this retro-futuristic EV is what kind of range is it capable of? Honda still hasn't released any numbers yet to the effect of the type of battery pack, propulsion or range but we're sure that those will be available the closer it gets to a production date. Battery costs are dropping more and more by the day and a car like this could go a long way in America. Hopefully, the model does so well overseas that Honda has no choice but to offer it here in the States. However, when pressed about the Urban being sold here a Honda of America spokesperson would only say, "We cannot comment on future product."
>>Join the conversation about the Urban EV Concept Going on Sale right here in the S2ki Forum!