Hot on the heels of the Civic Hybrid’s reveal in Europe, Honda has announced that the European market will get three more electrified models by 2023. All of them are crossovers and one is a full battery-electric vehicle that will likely slot above the Honda e city car. Called the e:Ny1, Honda’s second BEV for the European market promises to offer the same unique blend of driving dynamics and technology. It will be a compact crossover, putting it in the heart of a highly competitive segment where it will compete with the likes of the Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Toyota bZ4X.
Based on the photos Honda released, the e:Ny1 looks like a larger version of the global market HR-V. It features hidden rear door handles, a sloping rear window, full-width LED taillights, and thin LED headlights. Instead of a badge, Honda is spelled out across the middle of the tailgate. The enclosed grille also dons an illuminated Honda logo.
The second crossover is a C-segment vehicle, which is equivalent to a subcompact in the U.S. Based on the two teaser shots, this is the U.S. market HR-V, which will be larger than its global market sibling and feature a different design. Outside of North America, the SUV will be wearing a different moniker. The fact that Honda’s European division has confirmed an electrified powertrain indicates that its U.S.-market counterpart will get the same treatment too.
Perhaps the biggest news is the next-generation CR-V. Honda’s bestselling vehicle already offers a hybrid powertrain in many global markets including North America. That’s not changing for its next iteration; however, it will get an additional option with the introduction of the CR-V PHEV. This isn’t the first time Honda has offered plug-in hybrids because the Clarity and the previous-generation Accord were both available as PHEVs. Expect the next CR-V Hybrid and PHEV to use the updated version of the 2.0-liter-based two-motor hybrid system that was announced in the European-market Civic Hybrid. However, the version in the CR-V could be more powerful to account for the heavier vehicle. The plug-in variant should also be the most powerful version of the crossovers.
Beyond these three vehicles, Honda is aiming for 40 percent of its sales in Europe to consist of BEVs and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. That will increase to 80 percent in 2035. By 2040, Honda will end the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines globally as it aims for complete carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition to its current hybrid, fuel cell, and battery-electric technologies, Honda is also developing solid-state batteries, swappable battery systems, and carbon-neutral fuels.
In North America, Honda will introduce its first BEV in 2024. Called the Prologue, it will be codeveloped with General Motors and use the Ultium suite. Its luxury arm will also get an Ultium-based BEV in 2024. In the meantime, Honda will add more electrified vehicles to expand its offerings, which currently include the CR-V, Accord, and Insight. The next U.S. market HR-V, which will be sold with a different name in Europe could be the next Honda vehicle to get an electrified variant in the North American market. Following shortly will be the CR-V Hybrid and its plug-in hybrid counterpart.
