The Honda Saloon Concept is a peek into the future of the company. This all-electric vehicle features a steer-by-wire system and is set to go into production in a slightly modified form. Interestingly, there is also a reference to the past within this contemporary concept.
As noted by Threads user @d2lo, the Saloon bears a striking resemblance to a concept car unveiled by Honda way back in 2003, known as the Kiwami. The wedge-shaped car showcased great aerodynamics, which is indispensable for efficiency in the electric vehicle era – making it a suitable source of inspiration for the Saloon’s design.
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Wedge-shaped cars excel at aerodynamics
Aerodynamics have a significant impact on efficiency, especially in the EV era. The wedge shape of the Kiwami concept provides an excellent model for the Saloon, where aerodynamic design is crucial.
The striking wedge-like shape and full-width light bar of the Kiwami are reminiscent of the Saloon, but the rear-end design has evolved significantly over the past 21 years.
While the Saloon embodies Honda’s push for fully electric vehicles, the Kiwami reflects Honda’s past focus on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles – demonstrating a two-decade effort to design the next generation of zero-emission vehicles. Despite initial skepticism about Honda’s long-range EV strategy, their commitment to hydrogen vehicles persisted over the years
The Saloon marks a transition towards battery-electric vehicles as a core offering for Honda. It’s evident that for the past 20 years, Honda has been striving to design the next generation of sustainable vehicles. What’s clear now, however, is that the proliferation of electric vehicles has outpaced the industry’s expectations – including those of Honda.
The real question now is how much of the Saloon Concept’s features will make it to production, as it doesn’t quite resemble the typical Honda Accord. Nevertheless, Honda’s focus on wedge-shaped designs has been a longstanding element of its vision for the future.