New Honda Super-N previews electric city car due in 2026
Honda’s Super-N prototype reveals what the Japanese firm’s reinvented approach to electrification will look like...
On sale 2026 Price from £25,000 (est)
They say that good things come in small packages, and that’s exactly the kind of philosophy Honda will be attempting to channel with the new Honda Super-N – which brings one of our first glimpses at the reinvention of the Japanese brand’s approach to electrification.
The new Super-N was unveiled in concept form under the name Super EV at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Its dinky proportions indicate that the production version will act as a direct successor to the discontinued Honda E when it hits the market next year. As such, it’ll rival other electric city cars like the Hyundai Inster, Fiat 500e and upcoming Renault Twingo.
Full technical details haven't yet been revealed, but Honda has confirmed the Super-N will be based on the lightest platform used for its 'N Series' kei car models sold in Japan. That means the Super-N will share its underpinnings with Honda's N-One e model, which has a tiny battery that yields an official range of 183 miles. It also gets a 63bhp motor driving the front wheels, and can charge at speeds of up to 50kW.
For reference, the new Hyundai Inster can officially manage 229 miles in its rangiest form, while the Renault 5 can go up to 252 miles.
The prototype version of the Super-N benefits from a 'Boost' mode, which increases performances and is supposed to simulate a multi-gear shift using artificial sounds.
Unlike the N-One e, the Super-N won't be confined to strict Japanese kei car regulations, which means it can have a wider stance to better suit UK roads.
Inside, the Super-N gets a large central infotainment touchscreen perched on top of the dashboard, with a host of physical buttons and dials below and on the steering wheel. Alongside that touchscreen is a digital driver's display.
The Super EV concept (pictured below) was showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside the 0 SUV, which was the first model in Honda’s electric ‘0 Series’ lineup to be unveiled. While that model will have a more upmarket positioning, the production version of the Super-N is expected to serve as an entry-point to the Japanese firm’s electric lineup, and so will likely sit at the opposite end of Honda's electric range.
In addition to the 0 Series lineup, the Super-N concept will aim to reinstate Honda as a mainstream electric car maker, after its early attempts have fallen flat in recent years. The brand’s first electric car, the Honda E, stood out for its funky looks at the time of its launch, but it suffered from a poor electric range and high price. The oddly-named e:Ny1 was slightly better overall but failed to stand out in any particular area.
The Honda Super-N is due to arrive in Japan next year, with other markets – including the UK – following suit shortly after. Pricing is yet to be announced, but if it sits in line with rivals like the Inster and 500e, it could cost around £25,000.
Honda has plans to release seven new EVs in the coming years, and another 13 new hybrid models by 2030.
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