The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV isn’t an ugly thing, but it definitely sacrifices rakish looks for the sake of practicality. Honda, however, may have hit the nail on the head with its Urban EV concept car.
The Japanese automaker debuted the Urban EV concept at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show and announced the tiny electric car would head to production in 2019. Its effectively a spiritual successor to the Honda City of the 1970s and its retro design cues and quirky looks bode well in our eyes. Although Honda didn’t discuss the electric powertrain, it is a pure battery-electric vehicle.
The point of this story is design. Electric cars aren’t notorious for being exciting, but with the right looks, anything can be a headline grabber. Honda seems to have struck a fine balance here. The Bolt EV may boast incredible technical specifications and a healthy range, but the average shopper may not be thrilled with its bulbous looks.
But, Chevrolet won’t have much to fear anyway. The production Honda Urban EV won’t be coming to North America, as it was designed and engineered with Europe in mind. Maybe we’ll get a cool little electric car from GM one day, too.
Comments
Honda makes a pocket rocket. Bolt is bland, needed a strong design to lure non GM buyers.
The Bolt is actually doing well in terms of conquest buyers, suggesting early buyers just want an EV they can afford, no matter the shape.
Every other Honda is bland. The Bolt is a nice balance of ‘new’ and CUV.
“But, Chevrolet won’t have much to fear anyway.”
Because rarely do production cars ever look their concepts, just like, the Bolt.
Pretty nice take on the original Civic, which some have electrified already.
Honda hasn’t been to successful with their hybrids, so a kool EV design is no guarantee of success.
And, I’m one who thinks the Bolt and I3 are pretty interesting from a designers perspective. We have plenty of hard to distinguish appliance mobiles out there. I have even come around to the new Civic design… sorta of anyway.
Neat and cool retro looks but the car gives up miles for styling.
The Bolts looks are there not for styling but miles per charge.
Small things like the hard square corners on electric cars can add 7 mikes per charge alone as the did on the Volt.
Everything from tires to even the wheel flairs here have influence on range.
Let’s just see if this goes production and just how far it goes vs the Bolt.
While styling with some may attract them range is still prime to attract buyers
If you want a fair comparison, look at the 2015 Bolt EV Concept instead. The Honda concept will have to undergo many changes to make it production worthy — the 20 inch flush wheels and thin pillars, for starters. The overall takeaway is the Bolt design is more.. complicated, but the Honda won’t be quite this simple.
Looks like a modern interpretation of the Honda 600. Anybody here old enough to remember that one?