Honda shows off first BEV SUV

Honda has revealed a concept version of its first battery electric SUV at the Beijing Auto Show over the weekend.

Unimaginatively dubbed the Honda SUV e:concept, it previews a “mass-production” model that will be sold in China.

It is the second BEV from the Japanese brand, which already sells the cute Honda e in Europe.

Honda offered very little information about the e:concept, but take it from us the production version will have five- rather than three-doors.

The concept also showed off a funky rectangular steering wheel that will struggle to make production too.

Honda did confirm the production model will be equipped with next-generation Honda Sensing and Honda Connect.

The latest Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistance systems features improved recognition, prediction and decision-making performance.

It delivers what Honda is calling “omnidirectional ADAS”,  made possible by widening the front camera angle and adopting 360-degree radar. This enables the system to detect vehicle peripheral movement more accurately.

Honda Connect features an AI assistant interface, smartphone link and wireless updates.

Honda also revealed a plug-in hybrid version of the CR-V medium SUV in Beijing. The PHEV goes on-sale in China in January 2021.

As for Australia, no word on either electrified model making it here.