Honda reveals new 0 Series EVs at CES tech conference in Las Vegas

A year on from wowing crowds at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with two wild and all-electric 0 Series concept cars, Honda has returned to CES with new prototypes that are true to the original designs and preview production models that will go on sale next year.

The Honda 0 SUV, with its more upright, boxy styling is set to arrive first and will rival the soon to be launched new Tesla Model Y ‘Juniper’ and Xpeng G6 in the mid-size SUV category.

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As well as staying true to last year’s “space hub” concept’s exterior styling, the interior is set to just as radical with a huge glass area featuring a glass roof and full-width screens across the cabin, including screens showing displays from the side cameras that replace mirrors. The squared-off shape has been designed for maximum practicality inside.

It features an advanced driver assistance feature with what Honda calls 3D gyro sensors that can “apply high-precision attitude estimation and stabilisation control. The technology is claimed to be able to adjust according to driver demands depending on the road surface and has been developed using technology from Honda’s Asimo robotics programme.

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Likewise, the Honda 0 Saloon – set to be the flagship of the new 0 Series range – keeps its low, swept-back shape making good use of Honda’s Thin, Light and Wise philosophy, including smaller, slim battery packs to enable the car to keep its low-slung saloon proportions. It’s likely to rival the bigger Tesla Model S saloon.

There are no technical details of battery packs and ranges but based on conversations we had last year at CES, Honda said that both cars should offer “over 300 miles of driving range with increased efficiency from a small battery size”. Rapid charging is also expected – essential as Honda’s range claims are lower than many rivals – with a 15 to 80 per cent charge reported to be possible in around 10 to 15 minutes.

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Honda has revealed details of a new advanced operating system that will be at the heart if its 0 Series models named after the Asimo robot (although Asimo stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility). Asimo OS will integrate everything from the advanced driver systems to the infotainment, bring software over the air updates to constantly improve the car and its efficiency.

It’s also claimed that the 0 Series models will be the first to offer Level 3 ‘eyes-off’ automated driving, which Honda believes will lead towards a future with zero traffic fatalities in the future. However, it’s expected that eyes-off functionality will only be available in congested traffic on motorways, and only where local laws allow.

Honda also used CES to announce a tie-up with Renesas Electronics to develop a high-performance system-on-chip (SoC) for use in future 0 Series models.