Honda Electrifies Debate: New EV to Outshine Chinese Sedans

Honda has some spicy opinions about Chinese electric sedans. It looks like Honda's throwing a bit of shade, saying these cars are all style and no substance. And guess what? They think their new EV has that special "wow factor" that others are missing.

Let's rewind a bit. Remember when Chinese cars were kind of the butt of jokes in the auto world? Well, times have changed. The quality and designs have really stepped up lately. It's like they finally stopped just copying other cars and started doing their own thing. But Honda's like, "Hold up, there's still some work to do."

In a chat with Automotive News Europe, Honda's e-mobility design guru, Daisuke Tsutamori, didn't mince words. He's like, "Sure, Chinese electric sedans have got some style, but it's pretty much just for show." Honda's aiming for something simpler and more meaningful.

So, they've got this cool, edgy EV concept they showed off at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year. It's called the "Saloon," and it's pretty sleek. They're planning to turn it into a real deal car for North America by 2026. Tsutamori is super proud of its look, saying it really turns heads.

The cool thing is, most of this concept's design is going to make it to the streets. But, don't get too excited about those fancy gullwing doors – they're not gonna be in the final version. That awesome front screen, though? It might just stick around.

If the Honda Saloon feels a bit familiar, here's a fun fact: it kind of resembles the Kiwami, a concept from way back in 2003. But they're not exactly family. Tsutamori admits they got some inspo from Marcello Gandini, a legendary car designer known for his work on icons like the Lamborghini Miura and Countach.

Talking about Gandini, Tsutamori said he's got mad respect for the guy, but they wanted to infuse some Honda magic into the design. This Saloon concept is just a sneak peek at what's coming in Honda's dedicated electric lineup, the "0 Series." It's going to be the star of the show, with a super spacious interior to boot.

And about the name? They're thinking of ditching the plain "Saloon" tag for something with a bit more pizzazz. Designer Toshinobu Minami hinted they might go for a real name instead of the usual boring alphanumeric stuff. In other news, Honda recently said goodbye to its adorable little Honda e hatchback. So, let's see what Honda rolls out next!