Ford Rival Honda Outlines Next Generation EV Plans

January 14, 2024 3:03 am

In spite of a few roadblocks, Ford continues to invest heavily in electrification, and it isn’t alone in that regard, either. Many of The Blue Oval’s rivals are doing precisely the same thing, with Kia recently revealing new EV concepts and a modular platform, while Honda is sinking $40 billion into its electrification efforts, too. Along with launching its own, dedicated EV unit like Ford, Honda is also partnering with FoMoCo and BMW on efforts to beef up the power grid and will follow Ford’s lead in adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) in its future EVs, too. Now, Honda has announced more details pertaining to its next-generation EV plans, all while revealing a pair of new concepts as well.

This future portfolio of EVs – known as the Honda 0 Series – is being previewed with two very different concepts called the Saloon and Space-Hub, with the former model set to inspire an actual production model. The automaker plans to use a far smaller, high-density battery pack in these next-gen EVs that will allow for a lower floor height, better aerodynamics, more interior room, and enhanced efficiency. Additionally, Honda also marked this pivotal moment in its future by unveiling a new illuminated “H mark” logo that it will use on its next-generation EVs.

These features are on full display with the Saloon concept, which is a low-slung, sporty sedan with retro-futuristic styling. Intended to be the flagship model of the Honda 0 Series, the Saloon features steer-by-wire technology, a human-machine interface, and motion control systems. According to Honda, the production version of the Saloon is closely based on the prototype, and will debut in 2026.

As for the Space-Hub, it’s quite different in that it’s more of a boxy crossover/van of sorts, one with a flexible interior that can be changed around for all sorts of different purposes. All of Honda’s 0 Series EVs will feature Level 3 driver-assist technology, coupled with next-gen features and a battery pack that can charge to 80 percent in around 10-15 minutes.

We’ll have more on everything Ford’s competition is up to soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for continuous Ford news coverage.

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.