Honda 0 Collection EV prototypes debut, to be made in US in 2026

• Honda 0 SUV arrives first in North America in early 2026
• Honda 0 Saloon arrives within the later half of the yr, doubtless as a distinct segment flagship
• Manufacturing of each fashions begins this yr in Ohio 

Honda confirmed off near-production-ready prototypes of the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon on the Shopper Digital Present (CES) in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Following the Honda 0 ideas launched final yr at CES 2024, Honda confirmed the prototypes will advance to manufacturing in 2026 on the model’s new EV Hub in Ohio. 

The crossover is scheduled to go on sale first in North America within the first half of 2026, earlier than being bought globally. The extra futuristic sedan is slated to go on sale late in 2026 in North America, with international gross sales to observe. Honda known as out Europe and Japan particularly as a part of its international markets, with no point out of China.

Honda 0 SUV prototype

Honda’s push to distance itself from Basic Motors within the EV area has lengthy begun, although the Honda Prologue has been a shock hit. In-built partnership with GM and utilizing GM’s previously recognized Ultium propulsion system, the Prologue outsold each the associated Chevy Blazer EV and the inexpensive Equinox EV, thanks partially to aggressive leasing offers. The Prologue and Blazer EV have completely different personalities primarily based on our head-to-head testing. The Prologue completed with about 33,000 models bought on the yr, which was about 43% greater than the Blazer EV.

Retooling of the Marysville Auto Plant, the place the Honda Accord, Acura TLX, and Acura Integra are made, and retooling of the East Liberty plant the place the Civic, CR-V, and Acura RDX and MDX are made, started late in 2024 to make means for the 2 0 Collection fashions on the vanguard of Honda’s battery electrical car plans.

Honda 0 Saloon prototype

In questions from the press, American Honda dodged any relationship with Afeela, the electrical car startup made in partnership with Sony and Honda and with its first sedan to debut in 2026 as effectively with manufacturing out of the Ohio EV Hub Honda offers the EV platform and propulsion applied sciences used within the 0 Collection fashions to Afeela.

Different particulars corresponding to dimensions, motor models, battery pack sizes, and different specs on the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon stay skinny. A steer-by-wire system guarantees to unify different digital management models for the suspension and brakes to optimize dealing with within the Honda means. The Prologue’s dealing with was one of many issues we famous as superior to the Blazer EV.

Honda 0 Collection platform prototype (Accord)

A transient Honda 0 Collection prototype take a look at drive in Japan final October showcased a skinny, low battery pack, smaller e-axles than utilized in most different EVs, an air suspension, and an extended wheelbase with just about no overhangs. Beforehand, Honda stated the 0 Collection will finally have light-weight, energy-dense battery packs that may cost from 15%-80% in simply 10-Quarter-hour, and can lose not more than 10% of their authentic capability and vary after 10 years of use. Moreover, Honda targets a 300-mile vary for 0 Collection fashions.

Nonetheless, specifics weren’t utilized to the prototypes proven at CES 2025. However, in a walkaround of the 2 automobiles, the prototypes supplied lots to be enthusiastic about.

Honda 0 SUV prototype

Honda 0 SUV seems able to roll

The electrical crossover seems extra production-ready and extra shopper pleasant than the House Hub van idea that debuted final yr. From the B-pillars ahead, it seems extra upright than the Prologue but curved for aero and dappled with a futuristic gentle signature. Operating lights stacked like ice dice trays stretch the vertical face, which has a shelf separating the decrease grille and splitter. Rounded wheel arches and excessive physique sides give solution to a compact greenhouse with a entrance windshield that arcs right into a glass roof. It might be distinctive however not stunning on roadways now.

Apart from the garlic-bulb rear finish. From the C-pillars again it may go for a cargo van in optimizing cargo area. The roof barely arcs earlier than dropping off the vertical tailgate.The identical Honda lettering on the Prologue stamps the massive again finish of the Honda 0 SUV, and a U-shaped taillight rings the again. A shelf again right here too separates the gate from the decrease bumper and the taillights. The gate reveals a boxy cargo space with higher cabinets hidden within the rear quarters. It embraces Honda’s “Skinny, Gentle, and Smart” design philosophy, and the spacious cabin follows go well with, with a 6-foot-4 gentleman becoming in each the back and front seats with sufficient headroom and legroom. 

It stays to be seen if the sprint wall of screens will go into manufacturing however we doubt it, for the reason that outer flanks of the screens have been the facet mirror digital camera projections as a substitute of precise facet mirrors. These facet cameras stay unlawful within the U.S. The prototype additionally has a yoke steering wheel, and a large open flooring plan we hope make it to manufacturing. There aren’t any seen management buttons or dials.

Honda 0 Saloon prototype

Honda 0 Saloon stretches the idea of Honda  

Throughout the ground, the Honda 0 Saloon sedan expanded the probabilities of what a Honda could be. With its kammback rear and its wedge-like nostril that evokes supercars of the Eighties, the Saloon prototype seemed strikingly much like the idea. Built-in headlights lurk low within the wedge over a sharp, light-ringed splitter. The slim headlights sit flush in its angular nostril, and could be lined with energy doorways when not in use, additionally paying homage to the 70s and 80s. Huge 23- or 24-inch wheels with aero covers lurk within the wheel wells with just about no hole, and the entrance axle sits below the place the cowl begins. That is one slender dash-to-axle ratio.

Just like the 0 SUV, the total glass roof stretches lengthy and flat towards the rear, which kicks up like a fats whale’s tail. It is unclear the way it opens from the rear, as there are a concentric ring of 3D lights the place any rear window or hatch glass would usually be. It seems like no Honda ever, and this 0 Collection flagship must be projected to be the extra area of interest providing versus the extra populist 0 SUV. 

Honda demonstrated the ingress function of the low slung Saloon. When getting in or out, the yoke steering wheel robotically turns the other way up with out turning the wheels. The driving force’s seat slides again so you will get in or out with out hitting your thighs on the underside of the yoke.

Honda 0 SUV prototype

Honda 0 Collection Asimo Working System

The Asimo Working System designed and constructed by Honda will handle the digital management models for superior driver help programs and car infotainment programs, and with over-the-air updates it guarantees to customise the car possession expertise all through its lifetime. The OS takes its title from the humanoid robotic Honda launched to the world in 2000, and Asimo might be utilized in all 0 Collection fashions.

Honda 0 SUV prototype

Honda debuts Degree 3 hands-free driving on 0 Collection

Honda additionally claims it can debut its Degree 3 autonomous driving system within the two 0 Collection fashions however Honda reps acknowledged that regulatory hurdles stay within the U.S. The system allows eyes-off and hands-off driving, so operators may journey lengthy distances on restricted roadways, however they must be engaged within the screens by streaming a film or something apart from napping to allow them to be shortly triggered to take over driving if the system disengages. Honda has been utilizing the system on roadways in Japan, however the patchwork of state legal guidelines within the U.S. make it a problem right here. Mercedes-Benz is the one automaker with a Degree 3 system on roads within the U.S., and it is restricted to Nevada and California. 

Honda additionally introduced future plans to associate with Renesas Electronics Company to make a high-performance processing chip that may let Honda make use of a single core digital management unit that encompasses all different management models.

Honda additionally touted its nascent Ionna charging community being developed with seven different automakers to deploy dependable high-speed quick charging at 30,000 stations throughout North America by 2030. Because the 0 Collection fashions may have native NACS ports, Honda expects 0 Collection homeowners to have entry to 100,000 public charging stations by 2030 as effectively. A personalized charging service constructed utilizing Amazon Net Providers can be below improvement.