Why the Honda Urban EV is my new favourite real world dream car
From Hypercars loaded with F1 technology to autonomous driving machines of the future, the Frankfurt Motorshow has covered all the bases of what there is to love about motoring in the present and the future. Every car guy will look at one vehicle and say "yes, this is what stole the show for me!" And I believe my choice is far more modest than you would think; Meet the ultra-chic Honda Urban EV Concept.
Despite the fact Honda has been using electric motors to power hybrid vehicles since the late 1990's, the brand has yet to announce a fully electric vehicle that would be mass produced. Now Honda believes now is the right time to makes its debut into the zero emissions market space and wow, their proposition sure looks attractive! This is undoubtebly one of my favourite cars to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motorshow and let me run you through the reasons why.
It's adorable!
Ok, first of all just look at it. It has a delightful appearance... the sort you just want to pinch and let out a squeal because of how charming it is! A significant proportion of that appeal comes from the nostalgic styling features which not only hark back to the original Honda Civic, but also iconic European hatchbacks such as the VW Golf Mk1 and Peugeot 205. It reminds us of the days hatchbacks did not need extravagant styling and bloated bodywork, which of course meant that weight could be kept to a minimum and even the most modest power outputs could deliver a thrilling ride.
The Urban EV also packs a mean stance
Okay, so while the huge alloys and lowered ride height are unlikely to make it to the production model, we can still appreciate how these features contribute to this little car's menacing look. What's more, the Urban EV looks rather wide and the flared wheel arches are an elegant touch of aggression which can appear on the road going model. It's a little car that is poised to take on some of its bigger competitors, but I'll expand on that more later on.
Less in more on the inside too
When you open the suicide doors and step inside, you see a perfect harmony of retro design and contemporary technology blended together. Like you would find on older cars, the driver's seat is merged with the passenger's seat to create a single bench which swoops across the cabin and the dials and switches is kept to a minimum. However, there is no ignoring that huge infotainment screen which takes up more than half of the dashboard, seen above displaying the satellite navigation and battery status. Chances are, it can be configured to display more details about the car and toggle other functions while on the move.
Affordable... And I mean affordable
Planned to go on sale in 2019, the Urban EV will battle with the likes of the Nissan LEAF and Tesla Model 3 as some of the most popular Electric vehicles which are deemed affordable. However, if the Urban EV sticks to its minimalist approach, it can undercut the prices of both models by some margin. And even though size may be an issue to some, its retro charm and cheeky dimensions are sure to win its own crowd of fans. Honda, I urge you to put this car into production and not change a thing.
Despite the fact Honda has been using electric motors to power hybrid vehicles since the late 1990's, the brand has yet to announce a fully electric vehicle that would be mass produced. Now Honda believes now is the right time to makes its debut into the zero emissions market space and wow, their proposition sure looks attractive! This is undoubtebly one of my favourite cars to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motorshow and let me run you through the reasons why.
It's adorable!
Ok, first of all just look at it. It has a delightful appearance... the sort you just want to pinch and let out a squeal because of how charming it is! A significant proportion of that appeal comes from the nostalgic styling features which not only hark back to the original Honda Civic, but also iconic European hatchbacks such as the VW Golf Mk1 and Peugeot 205. It reminds us of the days hatchbacks did not need extravagant styling and bloated bodywork, which of course meant that weight could be kept to a minimum and even the most modest power outputs could deliver a thrilling ride.
The Urban EV also packs a mean stance
Okay, so while the huge alloys and lowered ride height are unlikely to make it to the production model, we can still appreciate how these features contribute to this little car's menacing look. What's more, the Urban EV looks rather wide and the flared wheel arches are an elegant touch of aggression which can appear on the road going model. It's a little car that is poised to take on some of its bigger competitors, but I'll expand on that more later on.
Less in more on the inside too
When you open the suicide doors and step inside, you see a perfect harmony of retro design and contemporary technology blended together. Like you would find on older cars, the driver's seat is merged with the passenger's seat to create a single bench which swoops across the cabin and the dials and switches is kept to a minimum. However, there is no ignoring that huge infotainment screen which takes up more than half of the dashboard, seen above displaying the satellite navigation and battery status. Chances are, it can be configured to display more details about the car and toggle other functions while on the move.
Affordable... And I mean affordable
Planned to go on sale in 2019, the Urban EV will battle with the likes of the Nissan LEAF and Tesla Model 3 as some of the most popular Electric vehicles which are deemed affordable. However, if the Urban EV sticks to its minimalist approach, it can undercut the prices of both models by some margin. And even though size may be an issue to some, its retro charm and cheeky dimensions are sure to win its own crowd of fans. Honda, I urge you to put this car into production and not change a thing.
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