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American Honda’s first pure electrical car (EV) can be constructed on a GM platform and appears like an Audi. However the 2024 Honda Prologue will kick off a brand new period for Honda within the U.S. when it arrives. We count on the Prologue to start out within the mid-$40,000 vary.
“Neo-Rugged” Styling
Honda calls the Prologue’s styling neo-rugged. The corporate says the time period describes its efforts to convey “the concord of nature’s parts to the outside and inside.”
The sheet steel wears light curves harking back to Audi’s Q5 SUV, nevertheless it seems to be nice on enormous 21-inch wheels. We’re accustomed to automakers placing massive wheels on idea automobiles after which releasing the autos on the market on a smaller set of footwear. However Honda particularly mentions that “the panoramic roof and enormous 21-inch wheels…give the mannequin a succesful and planted exterior.” So the Prologue might make it to showrooms on this spectacular set.
The nostril borrows its smooth black fake grille from the Honda E, an lovely electrical automotive offered exterior the U.S.
Lake Tahoe for a Muse
At launch, Honda says, sellers will provide the Prologue in an unique shade known as North Shore Pearl, which was impressed by the panorama of Lake Tahoe, California.
The cabin of the show mannequin wears a charcoal and lightweight grey inside influenced by “the visible of recent fallen snow on the mountains.”
It’s a well-executed design, nevertheless it seems to be very like the cabins in Honda’s gas-powered lineup. A pair of screens – one for the driving force’s devices and one other as a central touchscreen – seem to rise out of the slim dashboard as in the event that they retract into it when the automotive is off. It shares that look with the present Civic lineup. The screens don’t retract in these automobiles, so we suspect they don’t within the Prologue.
Not like EVs from rivals Hyundai and Kia, the Prologue has a false transmission tunnel dividing the seats. EVs lack conventional transmissions, so it’s not clear whether or not this serves any mechanical objective or if it’s there for familiarity.
Shares a Platform with GM SUVs
Honda hasn’t answered questions in regards to the mechanical particulars of the Prologue but. To date, the corporate will say solely that it’s eight inches longer and 5 inches wider than the 2023 Honda CR-V compact SUV. That places it comfortably within the midsize two-row SUV class.
From previous bulletins, we’re virtually sure it’s driving on the GM Ultium platform. GM makes use of that title for a skateboard-like mixture of battery, electrical motors, and suspension parts. Engineers can scale it up or all the way down to construct EVs of many sizes. The 2 corporations introduced a partnership earlier this yr that might see them co-develop a number of electrical SUVs.
If Honda builds it with Ultium elements, that doesn’t imply it should really feel precisely like different Ultium-based SUVs just like the Cadillac Lyriq or the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV. Honda engineers would probably search to distinguish it via tuning, suspension, and steering parts meant to create a definite Honda really feel.
Honda Electrifying With Assist from Buddies
A German-looking Japanese automotive on an American platform might sound odd. However because the automotive business leans into its transition to electrical autos, Honda has been attempting new issues like its divorce is about to undergo.
The corporate has its GM partnership. It’s reportedly working by itself electrical platform for later EV merchandise. And has additionally agreed to associate with tech firm Sony on a separate lineup of automobiles below a reputation but to be introduced.
We’ll must know much more earlier than we are able to pronounce the Prologue a contender within the intensifying midsize electrical SUV race.
However, at first look, it seems to be like precisely what Honda patrons count on – a well-known set of well-executed concepts with no surprises. Honda might want to preserve the worth within the mid-$40,000 vein. There, it might compete with the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Volkswagen ID.4. It’ll probably grow to be the popular choice for thousands and thousands of loyal Honda followers.
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