Honda N-One e: revealed – kei EV based on Super EV Concept, 270 km WLTP range, to be sold globally?

Teased earlier this month, the Honda N-One e: has been revealed in Japan, bringing the electric powertrain of the N-Van e: to a passenger car. Notably, this little tyke forms the basis of the Super EV Concept that made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed before being shown at the ongoing Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS).

Unlike the show car, the N-One e: is a narrow-bodied vehicle that fits within Japan’s strict size limits for kei cars. It’s essentially an electrified version of the N-One, a cutesy upright city hatchback with round headlights, a trademark black mask, rectangular taillights and an optional contrasting roof.

The electric version is differentiated by a unique front fascia, with headlights that are now cut off at the top and feature rectangular rather than round projectors. They flank twin charging port doors – the driver’s side houses a Type 1 AC port, the other likely hides a CHAdeMO DC port. To accommodate this change, there’s now a flatter clamshell bonnet, while the air intake is a simple rectangular cutout.

At the rear, you get a new tailgate with the number plate recess mounted lower down, as well as a valance with the aforementioned rectangular motif. The wheels on this particular unit are tiny 14-inch six-spoke alloys but there will surely be plenty of options once the car goes on sale in the autumn.

The interior of the e: version is much simpler than the regular N-One’s, with a clean horizontal dashboard (replete with a flat top for better outward visibility), square air vents, a shelf on the middle layer and Honda’s push-button gear selector. Light colours on the dash, door cards and steering wheel tie the whole cabin together and deliver an airier look.

Also fitted is a small digital instrument display, and while the car doesn’t come with a touchscreen as standard, you can fit a navigation system if you want, including a nine-inch Honda Connect unit. A wide storage tray in the middle replaces bare carpet on the petrol N-One.

Honda has not released full specs of the N-One e:, but it has confirmed that the car will have a range of up to 270 km on the WLTP cycle. That doesn’t seem like a lot in a world where a figure of at least 400 km is considered the bare minimum, but remember that this thing measures less than 3.4 metres long, so it’s not like there’s room for a big battery.

More importantly, this range is significantly longer than the 180 km mustered by the car’s chief rivals, the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X EV. Expect the mechanicals to be shared with the N-Van e:, meaning a single front motor churning out 64 PS (47 kW) and 162 Nm of torque, juiced by a 29.6 kWh battery.

Interestingly, the related Super EV Concept is being pitched as an eventual production model to be sold globally in markets such as Europe. Honda says this will be a “fun-to-drive” car with an “uplifting, heart-pounding driving experience,” which probably means it will be heavily modified over the more humdrum Japanese model – as the fattened wheel arches suggest.

Expect a more powerful electric motor (given that Honda won’t have to abide by the Japanese gentlemen’s agreement on kei car power outputs), a larger battery for longer range and sports-tuned suspension. The car’s showing at GIIAS does suggest that it’s being considered for the ASEAN market too. Would you like to see the N-One e: in its Super EV form in Malaysia? Sound off in the comments after the jump.

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