Honda Super EV makes UK debut as quirky concept takes to Goodwood
A small, city-focused electric car that potentially previews a successor to the slow-selling Honda e, the Super EV is based on a kei car in Japan called the N-One – although it's undergone several modifications to accommodate an electric powertrain. Advertisement - Article continues below
Honda hasn't shared details of that yet, although the funky little city car did make its global dynamic debut by driving up the famous hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The design of the Super EV clearly takes inspiration from the pure-petrol N-One, with its upright, blocky proportions. Key changes include a new bonnet, creating space for a fresh front end that in some ways resembles that of 2023's Honda Sustaina-C concept, with rounded headlights embedded into a blanked-off grille area. There are some cooling and aerodynamics ducts at the front, along with what looks like a charging cap – positioned not too far away from where the Honda e's bonnet-mounted charging port was located.
The wheels have been pushed right out into the corners, providing a relatively long wheelbase to give those inside more space. There's a wider track too, plus chunky, boxed wheelarches. A bespoke roof spoiler, new clear-lense rear lights and 'Honda' script have all been added to the rear.
The company says the Super EV has been 'designed as an A-segment compact EV that realises both practical usability and the 'joy of driving' only Honda can offer'. It's claimed to leverage 'a sporty and highly responsive driving experience distinctive to compact vehicles,' to provide an 'uplifting, heart-pounding driving experience,' says Honda. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Little is known about the technical capabilities of the Honda Super EV at this stage, but it fits neatly with our scoop from this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, when we reported on the firm's plans to launch a replacement for its now-defunct electric city car, which was removed from sale in 2023.
At the time, Honda's Chief Officer of Automobile Operations, Katsushi Inoue, told us the brand was 'at the development stage' and that 'eventually, in the future, [Honda] will talk about smaller vehicles'.
It turns out that the 'future' has arrived, as just half a year on from CES, the company has shown its possible rival to the latest MINI Cooper and Fiat 500e, as well as budget newcomers such as the BYD Dolphin Surf and Citroen e-C3.
Back at CES, Inoue told us that a future Honda sub-£30,000 EV would need to sit outside the brand's new seven-car 0 Series platform, confirming that the architecture wouldn't support anything smaller than a Civic-sized family hatchback. 'We are thinking about it away from 0 Series,' he said.
Of the seven cars confirmed under the 0 Series plan between now and 2030, the SUV and saloon will reach global markets from next year, with a baby SUV to be revealed in 2026 – at this stage only confirmed for Asian markets, although Europe is a possibility. A larger seven-seat SUV in 2027 is likely to be only for the US market.
Beyond that, a small SUV is expected in 2028, a year ahead of another smaller SUV, plus a compact saloon by the end of the decade.
Although China and Japan are the target markets for the smallest SUV coming next year, Honda's BEV General Manager Mitsuru Kariya admitted that he would like to see the baby electric SUV come to European markets as well.
Tell us which new car you're interested in and get the very best offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers to compare. Let's go…
Find a car with the experts New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports
Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports
While not officially Fords, the MST Mk1 and Mk2 Sports should drive as sharply as they look New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons
New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons
The Mazda CX-5 has been revolutionised to take on the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Survey reveals shocking number of UK women have experienced economic abuse
Around one in seven women have had their money and economic resources controlled by another person in the past 12 months, a new survey indicates. However, two-fifths of those did not speak to anyone about their experience, according to a report from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA). The charity commissioned Ipsos UK to survey over 2,800 women across the UK in October and November 2024. The research was developed by SEA with input from victim-survivors and academic advisers. SEA also found that many women were also unaware of economic abuse. Some 55 per cent know nothing about this form of domestic abuse, and a third (33 per cent) know "a little" about it. Economic abuse is a dangerous and prevalent form of domestic abuse that takes many forms. SEA said it could include a current or ex-partner restricting access to money or bank accounts, damaging property or possessions, taking out loans or building up debt in a victim-survivor's name. The report, Counting The Cost: The Scale And Impact Of Economic Abuse In The UK, indicated that women from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled women and younger women (aged 18 to 24) were particularly likely to say they had experienced at least one form of economic abuse. Meanwhile, 28 per cent of women with children in the household had experienced economic abuse, compared with 10 per cent of UK women without children, the research indicated. The report also found that victim-survivors who had heard the term 'economic abuse' and knew something about it were more likely to seek help. Those who had heard the term were also more likely to speak to a domestic abuse charity or a bank. 'Awareness is critical because those who are aware are more likely to get the help they need,' Sam Smethers, chief executive of Surviving Economic Abuse, said. 'Many are trapped in dangerous situations with an abuser or left with mountains of debt, homeless and experiencing this form of coercive control long after the relationship has ended.' She said economic abuse is devastating for all victim-survivors, but the charity's data 'shows the impact of this abuse is felt particularly strongly by younger women, mothers, black and minoritised women and disabled women'. The charity quoted one woman saying of her former partner: 'He used money as a weapon – even after the relationship ended. I had to sell our home, live with the consequences of the bad credit he'd forced me into, and over 20 years later, I'm still in housing insecurity. 'Knowing this was economic abuse would have made such a difference. It's not just 'what happens' after divorce – it's abuse, and people need to know that. That's why I tell anyone going through this to contact SEA, and to speak to their bank – there is help, and you're not alone.' Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: 'No woman should ever be trapped in an abusive relationship because of the suffering they will face if they try to leave, whether that is the threat of physical violence or the prospect of being plunged into poverty and homelessness. 'Tackling economic abuse – a true hidden crime – will be integral to achieving our ambition of halving violence against women and girls in a decade.' The charity said 'systemic change' must be driven across the public and private sectors, turning good practice into common practice, to transform the lives of victim-survivors. It is also calling for the public to join its mission to raise awareness of economic abuse, to help people spot the signs and access support. Surviving Economic Abuse highlighted some potential signs of economic abuse people can look out for: 1. Are they short of money or unable to buy inexpensive items even if they work? Have they asked to borrow money to pay bills or for essential items? 2. Do they say their partner deals with all money matters? Are their wages or benefits paid directly into their partner's account? Are they counting the pennies, or seeking their partner's permission before making any purchases? 3. Have they left their work when they liked their job? 4. Do they make excuses not to join friends for coffee and meals out? 5. Do they wear ill-fitting or worn-out clothing? Do they not have the money to go to the hairdresser or buy personal items? The charity said people can support victim-survivors of economic abuse by telling them help is available and they are not alone. It said people can also offer practical support, such as by offering a spare room or providing essential items such as food, clothing, and toiletries, as well as having information about domestic abuse services to hand.
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Ministers who serve less than six months in government won't get payoffs as PM tightens rules on ‘golden goodbyes'
Ousted ministers will only receive payoffs if they have served in government for more than six months as Sir Keir Starmer overhauls his appointments watchdog. After repeat examples of ministers receiving payoffs after only serving short stints, the prime minister has tightened eligibility for severance payouts. He has also scrapped the Advisory Committee for Business Appointments (Acoba) as part of the shakeup, replacing it with a new Ethics and Integrity Commission created from the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, who is driving through the reforms, said: 'This overhaul will mean there are stronger rules, fewer quangos and clearer lines of accountability. "The Committee on Standards in Public Life has played an important role in the past three decades. These changes give it a new mandate for the future." But he added: "Whatever the institutional landscape, the public will in the end judge politicians and government by how they do their jobs and how they fulfil the principles of public service." Ministers are currently entitled to a severance payment equivalent to three months' salary when they leave office for any reason, regardless of how long they have been in the job. The rule saw former minister Michelle Donelan reject the offer of £17,000 severance pay after her 36-hour tenure as education secretary. And the political turmoil at the heart of the Conservative government in 2022 cost taxpayers more than £3m in severance fees for ministers and advisers across three prime ministers. Sir Keir's shakeup would also have seen his own ministers Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, and Tulip Siddiq, a former Treasury minister, made ineligible for severance pay. Under Labour's plans, ministers who leave office after a serious breach of the ministerial code or who have served less than six months will also now not get the payment. If they return to office within three months of leaving, they will also not receive their salary until the end of that three-month period. But critics called for the PM to go further, blocking ministers who are forced out in disgrace from receiving payouts altogether. The Liberal Democrats said Sir Keir's change was 'the right step' but that he 'must now go further - ban ministerial severance payouts altogether for disgraced former ministers, as well as stripping Liz Truss of her access to the ex-PM allowance fund of up to £125,000 per annum'. The new Ethics and Integrity Commission will report annually to Sir Keir on the health of the standards system. It will be chaired by Doug Chalmers, a retired lieutenant general who chairs the current Standards Committee. The committee was set up in 1994 by then-prime minister Sir John Major, after his government was mired in accusations of "sleaze" following a series of parliamentary scandals. Sir John warned in a recent speech that a small group of politicians were increasingly breaking the rules, and suggested Acoba needed to be reformed. It has faced repeated allegations that it is toothless and unable to enforce its rules properly. Ministers have instead decided to scrap it and split its functions between the Civil Service Commission and the Prime Minister's Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. Under reforms to the business appointments rules, ex-ministers found to have breached them by taking on inappropriate jobs will now be asked to repay any severance pay they receive.
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Starmer tightens rules on ministers' severance pay in major shake-up
Sir Keir Starmer is implementing a significant overhaul of the system for ministerial severance pay and public appointments. Under the new regulations, ministers will only be eligible for severance payments if they have served for more than six months, or if they have not committed a serious breach of the ministerial code. The Advisory Committee for Business Appointments (Acoba) will be abolished and replaced by a new Ethics and Integrity Commission, formed from the Committee on Standards in Public Life. These reforms are designed to address concerns over taxpayer costs, such as the £3 million spent on severance fees during the 2022 political instability, and to prevent payouts for short-term ministerial stints. Furthermore, former ministers who violate business appointment rules will be required to repay any severance pay they received.
