Honda Urban EV to enter production

If you fancy an affordable, battery-powered two-door city-hatch with a cool, modern design apparently inspired by Volkswagen’s original Golf, then step this way.

Honda used today’s Geneva motor show to announce the Urban EV Concept that wowed crowds at last September’s Frankfurt show will enter production in late 2019.

What’s more, it says it will open the order book for the funky Honda Urban EV in Europe early next year.

Before you get too excited, however, the Urban EV hasn’t been confirmed for release outside of Europe, although Honda Australia public relations manager Neil McDonald wouldn’t rule it out.

“It’s not currently on our radar, but who knows what could happen in a few years?” he said.

“A new model, based on this concept, is planned for Japan in 2020. Plans for other regions will be considered while monitoring market trends.”

Speaking during Honda’s 2018 Geneva show press conference, Honda Motor Europe senior vice-president Philip Ross said the Urban EV will be the Japanese brand’s first mass-produced battery-electric vehicle to be sold in Europe.

“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,” he said.

Honda hasn’t confirmed how the production model will differ from the Frankfurt concept, which lacked side mirrors and also featured a pair of rear-hinged doors.

The minimalistic Urban EV Concept’s simple yet sophisticated design includes a flat ‘floating’ roof, super-short front and rear overhangs, slim A-black pillars and a broad windscreen that appears to wrap around the entire front of the cabin.

Inside, the compact four-seat hatchback incorporated a single-spoke steering wheel and full-width colour touch-screen atop a woodgrain dashboard (plus another within the doors, doubling as side mirrors).

Completing the clean and contemporary look, there was just one central button on the entire dash, two rotary dials to operate the main display and front and rear bench seats upholstered in natural grey fabric.

Slightly smaller than the Honda Jazz light-car, the Honda Urban EV is understood to be based on an entirely new platform, but no details of its electric motor, battery pack, charging time or driving range have been announced.

If a version of the Honda Urban EV is eventually sold here, it could be Australia’s first EV from Honda, which was a hybrid vehicle pioneer but whose only current electrified model is the $420,000 NSX supercar.