The Honda 0 Saloon is lightweight, wedge-shaped and comes with Asimo onboard

Do saloon cars need to adhere to the traditional three-box shape? On the evidence of the 0 Saloon, Honda clearly doesn't think so. First unveiled at CES 2024, the all-electric concept previews a radical, wedge-shaped production model scheduled for 2026, packing the firm’s next-generation EV technology and built around what Honda calls a ‘Thin, Light and Wise’ engineering philosophy.

Abstract though that may sound, the 0 Saloon is well on its way to becoming a reality, with Honda showcasing a further development of the concept at this year’s CES – and revealing some of the tech that will underpin the final car. 

The saloon will arrive alongside an SUV as the first models under the 0 Series banner, each using a dedicated EV platform and a conservative approach to battery sizing. 0 Series models will have slimmer floor mounted battery packs than usual to maximise cabin space and allow for streamlined body shapes, as demonstrated by the wedge-shaped saloon concept.

Honda will use efficient electric drive units and aerodynamics to counter the smaller battery capacity and achieve competitive range figures, while offering rapid charging capability (15 to 80 per cent top ups will take 10-15 minutes). This approach could make 0 Series cars lighter than equivalent EVs, and Honda promises that they will thus offer ‘the joy of driving for a new era’. The saloon uses steer-by-wire and a ‘posture control system’, both of which open up a wide scope for tuning its driving feel.

That said, autonomous features will also play a role in Honda’s electric future, with the 0 Series coming with Level 3 automated driving capability. Part of Honda’s motivation to implement this tech is to prevent accidents due to human error, and it will be supported by AI designed to cooperate with other road users and respond to unexpected road events. The systems will also allow the ‘driver’ to watch a movie or join a remote meeting while on the move, with Honda aiming to be the first manufacturer to enable these ‘eyes-off’ functions on all types of roads and driving situations. 

0 Series cars will also feature a new onboard operating system called Asimo – a reference to the friendly, football-playing robot first introduced in 2000. In the 0 Series, the Asimo system will be linked up to the infotainment and driver assistance systems, and will receive over-the-air updates to improve its capabilities over time. 

While these elements will feature in the production car, expect the design of the 0 Saloon to be watered down a little – albeit with its core themes intact. The clean body surfaces, low roofline and closed-surface aero wheels help to reduce drag, and the 0 Series packaging approach creates a large cockpit area relative to the size of the vehicle. Honda’s simplified new ‘H’ badge, which will be reserved for 0 Series cars, takes centre stage at the front, but don’t expect the concept's animated front end graphics to reach production.