Honda and its manufacturing partner in China, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has just unveiled their first ever battery powered vehicle for the Chinese market, the Honda Everus VE-1.
Honda has just unveiled its first ever battery powered vehicle here at the 2018 Guangzhou International Motor Show, the Honda Everus VE-1. Based on the HR-V (Vezel in China), the all-electric SUV will be sold exclusively in China.
Manufactured with Honda’s Chinese partner, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), the VE-1 is juiced by a 53.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that drives the electric motor on the front axle. This gives the VE-1 a maximum output of 120 kW (163 hp) and 280 Nm of twist as well as a pure electric driving range of 340 km – roughly the same numbers as the world’s best-selling electric vehicle.
Accelerating from 0 to 50 km/h takes 5 seconds flat and top speed is rated at 140 km/h. The company claims that the battery pack can be fully charged in nine hours or 55 minutes when plugged into a fast charging terminal.
As a result of the complicated electric driving components replacing a standard combustion engine, the VE-1 weighs some 400 kgs more than a standard HR-V. Other than that, the electric powered SUV is virtually identical to a standard, pre-facelift HR-V. The only notable difference is a revised front fascia that houses the charging port, vertical LED daytime running light bars and a sealed front intake.
Other equipment you’ll find on the VR-1 includes LED headlamps and taillamps, dual-tone paintwork, black 17-inch alloys, 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, six airbags, ABS, ESC and electronic parking brake. Curiously, Honda Sensing Advanced Driver Assistance system is not available on the VR-1.
Now for the price, the VE-1 carries a recommended retail price of RMB225,800 (RM136k). However, thanks to the Chinese Government’s approved incentive, the showroom list price is at RMB170,800 (RM103k).
Production of the Honda Everus VE-1 is scheduled to begin in December 2018 with customer deliveries to begin in 2019.
IMAGE GALLERY
Honda Everus VE-1 in China
