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In the United States, the latest initiative of Honda automaker, produced the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX, the latter being discontinued after just a year of production. Both EVs were manufactured in collaboration with General Motors and used the same platform that underpins the Chevrolet Blazer EV. It was fine, but Honda wanted more, a lot more. That's why we've poured billions of dollars into new bespoke electrical/electronic (e/e) architecture built from scratch to support the latest advances in software updates, artificial intelligence and manufacturing technology.
One of the first EVs to be built on this new platform was to start rolling off the assembly line in Ohio later this year, i.e. Honda 0 Series. It was a wildly style crossover devised to go head-to-head with industry heavyweights like the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq5 and Cadillac Optiq. But now the Honda 0 Series SUV and its platform mates, the Honda 0 Series Saloon and Acura RSX, are dead in the water. Honda has decided to stop developing its flagship EV, taking huge financial losses.
A Completely New Platform
Honda's new EV architecture was based on the three-word mantra: "Thin, light and wise." This meant that cars based on this new platform would sit low on the ground, be lightweight and have sufficient processing power. The battery, designed to be mounted on the floor, was thin, allowing Honda to lower the overall height of the car. Thanks to the mega-cast and new materials, the car also stayed. For the "sensible" part, it comes with a new software system called Asimo OS.
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It was the legendary name of the robot industry, and its weight had been transferred to Honda's latest software effort. Using a custom SoC (system on a chip) developed in collaboration with Renesas Electronics, Asimo OS will support a number of AI-powered infotainment functions, open the floodgates for lidar integration, and ultimately achieve level 3 eye-off driving assistance. Steering-by-wire, structural battery packs, and air suspension are also part of this equation.
The 0-Series platform is said to support an 800-volt pack, and while the SUV was supposed to be able to charge faster than its 400V-based counterpart like the Tesla model Y, Honda did not clarify whether the first vehicle based on this platform would be 800V or 400V.
Tech Goods
The prototype of the latest 0-Series SUV was known as the Yoke-style steering wheel, contoured white seats, huge panoramic roof, dashboard and even in the rear, the designers went for a comeback-like profile that helps to lower the drag coefficient, but does not do much for visibility. It was a great experience. Still, the trunk seems quite spongy. The card included an AI-powered assistant with the aforementioned SoC and Asimo OS software, but Honda said it would also provide Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Power and Range
When Kevin Williams went to Japan to test the 0-series mule, Honda said it would make two variations of the EV e-axle motor: one with 241 horsepower (180 kW) and one with 67 horsepower (50 kW). The latter will probably be reserved for the front axle of the dual-motor model, but Honda also has the most powerful engine on both axles, making for a 482 hp EV.
State of the Competition
The automaker has not revealed the appearance dimensions of the production version of the SUV, but it is no exaggeration to say that it was almost the same size as Tesla's model Y. The test mule Kevin drove in Japan had a CR-V body that was slightly shorter and taller than the model Y. That said, the modular platform allowed Honda to do almost anything in terms of wheelbase and body size.
Price and Availability
The production version of the Honda 0 series SUV will begin rolling off the automaker's Ohio EV hub later this year, after the Acura RSX and before the Honda 0 Series saloon, but in the end, Honda canceled all three models, citing a slowdown in the US EV market. The automaker gave no hint about the price of the model, but said it would be more affordable than the 0-Series saloon, which is positioned as a cheaper alternative to the Tesla model S. The SUV, along with the non-standard Tesla Model Y, could cost more than $50,000 by putting it above the Hyundai Ioniq5, which is also manufactured in the United States.
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