honda urban ev ii
John Mahoney14 Feb 2019
NEWS

Honda Urban EV dash previewed ahead of Geneva

Production version of retro-inspired Honda Urban EV gets futuristic full-length digital dash

More details of the Honda Urban EV have been released ahead of its full unveiling at the Geneva motor show early next month - this time, the dashboard.

The defining feature is an incredible full-length screen that stretches dramatically across the whole width of the car - as was the case with the original Honda Urban EV concept.

Featuring five screens mounted side-by-side, the real Honda Urban EV devotes three screens for the speedo and driving displays, one for the infotainment and another for the charging display.

The two final screens that flank the row of three monitors, meanwhile, act as rear-view cameras replacing conventional door mirrors.

Other design details highlighted by the new image show a shelf-like piece of timber that sits ahead of the screens. This deliberately contrasts the high-tech screens with an olde-worlde feel.

honda urban ev i hmu2

Look below the dash and Honda engineers have been careful to supply the driver and passenger traditional climate control dials to presumably reduce the risk of driver distraction from scrolling through sub-menus on those large screens to simply raise or lower the temperature.

Finally, a traditional twin-spoke steering wheel adds fingertip controls to operate the screens, audio and cruise control. There's at least one steering wheel paddle thought to vary the intensity of the brake regeneration.

According to the designers behind the Urban EV's cabin, the focus was to create an interior with a "warm and engaging atmosphere" through "intuitive, user-focused technology".

Ahead of the snapshot of the dash, Honda has already released the first picture of what could be the star of the Geneva motor show.

Like the interior, the exterior somehow manages to keep the cute retro looks of the 2017 Frankfurt concept that, in turn, harks back to the original 1973 Honda Civic.

honda urban ev ii

Think of the car that will be revealed at the Swiss show as more of a late stage prototype than the actual production car, although little is expected to change ahead of its launch later this year, potentially as soon as September 2019.

Based on spy shots from last November, we already know the real-world Urban EV will switch from three- to five-doors, but keep the concept’s boxy proportions.

Those four passenger doors will also be front-hinged, rather than the cool concept’s rear-hinged openings.

honda urban ev iii

Honda still hasn't revealed any details on how powerful the Urban EV will be, nor has it announced battery specs. However, it's safe to assume a production range of about 400km.

More teases are expected ahead of its Geneva debut.

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