Honda Shows a New Electric SUV in Concept Form

The SUV e:concept previews an eventual production model for China, but we don't know at this point what it might foretell for the U.S.

• Honda showed a new electric SUV concept car at the Beijing auto show.
• Called the SUV e:concept, this vehicle previews an eventual EV production car that will likely be only for the Chinese market.
• It's possible that Honda will eventually introduce something like this for the U.S. market, but few details are known at this point.

Honda will soon be expanding its EV lineup, at least in China, with a new SUV model that's previewed by this SUV e:concept. Shown at the Beijing auto show, this appears to be a design study above all else, as Honda hasn't provided any mechanical details other than the fact that this crossover is powered by an electric drivetrain.

The SUV e:concept looks like a traditionally shaped compact crossover, and it doesn't have the same cute styling seen on Honda's other EV offering, the Honda e. Instead, it has an angular front end with a large "H" logo and no grille opening, and a somewhat rakish greenhouse. The concept model appears to be a two-door configuration, but we expect the production version to be a four-door, five-seat SUV.

This will be Honda's first EV model for the Chinese market, and we have no idea if it has any bearing on a future EV model that may come to the U.S. at some point in the future. Honda has said that it plans to share battery technology and vehicle platforms with General Motors, which recently detailed its Ultium battery packs, so it's possible that this EV SUV will be a product of that collaboration.

Expect Honda to provide more information about this EV crossover as it nears production for China, possibly sometime next year. We will likely have to wait longer than that to hear more about Honda's EV plans for the U.S. market.