Honda has released the first teaser of its forthcoming electric SUV, the Prologue, nearly two years ahead of its slated debut in early 2024. The car will be the first tangible fruit of a collaboration with General Motors – which will also see the arrival of an Acura-badged sibling – as the carmaker attempts to make up for the time it lost deliberating over electric vehicles.
The Prologue will be the first Honda EV to
be sold in North America (the e hatchback is only offered in Europe and Japan)
and is said to be the first Honda designed primarily using virtual reality
virtualisation. This approach was necessitated by remote work requirements
during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for designers in Los Angeles to
collaborate virtually with Japanese design and development teams.
Shown in the sole sketch provided is a
relatively clean design with strong shoulders, an upswept window line and
prominent black body cladding. The black mask-like front end is said to be
inspired by the Honda e and incorporates slim headlights with horizontal
daytime running lights, while a trapezoidal air intake and vertical corner
inlets can be found underneath. Elsewhere, the charging port is located on the
left front fender and the door mirrors mounted on the door body, the latter as
they are on the new Civic and HR-V. Honda says it has paid particular attention
to aerodynamics to reduce wind noise, particularly important given the silent powertrain.
Under the skin, the Prologue will be based
on GM’s modular electric platform and Ultium battery technology, which also
underpin the GMC Hummer EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV pick-ups and the Cadillac
Lyriq SUV. No details were revealed but expect the car to share similar specs
with the Lyriq, which should be broadly the same size as the Honda.
