With aerodynamics and energy efficiency priorities in a world transitioning to zero-emission vehicles, sedans are regaining relevance. At Honda, development is underway for a sleek, fully electric sedan inspired by the wedge-shaped 0 Saloon concept.
The production EV is still about a year away, but at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, we had the opportunity to take a close look at the show car to understand the ideas influencing it.
Exterior
The Honda 0 Saloon prototype remains faithful to the concept first shown at CES 2024, sporting the brand’s “Thin, Light, and Wise” development philosophy. The body’s low height and cab-forward proportions make it instantly recognizable among sedans, both combustion and electric.
A long wheelbase relative to its height and short overhangs create a wedge-like stance. The flush glazing and smooth body surfaces minimize drag, while a continuous front panel replaces the traditional grille. Honda has opted for clean, uninterrupted surfaces rather than deep cuts and flashy detailing.
The headlights integrate narrow LED elements that form a thin horizontal light bar. At the rear, a full-width taillight complements the low-slung proportions.
Our experience with the Honda 0 Saloon
Seeing the Honda 0 Saloon in person at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, its unconventional approach stood out immediately. The wedge-shaped profile and slim, horizontal headlamps evoke classic wedge-era supercars, lending it an almost retro-futuristic character. Its wide stance gives it a much larger road presence than expected from photos. The flowing rear end, paired with a sci-fi-inspired lighting treatment, further strengthens the concept’s futuristic appeal.
Interior
Honda says the interior feels more spacious than the exterior dimensions suggest, which is a result of its new dedicated EV platform and flat floor layout.
The dashboard features a panoramic display integrated into a slim horizontal panel, eliminating clutter and giving the cockpit a lounge-like feel. Steering and seat positions are low and sporty, differentiating it from the 0 SUV, while the rear offers generous legroom owing to the lengthy wheelbase.
Honda’s new ASIMO OS, named after its humanoid robot, is the car’s digital foundation. It enables what the company calls “ultra-personal optimization,” tailoring infotainment, comfort, and driving preferences to individual users. Over-the-air updates will continuously refine these features throughout the ownership period.
Our experience with the Honda 0 Saloon
As with the exterior, the interior of Honda 0 Saloon looks straight out of a sci-fi flick. I found it interesting how the designers gave the floating panel integrating five dashboard displays an angled look instead of a cliche curved styling. That, along with the steering yoke, large windshield, expansive panoramic glass roof, floating center console, and spaceship-like seats deliver a truly futuristic vibe in the car.
Specifications
The 0 Saloon rides on a newly developed dedicated EV architecture designed around lightness and aerodynamic efficiency. Technical details such as motor output or battery capacity haven’t been disclosed, but Honda confirmed Level 3 automated-driving capability and advanced driver-assistance systems derived from Honda Sensing Elite.
The 0 Series will also employ a new high-performance system-on-chip co-developed with Renesas Electronics. With up to 2,000 TOPS of AI processing performance and 20 TOPS/W efficiency, this hardware underpins the car’s centralized electronic-and-electrical architecture.
Honda will adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector and ensure access to more than 100,000 charging stations across the U.S. by 2030 through the IONNA network and other partnerships. V2L and V2G capabilities are also expected among the electrical features.
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Release Date
The production version of the Honda 0 Saloon is scheduled to enter production at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio in late 2026, so it could begin arriving at U.S. dealerships in early 2027.
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
