Honda shuns retro look for electric SUV

Honda signaled that a full-electric SUV from the automaker will have futuristic styling -- in contrast to the retro design of its E battery-powered hatchback.

Honda unveiled the "SUV e:concept" previewing a future electric SUV on Monday at the Bejiing auto show.

"The pure electric vehicle based on the Honda SUV e:concept will be mass-produced as soon as possible," Inoue Katsushi, head of Honda Motor in China, said in his introduction of the concept, streamed on China's Yizhibo social media channel.

The presentation included a video showcasing the concept's automated driving function, automated parking, facial recognition and in-car shopping service.

The SUV concept does not reference past designs unlike the E minicar’s retro design. Instead it has the look of a modern high-riding coupe. The car has two doors that open to reveal a four-seat cabin space with the same uncluttered approach to styling that is seen on the outside of the car.

The cabin loses the car-width horizontal screen of the E minicar in favor of a long vertical touch screen in place of the center console. The driver holds a small rectangular steering wheel, or can let the car drive itself in highway situations with help from the active lane change assist.

Honda said the car uses Omnidirectional ADAS, an advanced driving assistance system that widens the front camera angle adding 360-degree radar. The company said this "enabled the system to detect vehicle peripheral environment more accurately."

Honda said it would demonstrate the system in China before the end of the year.

The automaker also showed a plug-in hybrid version of the CR-V SUV. The car is scheduled to go on sale in China in January 2021 and will be the company's first plug-in hybrid available in the country.

Honda would not confirm whether either model would come to Europe. "We are not disclosing future model lineup at this stage," a Honda Europe spokesman said.

Honda has said it will launch six electrified models in Europe by the end of 2022. The company already sells a hybrid version of the CR-V and has recently launched the Honda E electric minicar and a hybrid version of the new Jazz small car.