Header: Courtesy of Honda
At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Honda made waves by presenting the world premiere of its Honda 0 Series prototypes: the Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV. These models represent the future of mobility, blending cutting-edge technology, sustainable energy solutions, and Honda’s signature design ethos. Here’s a detailed look at these innovative vehicles and the groundbreaking technology behind them.
Honda 0 Saloon: Sporty elegance with next-generation functionality
The Honda 0 Saloon builds upon the concept model unveiled at CES 2024, maintaining its sleek, sporty silhouette while offering an unexpectedly spacious interior. With a launch scheduled for 2026, this flagship model is based on a newly developed dedicated EV architecture and embodies Honda’s “Thin, Light, and Wise” development philosophy.
Key features include:
- Level 3 Automated Driving: Honda’s pioneering eyes-off driving technology enables safe, reliable autonomous travel under various conditions, allowing users to engage in secondary activities like attending virtual meetings or watching movies.
- ASIMO OS: Honda’s proprietary operating system personalizes the driving experience through ultra-personal optimization. It integrates seamlessly with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and infotainment, ensuring a highly customized mobility experience.
The Honda 0 Saloon’s North American debut in 2026 will be followed by rollouts in Europe and Japan, bringing a blend of luxury, innovation, and user-centric design to global markets.
Honda 0 SUV: Redefining space and versatility
The Honda 0 SUV, inspired by the Space-Hub concept from CES 2024, offers a reimagined cabin that serves as more than just a means of transport—a space for relaxation and productivity. This mid-size electric SUV applies the “Thin, Light, and Wise” design principles to maximize interior space, ensuring a clear, unobstructed view and remarkable flexibility.
Highlights of the Honda 0 SUV include:
- Enhanced Driving Dynamics: The SUV offers unparalleled stability and precision by incorporating 3D gyro sensors and stabilization controls, ensuring smooth driving across diverse terrains.
- Advanced Digital UX: Powered by ASIMO OS, the SUV delivers a seamless user experience with over-the-air updates, constantly evolving to meet user preferences.
The Honda 0 SUV’s production model will launch in North America in early 2026, with subsequent releases in Japan and Europe, offering families and adventurers a spacious, tech-forward EV.
The revolutionary ASIMO OS
The centerpiece of the Honda 0 Series is the ASIMO OS, named after Honda’s famed humanoid robot. Developed to optimize user interaction and vehicle performance, the OS integrates:
- Ultra-Personal Optimization: Tailoring the driving and in-cabin experience to each user’s preferences.
- Seamless Updates: Regular over-the-air updates enhance automated driving capabilities, infotainment, and overall vehicle performance.
By leveraging Honda’s decades of robotics expertise, ASIMO OS transforms Honda 0 Series vehicles into software-defined vehicles (SDVs) that evolve over time, ensuring a cutting-edge driving experience.
Level 3 Automated Driving: A game-changer
Honda’s commitment to automated driving technology began in 2021 with the introduction of the Level 3-equipped Honda Legend. The Honda 0 Series takes this further by offering eyes-off functionality in all driving conditions. Advanced AI and behavior models enable the system to handle complex scenarios with precision and safety, such as sudden road obstacles or merging traffic.
This innovation aligns with Honda’s vision of achieving zero traffic collision fatalities and setting new standards for driver assistance and safety.
High-performance system-on-chip collaboration
To support the sophisticated electronic control units (ECUs) in the Honda 0 Series, Honda has partnered with Renesas Electronics Corporation to develop a state-of-the-art system-on-chip (SoC). This technology combines Honda’s AI accelerator with Renesas’ fifth-generation R-Car X5 SoC, delivering unparalleled AI performance while maintaining energy efficiency. The result is a centralized E&E architecture that enhances the vehicle’s functionality without compromising power consumption.
Sustainable energy solutions for a greener future
In tandem with its innovative vehicles, Honda is revolutionizing energy services. The Honda 0 Series will integrate with a robust charging network, offering seamless recharging experiences through the IONNA network, which aims to establish 30,000 charging stations by 2030. Honda’s Home Energy Management System will also optimize home charging, using EV batteries to reduce costs and carbon footprints.
These vehicles can also serve as virtual power plants, contributing energy back to the grid during peak demand, thus promoting energy stability and sustainability.
Honda’s unveiling of the Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV at CES 2025 showcases its forward-thinking approach to electric mobility. These prototypes embody the company’s commitment to technological innovation, safety, and environmental responsibility. By integrating advanced features like ASIMO OS, Level 3 automated driving, and sustainable energy solutions, Honda is not just redefining electric vehicles but also the very concept of mobility. As we approach their market debut in 2026, the Honda 0 Series promises to inspire and shape the future of transportation.
