Your first look at the near‑production Honda Urban EV Concept

We saw it first as a concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017 and were rapidly won over by its cheery demeanour and unpretentious good looks. Then came its electric sibling, the even more good looking, two-seat Honda Sports EV, and that really won us over… 

Alas, there’s no news yet of the sports car (but we are sure this, too, is on its way), but Honda today is giving us an early glimpse of the production version of its electric city car. Honda calls this evolved model a prototype, but with the start of production only months away (and UK sales towards the end of the year) what you see here is pretty much what we’ll get.

Head on, the Urban EV retains its cute appeal but from the one picture so far released it appears to have lost a little of its freshness – it is usually thus as concepts are turned into reality. Is it still pretty? Yes, but as clear cut and well defined? Perhaps not. 

But many of the important design cues – the flat, black grille and round headlights, wide and upright windscreen and thin A-pillars – are present, forming an unmissable link with the concept. It also features a prominent black bonnet panel, likely to house the plug socket, as on the concept. It’s just a shame the twin rear-hinged coach doors of the concept seem certain to be replaced by a conventional five-door body.

Honda, which will be previewing the car at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, says the Urban EV has been developed with a focus on functionality. Interior layout is not yet known but it is unlikely to retain the twin bench seats of the concept car. A more conventional, five-seat layout is likely, though probably with elements of the concept’s lounge-like ambience.

The cabin also promises to be bright, minimalist and hi-tech. It is likely to feature the panoramic dashboard screen that so characterised the interior of the concept. The concept also had rear vision digital cameras instead of mirrors, and from the evidence of this image (see the pods sticking out of the doors?) that’s a feature odds-on to make it to production, which would be a first in this class of car following their debut in the Audi e-tron.

If the Urban EV stays true to the concept’s size it will be 100mm shorter than a Honda Jazz. The Urban EV sits on a completely new electric-car platform set to be a core part of Honda’s commitment to sell two thirds of all its European cars with electrified technology by 2025.

Honda EVs are coming! We just hope there’s room in the electric plan for that little sports coupe…