Honda’s groundbreaking 0 Series, unveiled at CES 2024, is set to revolutionize the world of electric vehicles. Comprising the Saloon and Space-Hub concepts, these innovative models are soon to hit the roads in North America by 2026. Taking inspiration from the fundamentals and origins of automotive design, Honda’s decision to name the series ‘0’ signifies a return to the basics.
This number reflects Honda’s commitment to prioritizing human comfort and experience in their electric vehicles, following the principle of ‘man maximum, machine minimum’. By focusing on maximizing interior space for passengers while minimizing mechanical components, Honda has created a truly innovative approach to car design. The sleek and futuristic designs of the Saloon and Space-Hub models perfectly encapsulate this forward-thinking philosophy.
The Honda 0 Series flagship model, the Saloon, is poised to make a statement with its unique design. Unlike typical city cars, this electric vehicle boasts a low height that almost touches the ground and an unconventional shape. The elongated frame slopes sharply towards the front, revealing a distinctive front bumper that resembles the mouth of a vacuum cleaner. On the side, the doors and windows feature slanted geometric cuts, while the tires showcase a primary style of prisms.
Upon opening the gull-wing doors of the Saloon, users are greeted by a spacious interior. Staying true to Honda’s man maximum/machine minimum design philosophy, the legroom inside the electric vehicle offers ample space for users to stretch their legs. The bucket seats provide a comfortable cocooning effect as they travel on the road. For the driver, the Saloon is equipped with a range of advanced technologies that are part of the Honda 0 Series. The instrument panel features a window-to-window HD display, serving as a human-machine interface for simple and intuitive operations. Notably, the steering wheel is seamlessly integrated into the screen, creating the illusion that the driver pulls it out when driving and pushes it back when idle or parked.
In contrast, the Space-Hub, a van vehicle within the Honda 0 Series electric family, offers an even larger cabin space. Departing from the traditional seating arrangement, Honda adopts a face-to-face setting to maximize the available space in the middle. With a passenger-friendly approach in mind, the seating extends around the electric vehicle, forming a continuous bench-like seat interrupted only by the bucket seats of the main passengers. This configuration allows everyone to face each other, fostering a sense of connectivity. Aptly named Space-Hub, this van also features an all-glass roof that can change its tint to shield passengers from excessive heat, allowing them to enjoy panoramic views.
Honda’s new approach to developing its electric vehicles is evident in both the vehicles of the 0 Series. These vehicles are characterized by their thin, light, and wise design. The utilization of an in-house platform allows for a floor-level height, contributing to improved aerodynamic performance. In fact, these electric vehicles almost touch the floor, further enhancing their aerodynamics. Honda’s emphasis on lightweight construction is complemented by the incorporation of aerodynamic principles derived from Formula, resulting in the 0 Series’ exceptional performance. Moreover, Honda’s wise technology encompasses advanced AI, sensing, recognition/decision-making, and driver monitoring systems.
In addition to the introduction of the new electric vehicles in the 0 Series, Honda has also unveiled a redesigned logo featuring the signature H. The existing H mark, which has been in use since 1981, has been transformed to symbolize the company’s foray into the new era of automobiles. The revamped logo now showcases a chunkier letter that slopes inward before peaking around its pointed edges. Interestingly, the curved line of the new H mark bears resemblance to the seating arrangement found in Space-Hub. It is anticipated that this redesigned logo will adorn the electric vehicles of the 0 Series when they are officially released as production models in 2026.