Compilation / Zhang Gull
Editor/ Zhang Linyu
Design / Zhao Haoran
Source/ Automotive World
Compared with the bold 5-year/10-year plans of other well-known car companies, Honda's electrification road seems to be more pragmatic, even less conspicuous. However, to everyone's surprise, 2022 has only passed 3 months, and it has already completed the stage task ahead of schedule.
On March 23, Honda announced that it had reached its goal of the end of 2022 ahead of schedule – the latest Honda Civic hatchback made its debut, becoming the last piece of the puzzle in the brand's European electrified lineup.
"The completion of electrification goals marks an important moment for Honda in Europe." Tom Gardner, senior vice president at Honda Automotive Europe, said, "We are not content with the status quo and have been steadily moving forward with plans to expand the selection of pure electric and hybrid vehicles and add products in the fast-growing B-class and C-class SUV segments. ”
11th generation Honda Civic
From its debut in the 1970s to today, after a series of innovations, the Honda Civic, which has accumulated sales of more than one million, has entered its sixth decade. The all-new 11th-generation Honda Civic European version will be available in the fall of 2022.
Powering the Civic is the latest iteration of Honda's unique e:HEV powertrain, which combines a power-intensive lithium-ion battery, two compact, powerful electric motors, and a newly developed 2.0-liter direct-injection DOHC i-VTEC gasoline engine.
Civic's goal is to achieve CO2 emissions of less than 110 grams per kilometer, or 5 liters per 100 kilometers, with a maximum motor output of 135 kW and a torque of 315 Nm.
The European Civic has a different powertrain than the American version, but the shape of the two is almost the same. The New Civic features a hatchback tilting roof line, abandoning the current model's prominent rear wing.
The hot Honda Civic Type R is expected to retain a 316bhp 2.0-liter turbocharged powertrain capable of producing 316 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful front-wheel-drive vehicles of its class.
New Civic pricing has not yet been announced, but is expected to rise slightly from the current starting price of £22,730.
The European version of the 11th generation Honda Civic▼
3 new Hondas will be welcomed in 2023
In addition to the new generation civic, Honda confirmed that it will further expand its electrification product line in 2023 to create a broader European product lineup.
The new models include an all-electric B-Class SUV based on the E:Ny1 prototype; a C-Class hybrid SUV; and finally the all-new CR-V, which will offer full hybrid and plug-in hybrid system options in Europe for the first time.
The all-electric Class B SUV goes hand in hand with HR-V, CR-V and e:Ny1. It will be at the heart of Honda's future product range, and the brand's renowned dynamics, technology and design features will blend perfectly with this compact SUV.
The other two new models are currently not well informed. The new Honda CR-V will debut in Europe with an all-hybrid and plug-in hybrid system, while the hybrid SUV is based on the U.S.-listed Honda HR-V.
e: Ny1 prototype ▼
Good momentum for the electrification journey
Honda expects its supply chain to stabilize in the third or fourth quarter of 2022, and as the world economy recovers, automakers will experience instability in sales and supply issues are also affecting pricing.
After completing its short-term goals ahead of schedule, Honda will embark on the next phase of its electrification journey toward the ultimate goal: carbon neutrality for all Honda products and corporate activities by 2050. Honda will invest heavily in a range of zero-emission technologies, including solid-state batteries, replaceable battery systems, carbon-neutral fuels, and hydrogen batteries.
A core part of this strategy involves all major markets. In these markets, the share of unit sales of electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles will increase to 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035; and sales of fuel vehicles will be terminated globally in 2040.
In early March 2022, Honda and Japanese tech giant Sony announced a joint venture that is expected to start planning, designing, developing and selling electric vehicles in 2025, and Sony also announced the construction of cars at CES earlier this year. Joining forces with tech giants is also one of Honda's key transformation strategies.
In addition to building cars, Honda is also expanding its vision to new segments.
In the aerospace sector, Honda will use the technology and knowledge built up from hondaJet, Formula 1 and electrification to develop an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for inter-city transport; in the robotics sector, a multi-fingered Honda Avatar robot operated by artificial intelligence will follow in the footsteps of Honda's famous robot ASIMO by the end of 2024, which is expected to be operational in 2030.
Honda's ambitions have even flown out of the earth. It is conducting joint research with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to use the company's fuel cell technology to provide life support for future lunar outposts.
This article was originally produced by Automotive Business Review
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