Tokyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept combines future drive with retro style
by Sam Abuelsamid on Oct 21st 2009 at 9:01AM 
Honda EV-N concept - click above for high-res image gallery
Honda's new CEO Takanobu Ito started off his tenure at the head of the company today by unveiling a new plug-in battery electric concept. The EV-N showcar hides its futuristic electron pumping powertrain in a decidedly retro bodystyle thanks to a design reminiscent of the subcompact 600N of the Sixties.
Honda has yet to reveal much in the way of technical details about the diminutive hatch, but we do know it uses lithium-ion batteries and the electric motor drives the front wheels. The car can be started with a fob called the Loop that incorporates a display showing the driver know the battery pack's state of charge.
Not enough pint-size fun for you? Each of the EV-N's doors features a pocket that holds one of Honda's gyro controlled, omnidirectional U3-X unicycles.
Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
xcrunk 9:06AM (10/21/2009)
I think it's cool. The retro update look is nice. That's clean looking sheet metal.
Could this be their BEV, if they decide to go all battery?
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Alex 9:24AM (10/21/2009)
agreed, they did a good job making a retro look appear like a modern design.
Xcrunk 9:54AM (10/21/2009)
Am I allowed to respond to my own post? Anyways...
The one thing that is interesting about this car is that the design language is a total departure from the current Honda Auto lineup. The trucks seem to have a distinct chunky look....and the cars are more swoopie; with lines that have long sweeps.
This car is a totally different animal. It's distinct, clean, a little chunky....very different.
I like it when Honda goes with "clean" looking bodywork...this is definitely a return to that.
Jerk Face 10:05AM (10/21/2009)
I just want to take it home and squeeze it.
Azael 10:44AM (10/21/2009)
Does anybody know how many clowns Honda projects will fit into this car at the same time?
zamafir 11:43AM (10/21/2009)
I like it, a lot cuter than the last honda EV I used for a while... it'd be nice of honda sold this to us.
Shaggs 11:49PM (10/21/2009)
Seriously, everything I have seen from Honda this year other than the CRZ just makes me lose my faith in the company. And every vehicle I own are Hondas
Yaroukh 9:08AM (10/21/2009)
not that it would be straight ugly but i think i'm getting fed up of those boxy things
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rwb 9:49AM (10/21/2009)
The shape reminds me of a Trabant.
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Kumar 9:18AM (10/21/2009)
The new retirement community golf-cart.
Not a bad thing.
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FitFan 12:21PM (10/21/2009)
Seriously. This would be a perfect city car.
raytheater 9:21AM (10/21/2009)
Looks pretty cool, another option in the electric car world.
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abbas350 9:22AM (10/21/2009)
the coolest looking "green" car i've seen.
(i hate myself for using that awful word)
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Rich 10:05AM (10/21/2009)
So just say "sensible" then.
hsr0601 9:23AM (10/21/2009)
In fact, just a few weeks ago, researchers at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology developed the first
Nickel-Lithium battery that can hold more than 3.5 times the energy of a normal Lithium-Ion battery
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Rick 9:26AM (10/21/2009)
Amazing! Honda designed a car that looks like...a car! They are finally getting it!
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VW JUNKY 9:33AM (10/21/2009)
Looks like a Hello Kitty car.)
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dukeisduke 10:03AM (10/21/2009)
But can you pick it up and turn it sideways in a parking space? That's what we used to do with a teacher's 600, back in high school. That is, until she learned her lesson and started parking in the faculty lot.
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Francis 10:25AM (10/21/2009)
that car looks scary at night. The grille's got this creepy green glow right behind it, and the lights have this off-green/blue hue. It's the first car that really did look like it wanted to kill me.
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Sofa King Fast! 11:32AM (10/21/2009)
very cool.
As some of the others have mentioned, it is nice to see an electric vehicle that doesn't look like something from the Jetsons, and also nice to see honda depart from their current design themes...which seem to be boring and dull.
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