Honda 0 Series SUV concept to be unveiled next month

Honda is all set to unveil its 0 Series SUV concept next month, ahead of production, which is slated to start in 2026. The SUV will be showcased alongside the previously revealed Honda 0 Series sedan prototype at CES in Las Vegas, marking the second of the seven planned 0 Series models set to arrive by the end of the decade. These futuristic-looking new-era Honda EVs will sit on a new bespoke platform developed from a clean sheet of paper. 

1. Honda 0 Series SUV to have 80kWh and 90kWh batteries
2. Expected to offer a range of about 480km

Honda 0 Series platform specs and details

Honda has already revealed early technical details of the platform's capabilities. The 0 Series models will be offered with both single- and dual-motor powertrains, featuring newly developed compact e-axles that, Honda claims, can be mounted lower in the car, freeing up space and enabling the vehicle to have a smaller frontal area to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

At least initially, 0 Series models will feature two different e-axle units in three different combinations. Entry-level models will have a 245bhp motor on the rear axle and offer rear-wheel drive. There will also be two dual-motor, four-wheel-drive versions, which combine the 245hp rear motor with a 68hp motor on the front axle.

The battery pack will fit under the floor, as in other EVs, although Honda said the focus is on making it as thin as possible, claiming it's around 8mm thinner than EV batteries from rival firms.

While Honda has yet to give full details, the 0 Series SUV will feature a battery using nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistry with a capacity of between 80kWh and 90kWh, giving an estimated range of about 480km.

The 0 Series sedan concept was unveiled in January this year.

Honda said it has developed the body structure of the 0 Series platform to disperse the impact of a collision to the side of the structure, which reduces the space at the front and rear required for battery protection.

The SUV will feature a steer-by-wire throttle, and the control unit for the system will be integrated with those for the suspension, brakes, and regen system to aid handling. Notably, the lightweight aluminium frame has been designed to flex when cornering at speeds, pushing load onto the outside of the wheels to improve cornering balance.

All 0 Series models will be software-defined vehicles capable of accepting over-the-air software updates to gain new features and upgrades. They will be designed to offer up to level-three ('eyes-off') autonomy in certain situations, thanks to a range of cameras, radar, and lidar sensors.

Production of the 0 Series models will initially begin at Honda’s plant in Ohio, the US, which will be adapted so that both ICE and EV cars can be made on the same line. A new plant dedicated to EV production, along with a battery plant, will be built in Ontario, Canada, by 2028.