Honda 'e' Is Minimalistically Beautiful, Just Like The Concept

• The electric motor can be had in two states of tune -- 136PS and 154PS -- and drives the rear wheels.
• It draws power from a 35.5kWH battery pack and has a claimed range of 220km.
• The ‘e’ comes with connected-car tech and voice command-based feature activation.
• Bookings underway in the UK, Germany, France and Norway.
• Prices for the ‘e’ could start from £30,000 (Rs 26.48 lakh).

The production version of Honda’s all-electric hatchback, the ‘e’, has broken cover. Revealed through a set of images, we’re happy to report that the production-spec model looks similar to the Honda Urban EV concept and retains all its feel-good elements as well. Honda also said that the ‘e’ is a step towards the carmaker’s commitment to go all-electric in the European market by 2025. Considering the government’s push for all-electric mobility, could the Honda ‘e’ be the perfect EV for India?

Before we answer that, let’s talk a bit about its heart. The ‘e’ is powered by an all-electric motor that will be offered in two states of tune - 136PS and 154PS. Torque output stands at 315Nm that’s produced right from the word go and drives the rear wheels. And to keep things exciting, Honda has said that the ‘e’ will be capable of hitting 0-100kmph in eight seconds. Sweet!

Also Read: Porsche Goes Green In Style; Debuts All-Electric Taycan

The electric motor draws power from a 35.5kWh battery pack and is capable of covering 220km on a single charge. It also supports fast charging that is capable of charging the battery from 0-80 per cent in thirty minutes.

Another major talking point about the ‘e’ is its interior. The dashboard is dominated by not one or two, but FIVE screens! Let us explain what each screen does. The outer two screens handle the ORVM duties that are fed via cameras a la Audi e-tron. Behind the steering wheel is a big digital driver’s display. And infotainment duties are held by two 12.3-inch touchscreen units. Surprisingly, despite the five screens, Honda has given physical controls for the climate control. Probably for ease of use? We hope so as physical buttons means you don’t need to remove your eyes off the road.

The ‘e’ also comes with connected car technology. It allows users to control various features of the car through their smartphone. This includes locking and unlocking, remote start-stop and climate control, viewing vehicle stats, and more. Apart from that, the ‘e’ comes with voice command-based feature activation, Honda’s Lane Watch camera, climate control, cruise control, steering-mounted audio controls, push button start, and more.

Safety features include lane departure warning, collision mitigation braking system, low speed braking system and blind spot detection.

The ‘e’ will be unveiled to the public at the upcoming 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Bookings for the electric hatchback are underway in the UK, Germany, France and Norway. While prices haven’t been revealed yet, various reports suggest that the ‘e’ could start from £30,000 (Rs 26.48 lakh), which definitely isn’t cheap for a small hatchback. So will the Honda ‘e’ be launched in India? We hope so. If launched, expect it to be a niche offering considering its hefty price tag.