Honda EV-N concept
{{for|the 2017 Urban EV and Sports EV concept vehicles|Honda EV Concept}}
{{Infobox automobile
| image = File:Honda EV-N.jpg
| caption =
| name = Honda EV-N concept
| aka =
| manufacturer = Honda
| production =
| assembly =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| class = Subcompact car (A)
| body_style = 3-door hatchback
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| engine =
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| wheelbase = {{convert|1997|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|2860|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1475|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1515|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| ground_clearance =
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| designer = {{Plainlist |
- Kanna Sumiyoshi (project & interior)
- Naoya Ishikura (exterior)
- Yuuki Nagasawa (interior)
- Sayuri Hanzawa (color & trim)}}
| related =
}}
The Honda EV-N concept vehicle was a concept electric car created by the automobile division of Honda, designed as an homage to the N360 kei car. The vehicle made its world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009,{{cite press release |url=https://global.honda/newsroom/news/2009/c090930eng.html |title=Honda Announces Overview of Display for the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 |date=September 30, 2009 |publisher=Honda Global News Room |access-date=17 September 2019}} and had its European debut at Geneva the following March.{{cite press release |url=https://global.honda/newsroom/worldnews/2010/4100224Geneva-Motor-Show.html |title=Honda 3R-C concept World Debut at Geneva International Motor Show 2010 |date=February 24, 2010 |publisher=Honda Global News Room |access-date=17 September 2019}}
The styling of the EV-N concept would influence the later Honda N-One (2012) and Urban EV Concept (2017). The Urban EV concept also derived its styling from the first generation Civic hatchback and later reached production as the Honda e in 2019.
Design
{{multiple image
|image1=1969 Honda N360 Hondamatic.jpg
|image2=Honda N 600 BW 2017-07-16 13-14-15.jpg
|align=left |direction=vertical |footer=Honda N360/N600, front and rear}}
The concept was styled to deliberately evoke the N360, first sold in 1967.{{cite news |url=https://guybird.com/articles/design-review-honda-ev-n |title=Design Review: Honda EV-N |author=Bird, Guy |date=December 2009 |work=Car Design News |access-date=17 September 2019}} The EV-N project was led by Kanna Sumiyoshi, who also collaborated with Yuuki Nagasawa on the interior design, and Sayuri Hanzawa was responsible for color and trim. The exterior was designed by Naoya Ishikura.
The design embodied the Honda philosophy of "man maximum, machine minimum" to emphasize operating and space efficiency; the interior is sufficiently large to accommodate four adults.{{cite web |url=http://withdreams.com.my/powerofdreams_step1.php?id=334 |title=Connecting people and technology with the EV-N |website=with Dreams |publisher=Honda of Malaysia |access-date=18 September 2019}} In addition, the exterior and interior styling were made as simple as possible to "reduce superfluous flesh";{{cite magazine |url=https://guybird.com/articles/super-model-honda-ev-n |title=Super Model: Honda EV-N |author=Bird, Guy |date=Spring 2010 |magazine=Interior Motives |publisher=Car Design News |access-date=18 September 2019}} Honda's head of design, Nobuki Ebisawa, believed that younger drivers would "see [the N360-like] style — as translated into the EV-N — as very new" and would appreciate the simple styling rather than the retro elements.
File:Honda EV-N (Back) (4039643324).jpg
Solar cells embedded in the roof panel allow recharging of the vehicle while it is parked. Interior seats use a frame to support stretched fabric panels, which can be swapped.{{cite news |url=https://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2009/10/03-honda-ev-n-concept/ |title=Honda EV-N Concept |date=3 October 2009 |work=car body design |access-date=18 September 2019}} The seat structure was chosen to reduce weight and increase passenger space. The space under the bonnet is used as the car's trunk, although the rear seats can also be folded down to accommodate cargo.
The car is equipped with the Honda LOOP vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.{{cite news |url=https://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2009-09/honda-ev-n-concept-all-electric-throwback/ |title=Honda EV-N Concept: An All-Electric Throwback |author=Spinelli, Mike |date=September 30, 2009 |work=Popular Science |access-date=18 September 2019}} The driver may also communicate with the car via a handheld LOOP device, which includes a liquid-crystal display to provide basic information, such as how long the car has been parked and its state of charge;{{cite news |url=https://newatlas.com/hondas-loop-hello-vehicle2vehicle-vehicle2driver/13005/ |title=Honda's LOOP and HELLO vehicle2vehicle and vehicle2driver infrastructure |date=October 1, 2009 |work=New Atlas |access-date=18 September 2019}} the front fascia of the EV-N lights up as the driver (with the LOOP) approaches or departs. One Honda U3-X personal mobility device is attached to the interior panel of the passenger-side door. The EV-N, U3-X, and other vehicles were shown at Tokyo as part of Honda's HELLO! (Honda ELectric mobility LOop) display.
Although Honda had declared the EV-N was a styling exercise only,{{cite web |url=http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/concept_cars/honda_ev-n.html |title=Honda EV-N |website=Diseno-Art.com |access-date=18 September 2019}} Honda CEO Takanobu Ito was surprised by the strong interest in the car from foreign press. In 2010, the EV-N concept was shortlisted for the Brit Insurance Design Awards in the Transport category.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2010/jan/20/brit-insurance-design-awards |title=Breaking the mould: Brit Insurance Design awards shortlist |date=20 January 2010 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=17 September 2019}}
Production
File:Osaka Auto Messe 2014 (22) Honda N-ONE G (JG1).JPG (2014)]]
{{main|Honda N-One}}
The styling of the 5-door Honda N-One kei car, as an homage to the N360, is also inspired by the EV-N concept. The N-One was launched in fall 2012 with conventional (gasoline engine) power.{{cite news |url=https://www.carbodydesign.com/2012/11/honda-launches-n-one-minicar/22/ |title=Honda launches N-One minicar |date=6 November 2012 |work=car body design |access-date=18 September 2019}}
See also
- Ford 021C, a similar high-style retro concept
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References
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External links
{{commons category|Honda EV-N}}
- [https://global.honda/innovation/design/topics/concept-models/archives.html Honda Concept Models archive]
- [https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/pictures/honda-ev-n-concept/ Annotated gallery] from Road/Show by CNET
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