Honda's three major new cars in 2024 are coming, and they don't send "engines", can they rely on electrification?
According to Honda, Honda's cumulative sales in the global market in 2023 will be about 4 million units, an increase of 5.6% from the same period in 2022. Among them, the North American market remains the highest-growing segment of Honda's global automotive market, with an increase of 33%. The Chinese market showed a slight decline in sales, with sales of 1.2 million units, down about 10% from the same period in 2022.
You must know that in China, new energy vehicles have become the fastest growing segment of China's auto market. In order to improve its position in the Chinese market, Honda is also accelerating the pace of electrification and will launch three blockbuster new vehicles this year. What is the strength of the Honda? If you don't send the engine, will it work? Let's have a sneak peek!
1.广汽本田极湃2 e:NP2
Highlights: R&D and creation by localized teams
e:NP2 The styling design of the Pole 2 is very unique, adopting the forward-looking design concept of e:N Design, the front face looks quite sharp, and the C-shaped headlamp design can be said to be a bold attempt. It is reported that this is a new car developed and built by Honda's Chinese team, and it will be officially launched in April at the earliest.
On the side of the body, it adopts a fastback design with a large inclination, and the two C-shaped taillights at the rear are quite recognizable. In terms of dimensions, the length, width and height of the new car are 4787/1838/1570mm, respectively, while the wheelbase is 2735mm.
In terms of interior, unlike the Honda models on sale, the e:NP2 adopts a minimalist design style: the oval steering wheel with a large HUD makes it look cleaner and neater, and the addition of a 12.8-inch central control screen and thin and light instruments is the mainstream "new energy flavor".
The new model will be equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 68.8 kWh, a range of about 510 km, and an electric motor that can output a maximum output of 150 kW.
2. Dongfeng Honda e:NS2
As early as last year's Guangzhou Auto Show, Dongfeng Honda unveiled its new pure electric model - e:NS2, and the new car is positioned as a "pure electric hunting coupe". Although the Dongfeng Honda e:NS2 and Guangqi Honda e:NP2 are both sister models, they have their own design language.
Dongfeng Honda e:NS2 adopts a Y-shaped head and tail light design, which at first glance is not as bold and avant-garde as the e:NP2, but thanks to the longitudinal light strip on the outside, it has a wider body feeling when viewed closely.
In the interior, the interior design of the e:NS2 is mainly simple, and the center console is a wrap-around design, and the black and white color scheme does not look monotonous. The interior of the car adopts the combination of LCD instrument panel + central control screen, and there are almost no physical buttons.
In terms of power, the new car may be equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum output of 204 hp. The battery is expected to have a capacity of 68.8 kWh and a range of approximately 510 km.
3.EV Prologue
Highlights: The creation of a universal Autoneng platform
This car is positioned as a crossover SUV, which is not independently developed by Honda, but actually belongs to the same platform as the Chevrolet Trailblazer EV, and is built using GM's Auton platform. It is reported that the new car will be mainly for the North American market, and will be the first to be launched overseas, with an estimated starting price of 40,000 US dollars, or about 292,000 yuan.
In terms of design, the Prologue doesn't have an aggressive design, with features like the mainstream through-head headlights and concealed door handles not appearing on the car. On the contrary, it retains the styling elements such as the grille of the current gasoline version of the model, and the design concept is more traditional.
In terms of interior, it also does not adopt the popular non-physical button design, and the design is also biased towards the traditional style. Inside, the car is equipped with an 11-inch full LCD instrument cluster and an 11.3-inch floating center display, with two rows of physical buttons and two knobs underneath.
The size of the car is between the Honda CR-V and the Passport, and in terms of body size, the length, width and height of the new car are 4876 mm, 1988 mm and 1643 mm respectively, and the wheelbase reaches 3093 mm. Compared to Honda's current SUV models, the Prologue has a longer wheelbase, which should result in a more spacious interior.
In terms of power, the car will be available in two versions: front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive model is expected to have a maximum power of 288 hp, while the power parameters of the front-wheel drive model have not yet been disclosed. The matching battery has an 85 kWh battery with an EPA-mode range of approximately 300 miles (482.8 km) and supports DC fast charging, adding 65 miles (104.61 km) of range in 10 minutes, with an estimated slow charging time of no more than 8 hours.
brief summary
According to previous news, Honda China announced that it has fully entered the era of electrification, and after 2027, all models launched by Honda in China will be hybrid models and pure electric vehicles, and no new pure fuel models will be launched, and by 2035, Honda China will achieve 100% of pure electric vehicle sales.
The advent of the new energy era is both a challenge and an opportunity for major brands. As a joint venture brand that actively embraces change, can Honda get a piece of the pie in China? It is worth looking forward to! Welcome to pay attention to "Boundless Vehicles" and leave a message in the comment area below to share your views on Honda's new car.