Honda 0 Sequence EV prototypes debut, to be made in US in 2026

• Honda 0 SUV arrives first in North America in early 2026
• Honda 0 Saloon arrives within the later half of the yr, probably as a distinct segment flagship
• Manufacturing of each fashions begins this yr in Ohio 

Honda confirmed off near-production-ready prototypes of the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon on the Shopper Digital Present (CES) in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Following the Honda 0 ideas launched final yr at CES 2024, Honda confirmed the prototypes will advance to manufacturing in 2026 on the model’s new EV Hub in Ohio. 

The crossover is scheduled to go on sale first in North America within the first half of 2026, earlier than being bought globally. The extra futuristic sedan is slated to go on sale late in 2026 in North America, with world gross sales to observe. Honda known as out Europe and Japan particularly as a part of its world markets, with no point out of China.

Honda 0 SUV prototype

Honda’s push to distance itself from Normal Motors within the EV house has lengthy begun, regardless that the Honda Prologue has been a shock hit. In-built partnership with GM and utilizing GM’s previously identified Ultium propulsion system, the Prologue outsold each the associated Chevy Blazer EV and the cheaper Equinox EV, thanks partly to aggressive leasing offers. The Prologue and Blazer EV have completely different personalities based mostly on our head-to-head testing. The Prologue completed with about 33,000 items bought on the yr, which was about 43% greater than the Blazer EV.

Retooling of the Marysville Auto Plant, the place the Honda Accord, Acura TLX, and Acura Integra are made, and retooling of the East Liberty plant the place the Civic, CR-V, and Acura RDX and MDX are made, started late in 2024 to make manner for the 2 0 Sequence fashions on the vanguard of Honda’s battery electrical car plans.

Honda 0 Saloon prototype

In questions from the press, American Honda dodged any relationship with Afeela, the electrical car startup made in partnership with Sony and Honda and with its first sedan to debut in 2026 as effectively with manufacturing out of the Ohio EV Hub Honda offers the EV platform and propulsion applied sciences used within the 0 Sequence fashions to Afeela.

Different particulars corresponding to dimensions, motor items, battery pack sizes, and different specs on the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon stay skinny. A steer-by-wire system guarantees to unify different digital management items for the suspension and brakes to optimize dealing with within the Honda manner. The Prologue’s dealing with was one of many issues we famous as superior to the Blazer EV.

Honda 0 Sequence platform prototype (Accord)

A transient Honda 0 Sequence prototype check drive in Japan final October showcased a skinny, low battery pack, smaller e-axles than utilized in most different EVs, an air suspension, and a protracted wheelbase with just about no overhangs. Beforehand, Honda stated the 0 Sequence will finally have light-weight, energy-dense battery packs that may cost from 15%-80% in simply 10-Quarter-hour, and can lose not more than 10% of their authentic capability and vary after 10 years of use. Moreover, Honda targets a 300-mile vary for 0 Sequence fashions.

Nonetheless, specifics weren’t utilized to the prototypes proven at CES 2025. However, in a walkaround of the 2 automobiles, the prototypes offered lots to be enthusiastic about.

Honda 0 SUV prototype

Honda 0 SUV seems able to roll

The electrical crossover seems extra production-ready and extra client pleasant than the Area Hub van idea that debuted final yr. From the B-pillars ahead, it seems extra upright than the Prologue but curved for aero and dappled with a futuristic mild signature. Working lights stacked like ice dice trays stretch the vertical face, which has a shelf separating the decrease grille and splitter. Rounded wheel arches and excessive physique sides give technique to a compact greenhouse with a entrance windshield that arcs right into a glass roof. It might be distinctive however not shocking on roadways now.

Aside from the garlic-bulb rear finish. From the C-pillars again it may move for a cargo van in optimizing cargo house. The roof barely arcs earlier than dropping off the vertical tailgate.The identical Honda lettering on the Prologue stamps the massive again finish of the Honda 0 SUV, and a U-shaped taillight rings the again. A shelf again right here too separates the gate from the decrease bumper and the taillights. The gate reveals a boxy cargo space with higher cabinets hidden within the rear quarters. It embraces Honda’s “Skinny, Mild, and Clever” design philosophy, and the spacious cabin follows go well with, with a 6-foot-4 gentleman becoming in each the back and front seats with sufficient headroom and legroom. 

It stays to be seen if the sprint wall of screens will go into manufacturing however we doubt it, because the outer flanks of the screens have been the facet mirror digicam projections as an alternative of precise facet mirrors. These facet cameras stay unlawful within the U.S. The prototype additionally has a yoke steering wheel, and a large open ground plan we hope make it to manufacturing. There aren’t any seen management buttons or dials.

Honda 0 Saloon prototype

Honda 0 Saloon stretches the idea of Honda  

Throughout the ground, the Honda 0 Saloon sedan expanded the probabilities of what a Honda could be. With its kammback rear and its wedge-like nostril that evokes supercars of the Nineteen Eighties, the Saloon prototype regarded strikingly just like the idea. Built-in headlights lurk low within the wedge over a sharp, light-ringed splitter. The slim headlights sit flush in its angular nostril, and could be coated with energy doorways when not in use, additionally paying homage to the 70s and 80s. Large 23- or 24-inch wheels with aero covers lurk within the wheel wells with just about no hole, and the entrance axle sits underneath the place the cowl begins. That is one slender dash-to-axle ratio.

Just like the 0 SUV, the total glass roof stretches lengthy and flat towards the rear, which kicks up like a fats whale’s tail. It is unclear the way it opens from the rear, as there are a concentric ring of 3D lights the place any rear window or hatch glass would usually be. It seems like no Honda ever, and this 0 Sequence flagship must be projected to be the extra area of interest providing versus the extra populist 0 SUV. 

Honda demonstrated the ingress characteristic of the low slung Saloon. When getting in or out, the yoke steering wheel robotically turns the other way up with out turning the wheels. The motive force’s seat slides again so you may get in or out with out hitting your thighs on the underside of the yoke.

Honda 0 SUV prototype

Honda 0 Sequence Asimo Working System

The Asimo Working System designed and constructed by Honda will handle the digital management items for superior driver help methods and car infotainment methods, and with over-the-air updates it guarantees to customise the car possession expertise all through its lifetime. The OS takes its identify from the humanoid robotic Honda launched to the world in 2000, and Asimo shall be utilized in all 0 Sequence fashions.

Honda 0 SUV prototype

Honda debuts Stage 3 hands-free driving on 0 Sequence

Honda additionally claims it’ll debut its Stage 3 autonomous driving system within the two 0 Sequence fashions however Honda reps acknowledged that regulatory hurdles stay within the U.S. The system permits eyes-off and hands-off driving, so operators may journey lengthy distances on restricted roadways, however they must be engaged within the screens by streaming a film or something aside from napping to allow them to be rapidly triggered to take over driving if the system disengages. Honda has been utilizing the system on roadways in Japan, however the patchwork of state legal guidelines within the U.S. make it a problem right here. Mercedes-Benz is the one automaker with a Stage 3 system on roads within the U.S., and it is restricted to Nevada and California. 

Honda additionally introduced future plans to companion with Renesas Electronics Company to make a high-performance processing chip that may let Honda make use of a single core digital management unit that encompasses all different management items.

Honda additionally touted its nascent Ionna charging community being developed with seven different automakers to deploy dependable high-speed quick charging at 30,000 stations throughout North America by 2030. Because the 0 Sequence fashions could have native NACS ports, Honda expects 0 Sequence house owners to have entry to 100,000 public charging stations by 2030 as effectively. A personalized charging service constructed utilizing Amazon Internet Companies can be underneath improvement.