Honda Reveals Name Of New Electric SUV

Honda currently does not offer a pure battery-electric model in the US. That will soon change as the automaker has officially announced the Prologue will be an all-electric SUV (not a sports car) slated to debut for the 2024 model year. Last April, Honda confirmed it'll become an EV-only brand by 2040 not just in Europe (where theHonda eis now on sale) and its home country of Japan, but North America as well, and the Prologue will help kick off the new era.

Specific details about the SUV remain a secret, but Honda confirmed it'll utilize General Motor's Ultium battery technology thanks to thepartnership the two automakerssigned last year. No teaser images of the vehicle itself have been revealed today, only the name and logo, but there's a fairly good chance the final design will closely resemble the SUV e-concept, pictured below, that debuted at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show.

We previously noted its dimensions look similar to those of theCadillac Lyriq, which also rides on the Ultium platform. In addition to the Prologue, Honda's luxury brand, Acura will launch its own all-electric SUV at the same time. Fast-forward to the second half of the decade and we'll be seeing a "new series of EV models" based on Honda's in-house developed e:Architecture.

Honda is no stranger to vehicle electrification since launching its first hybrid, theInsight, way back in 1999. Since then, it has continued to develop hybrid technology along with hydrogen fuel cells that culminated with the FCX and Clarity. Now that battery electrics seemingly won the future powertrain tech contest, it's time to charge ahead at full speed.

"Our first volume Honda BEV will begin our transition to electrification and the name Honda Prologue signals the role it will play in leading to our zero-emission future," said Dave Gardner, executive vice president of American Honda. "The Prologue will provide our customers with a battery-electric SUV with the excellent functionality and packaging they've come to expect from Honda."

Honda's more conservative approach towards EVs echoes that of longtime rival Toyota. Neither company wanted to be the first to opt for an all-electric future, but once it became clear BEVs are here to stay, both have begun to alter course.