- Honda previewed the first two models from its 0 Series family of EVs with a pair of prototypes at CES 2025
- The prototypes will spawn production models in 2026, to be built in Ohio
- The 0 SUV will arrive first followed by the 0 Saloon
Honda’s upcoming 0 Series family of electric vehicles edged closer to production on Tuesday with the reveal during CES 2025 of a pair of prototypes that look almost ready to hit the showroom floor.
The prototypes included the 0 SUV and 0 Saloon, the latter an evolution of the original 0 Saloon prototype Honda unveiled during CES 2024, when first announcing plans for the 0 Series.
Honda 0 Saloon prototype
Honda said the production versions of the 0 SUV and 0 Saloon will launch in the U.S. in 2026 as the first models in the 0 Series lineup, with other markets to follow at a later date. Production will be handled at Honda’s plant in Marysville, Ohio.
The 0 SUV, a midsize offering, will arrive first. Its design builds on the van-like Space-Hub prototype shown in 2024 together with the original Saloon prototype, and is similar, at least in profile, to the Polestar 3.
Honda 0 Saloon prototype
The 0 Saloon is described as the flagship offering of the 0 Series and appears to have some Lamborghini influences in its design, especially at the front, which resembles the face of the Gallardo. Impressively, the designers have managed to maintain the sporty wedge shape of the original prototype shown last year.
Honda has leveraged its Formula 1 experience—most recently supplying power units to the championship-winning Red Bull Racing team—to develop a thin and lightweight EV platform for the 0 Series. The automaker has hinted at a weight reduction of around 220 pounds compared to its earlier EV platforms. Steer-by-wire systems for the steering, suspension, and brakes have also made the cut.
Honda 0 SUV prototype
No details on powertrains have been mentioned. However, an early 0 Series development mule showcased by Honda last fall featured a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain rated at approximately 480 hp, along with air suspension and a new stability system incorporating 3D gyro sensors derived from the company’s ASIMO robot family.
The ASIMO name has also been borrowed for the in-house operating system that will feature across the 0 Series lineup. It joins other core software systems for the EV family, including automated driving technologies ranked at up to Level 3 on the SAE scale of self-driving capability (initially in heavy traffic on highways), and a system-on-chip computer that will serve as the core of the software-defined vehicle (SDV) aspect of the 0 Series. In layman’s terms, an SDV is a vehicle whose software and hardware allow it to be updated via the cloud, potentially for its lifetime.
Honda 0 SUV prototype
Honda also highlighted its emerging Ionna charging network, a collaborative effort with seven other automakers aimed at deploying high-speed chargers at tens of thousands of stations across North America by 2030. With 0 Series models featuring NACS ports, Honda anticipates that owners will have access to 100,000 public charging stations by the same year.
The introduction of the 0 Series marks a crucial step in Honda’s plan to transition to exclusively selling electric and fuel cell vehicles by 2040. Leading up to that deadline, the automaker also aims to reduce emissions with next-generation hybrid powertrains.
