Honda has debuted a pair of new EV prototypes at this year’s CES show, previewing what we can expect from two new production EVs the company is working to introduce by 2026.
The first of these is the Honda 0 Saloon, an updated, presumably more production-ready version of the similar concept shown at last year’s CES. This updated model retains much of the same design as that concept with a dramatic wedge shape reminiscent of 80s supercars like the Lamborghini Countach.
Up front, the 0 Saloon features headlights hidden behind body-colored panels that reveal themselves when needed. The side profile features a cab-forward design with the front wheels pushed all the way to the edges. The back features virtually the same design as last year’s concept, with a simple, repeating echo lighting pattern with the Honda logo in the center. The 0 Saloon incorporates Honda’s vision of “thin, light, and wise” design for their next generation of EVs, with its shape and styling largely dictated by a drive for efficiency. It certainly looks like nothing else on the road today.
Inside, the Honda 0 Saloon features a sleek and minimal cabin. Naturally, the interior is laden with screens, including three up front mounted behind a single, giant piece of glass, which is not unlike the Mercedes-Benz Hyperscreen. Camera-based side view mirrors and a yoke-style steering wheel round out the dash configuration. The rest of the cabin leans into its minimalism with discreet ambient lighting and soft, cool tones of white, grey, and black.
Next, Honda showed the 0 SUV Prototype, which appeared to be the most production-ready of the two vehicles shown, sporting a sleek crossover design that could easily be imagined on the road today. The overall shape is vaguely reminiscent of the current CR-V, though wrapped in more daring styling, including a squared-off front end with unique LED headlights, clean sides, and a rear featuring a distinct U-shaped lightbar.
The 0 Series SUV builds on the Space-Hub Concept Honda showed at last year’s CES, bringing “a spacious cabin with outstanding visibility and flexibility.”
The interior of the 0 SUV Prototype is very much like that found in the 0 Saloon, though again more seemingly production-ready, complete with three screens up front and an open, airy feeling cabin finished in soothing tones of grey and white.
Honda also announced advancements in their automated driving technology that will take center stage in these new 0 Series vehicles. This means all 0 Series models will be capable of Level 3 automated driving, harnessing a new system-on-a-chip design developed in partnership with Renesas Electronics Corporation and expended AI software capabilities to deliver eyes-off driving in certain conditions such as traffic-congested highways.
Lastly, Honda announced a new operating system for these vehicles dubbed “ASIMO Operating System.” This is a nod to the beloved ASIMO robot the company introduced around the turn of the millennium. This new system was developed entirely in-house by Honda with the goal of bringing the “wise” value from Honda’s 0 Series EVs to life through software.
Though more details were scarce, Honda mentioned this new operating system will manage everything from the vehicle’s electric control units to the in-vehicle infotainment system. Over-the-air updates will be a core tenet of this new system as well, allowing the company to expand and improve the vehicle’s performance and features. The ASIMO Operating System will be installed in all Honda 0 Series EVs, including the production version of the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon.
Honda says both the 0 Saloon and 0 SUV are slated for production in 2026 at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio. We expect to hear a lot more about them both in the lead-up to their on-sale dates.