Honda is investing big in the world of electrification with the company making several key moves to expand its reach in the world of electrification. The company showed that it was prepared to make the leap with the Saloon and the Space Hub Concepts. The duo were very futuristic looking and showed some of the core building blocks that will define Honda’s new in-house EVs.
The company is now showing the next step in these plans with new versions of the 0 Saloon and SUV concepts which take a step closer into full-scale production.
Saloon looks stylish, SUV pushes the envelope for Honda
Honda did not reveal any mechanical details about the duo, but the exterior styling of these concepts appears to be closer to what we will see on a production version. When we last saw the saloon, it embraced its show car styling with the styling projecting confidence and futuristic personality. This is largely carried over to this latest version despite some of its more exotic elements being removed. The front fascia goes in a different direction when compared to recent Honda models and at first glance, it appears to borrow some pages from the Lamborghini Gallardo especially in regards to the headlights, the slope of the hood, and the overall shape itself.
Meanwhile, the SUV has to put more function into its styling but the long hood is balanced out by a roofline that kinks up towards the rear before giving way to a blocky look at the rear. The interiors of both concepts also take a step towards production with the saloon interior going for a sporty motif with the driver-centric cabin featuring a steering wheel with the top spoke removed. The SUV gets a two-row interior with a large glass panel giving passengers in both rows of the SUV a commanding view of the sky above them.
Asimo operating system provides the brains
Both of these 0 vehicles are run by an all-new AI software developed in-house by Honda. Dubbed ASIMO (after the iconic robot of the 1980s and 1990s) the OS will incorporate a whole suite of cameras, sensors, and “advanced intelligence technologies” to rewrite the way the car learns predictive behavior and even basic controls. Your car will continually learn about the surroundings as well as the occupants, with the driver being the focal point of the relationship.
Honda says that this setup creates a relationship between the vehicle and occupants with the vehicle having an emotive character and even having the ability to have conversations with you. These conversations can evolve as the car learns more about you and your interests. It may sound creepy at first glance, but the ASIMO software is an example of how far interior technology has evolved and how interactivity is rapidly becoming a must-have item for many younger buyers.
Where will they be built?
When the Honda 0 Saloon and SUV eventually enter production, they will be built at the company’s EV Hub in Ohio. Honda didn’t reveal too much information about the remainder of its production plans for the duo (including what names will replace the functional ones Honda’s bean counters came up with. The SUV will start production first with reports suggesting it will appear in mid-2026. The Saloon will appear later.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.