Back in 2017, Honda showed Europe what it had envisioned for them and their policies that favoured electric car ownership. The Honda e Prototype eventually went into production and sale there this year. Honda’s existing lineup of electrified products continue to do well in the US, but in China, they’re looking at another exclusive product. They previewed this earlier this week in the form of the ‘Honda SUV e:concept’.
THe SUV e:concept was shown at Auto China 2020 and it envisions the company’s future direction for mass-market electric vehicles in China.
It brings a few fresh technologies that we may one day see in Malaysia. For example, the next generation of Honda Sensing, which is omnidirectional. This omnidirectional Honda Sensing uses a wider front camera as well as 360-degree radar to accurately gather traffic data from all directions. This, of course, makes Honda Sensing more accurate and safer. It will probably also help Honda inch closer towards self-driving vehicles.
Honda will be testing out omnidirectional sensing in China by the end of 2020.
Another interesting piece of technology previewed on the SUV e:concept is the next-generation Honda Connect. This infotainment system now features a portrait-oriented display as well as an A.I. assistant and wireless updates.
Here’s the press release with more.
PRESS RELEASE
Honda today exhibited the world premiere of the Honda SUV e:concept at the 2020 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2020). The Honda SUV e:concept is a concept model indicating the direction of a future mass-production model of the Honda brand’s first electric vehicle (EV) to be introduced in China. Auto China 2020 began today in Beijing, China (Media days: September 26-27, Trade days: September 28-29, Public days: September 30-October 5, 2020).
Honda SUV e:concept
Honda SUV e:concept is a concept model which indicates the direction of a future mass-production model of the Honda brand’s first EV to be introduced in China.
Honda is striving to develop a mass-production EV model which will offer a value based on mobility experiences that remain fresh and FUN for customers. To this end, the new EV model will be equipped with omnidirectional ADAS, the next-generation Honda SENSING safety and driver-assistive system with improved recognition, predication and decision-making performance, as well as the next-generation Honda CONNECT, which features an AI assistant interface, smartphone link and wireless updates made possible by advanced connectivity.
Omnidirectional ADAS
Omnidirectional ADAS is the next-generation and advanced form of Honda SENSING, with improved recognition, prediction and decision-making performance. This improvement was made possible by widening the front camera angle and adopting 360-degree radar, which enabled the system to detect vehicle peripheral environment more accurately. This system will be able to assist safe driving in more complex and diverse driving conditions on highways and surface roads.
Honda is striving for the early realization of a collision-free society based on its approach of providing “Safety for Everyone” sharing the road, which seeks to help realize a society where everyone can stay safe and avoid getting involved in a traffic accident. As a step forward to this goal, Honda is planning to begin demonstration testing of its omnidirectional ADAS in China before the end of this year.
