Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
Honda’s new electric hot hatch costs less than a used family car.
Honda has just launched its compact electric sports hatch on the Japanese market, with a starting price equivalent to just under 21,000 US dollars.
The model is called the Super-ONE, and it offers five driving modes, simulated gear shifts and a Bose audio system with eight speakers.
The car is smaller than a Volkswagen Polo and has already been confirmed for sale in Europe and the United Kingdom during the summer.
According to Electrek
A Sports Mini for the Masses
The Super-ONE is built on Honda’s lightweight N-Series platform and is based on the N-ONE e, which already sells in Japan as a compact everyday car.
The new model has been upgraded with a dedicated chassis and a wider, more sporty design.
Power output sits at 63 hp under normal driving conditions, but when the exclusive Boost Mode is activated, output rises to 93 hp.
The car measures just 3,395 mm in length, making it even smaller than Volkswagen’s recently revealed electric hot hatch, the ID. Polo GTI.
The fifth driving mode carries the name Boost and is joined by ECON, CITY, NORMAL and SPORT, all of which adjust the car’s settings to suit the driver’s preferences.
Simulated Gear Shifts and Bose Audio
Honda has drawn inspiration from Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N and IONIQ 6 N, equipping the Super-ONE with a simulated 7-speed gearbox and an Active Sound Control system.
The aim is to give the driver the feeling of sitting behind the wheel of a classic sports car, complete with artificial gear changes and a slightly notchy acceleration response.
The interior features a 9-inch infotainment screen with Google built in and sport-specific seats.
Perhaps most surprisingly, the car becomes Honda’s first compact model ever, electric or petrol, to come with a full Bose audio system, consisting of eight speakers and a 13.1-litre subwoofer mounted in the boot.
Range and Upcoming Markets
The battery capacity is 29.6 kWh, the same unit used in the N-ONE e. Honda quotes a WLTP range of up to 274 kilometres, and charging to 80 percent via a fast charger takes approximately 30 minutes.
In Japan, the car launches from 3,390,200 yen, equivalent to roughly 21,000 US dollars.
In the United Kingdom it arrives in July under the name Super-N, priced below 20,000 pounds, which is significantly cheaper than the VW ID.
Polo GTI, expected to cost around 33,500 pounds. Europe and other international markets will follow.
