Currently reading: Honda primes radical saloon to rival Tesla Model 3 by 2030

Final entrant into Honda's new 0 Series will prioritise low weight, aerodynamics and fun handling

Honda is working on a Tesla Model 3-rivalling saloon as one of seven radical new electric cars it will bring to market by 2030. 

The saloon is part of the firm's new 0 Series, which represents a total reset of how Honda develops EVs. The seven 0 Series cars will prioritise weight reduction and aerodynamic performance and stand out for “the joy of driving”, the company said.

Honda is developing the models with a “thin” ethos, minimising the number of parts used in each model and adopting lightweight aluminium chassis structures. Those chassis will eventually be die-casted – a technique pioneered by the Tesla Model Y – to reduce part complexity, and therefore weight and costs.

The firm also hailed the development work enabled by its line-up of hybrids, such as the Civic, in reducing the weight of its next-generation electric powertrains. These ‘e-axles’ will comprise a motor, inverter and gearbox within a single unit, providing a claimed weight saving of around 100kg compared with Honda’s existing EVs.

The company added that its EVs will have all-wheel drive, suggesting that each model will use a pair of e-axles. 

Heavy components such as the power unit and battery will be mounted low and centrally, Honda said, which indicates that the cars will use a skateboard platform. This will have a reduced floor thickness, further saving weight and providing a more sporting driving position.

Honda Zero Saloon concept – side

Complexity will be further reduced by the deployment of a central computer, rather than the array of chips deployed on more conventional cars. The 0 Series’s systems will be controlled by this 'brain', reducing costs and improving the speed of digital functions.

This more powerful computer hardware will also enable level-three assisted driving technology, in which the car takes full control in limited conditions, such as a traffic jam in clear weather. 

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Each 0 Series car’s technical specifications will be anchored by a range target of more than 300 miles on the US’s EPA test cycle, which is more reflective of real-world conditions than Europe’s WLTP standard.

Key to achieving this figure while keeping weight down will be a focus on aerodynamic performance, as with the striking 0 Saloon concept shown earlier this year. "We're not particularly aiming for this shape," said Honda R&D creative director Toshinobu Minami, "but we're trying to create the shape of the function while making it emotional."

Honda Zero Saloon concept – rear

The other anchor for Honda’s future EVs will be the requirement for a 5% return on sales – a lofty goal, given many manufacturers are currently losing money on their electric cars.

Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe previously suggested that different battery chemistries would play a role. “Instead of reducing battery size, we want to think about battery technology,” said Mibe.

In addition to technical developments, Honda will look to produce batteries in-house to cut costs. The firm said a joint-venture battery factory with Korea’s LG will start building batteries in the US from 2025, with a plant capacity of 40GWh per year. Honda will also investigate battery recycling and raw material procurement to further reduce its outgoings, which could cut the cost of a battery by 20% by the end of the decade.

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Honda is aiming to reduce its overall production costs by 35% by 2030.

The company will launch seven 0 Series cars by 2030, starting with a saloon in 2026. It will be joined by “mid-size” and “entry-level” SUVs that same year, with a three-row Kia EV9 rival arriving in 2027.

A “compact” competitor for the Model Y will follow a year later, before a “small-size” SUV is launched in 2029 and then the Model 3-sized saloon in 2030.

Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Editorial assistant, Autocar

As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its social media channels, providing videos for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

Charlie is the proud owner of a Fiat Panda 100HP, which he swears to be the best car in the world. Until it breaks.

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johne-bike 19 May 2024
Honda like many of their ICE Legacy automotive peers are completely deluded if they think they are going to compete with a design prototype shown in 2024, with Tesla in 6 YEARS TIME!
Is so laughable it's frankly embarrassing!
Where do they think Tesla is going to be in 2030?
A further decade ahead of Honda and all, with Tesla FSD Autonomous driving and Robotaxi fully developed and outselling all the competitors who still haven't got round to licencing Tesla FSD technology for their own vehicles..!
Honda are sadly dead in the water along with many other Legacy Automakers..
shiftright 19 May 2024

Elon, is that you, or just another Tesla cultist?Tesla has been selling essentially the same cars for several years with barely any changes (with the Model S going on 12) with only very marginal improvements to their substandard quality. They've squandered the lead they had when they disrupted the industry, and Elon's shenanigans have soured the brand for a lot of people. I prefer ICE vehicles but given a coice would take a much more interestingly designed and better built Honda over a Tesla that looks like a computer mouse and comes standard with many promises it can't deliver. 

Andrew1 17 May 2024

Boring. Tell us about the one in 2040.

simon_laraman@y... 17 May 2024
Whahahahahahahaha

In other news I will make a car to compete with Mercedes in 7 years time and it'll be almost as good as their current cars.

Bye Honda, you almost had me with your EV sports coupe that never arrived....

jason_recliner 22 May 2024
simon_laraman@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

Whahahahahahahaha In other news I will make a car to compete with Mercedes in 7 years time and it'll be almost as good as their current cars. Bye Honda, you almost had me with your EV sports coupe that never arrived....

Do ya think Honda is planning to compete with the 2024 or 2030 Model 3? Go back to licking the Musk-Hole.