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The typical problem with prototypes is that they seldom make it to market without bean counters removing everything that made them interesting. We hope that isn’t the case with the two prototypes that Honda plans to introduce next year at CES because these cars look like they were pulled out of a science fiction movie and are from the future.
The two prototypes are code-named Saloon and Space Hub, and they are expected to launch in 2026, making it at least likely, given the near-term timeline, that the final cars will look a lot like the prototypes.
The Saloon
Call this a Tesla S killer because it looks far more advanced than that car, should have decent performance, and looks more like a future Lamborghini than a typical Honda. With active exterior lighting, the car appears fast, just standing still.
Unlike the Jaguar Prototype, which looks like it should have a massive gas engine, this car presents like a high-performance electric car. This gives it a cab-forward design with impressive interior space, making it sporty and potentially very practical. While the initial video doesn’t provide much information on the car, it should perform similarly to the Tesla Model S.
Space in the car should be plentiful based on the artist renderings, and it should not only have a massive driver display but a smaller display to be enjoyed by the front seat passenger. Like the Audi E-Tron GT and Jaguar I-Pace, the roof is glass but has an interesting separator in the middle.
Similar to the Jaguar Type 0 prototype, it doesn’t appear to have a rear window, suggesting a rear-view camera, which is a requirement in many countries.
The design is very clean, with no chrome, door handles, or anything else to break up the lines; the front window connects to two side windows in a way that makes it look like changing the windshield out should be easier than on most cars.
The side doors appear massive and unusual, providing full access to the interior through one door, which either slides back or lifts up in a gullwing configuration. The former would be more practical, but the latter would look spectacular when used. While the massive side window appears fixed, I expect it will retract because we often need an open window on the driver’s side.
Of the two cars, this one looks to be the most fun.
Space Hub
The Space Hub is a reimagining of the minivan. The design appears to be far safer than most existing minivans with a decent crumple area in the back, and, of course, it would also typically have all of the advanced safety features shown in high-end EVS.
Like an automobile, this van has a lower window below the windshield so you can better see obstacles in front of the car (significant if you have small children and pets that can be around the car if it is being used for pet and child transport). The interior layout is unique and more like a high-end living room than a typical car interior. I have doubts that this interior will survive production for two reasons. The seats don’t appear to be able to fold down or be easily removed for hauling large objects, and the middle seats face backward by default, something that goes back to the Phantom Corsair but has never been popular in a production car even though it could allow for better passenger interaction on long trips.
You can see from this video it is an amazing car.
Wrapping Up:
We are moving into the next generation of EVs, and designers are becoming far more creative now that they realize they don’t have to repurpose gas car designs or create cars that blend gas and EV components; they can truly build EVs as EVs, which should make them far easier to service and far more reliable.
The future is coming, and companies like Honda plan to play a significant role.
Rob Enderle is a technology analyst covering automotive technology and battery developments at Torque News. You can learn more about Rob on Wikipedia, and follow his articles on Forbes, on X, and LinkedIn.
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