Japanese automobile company Honda has fully unveiled the design of its first all-electric SUV, the Prologue. The SUV is being built in collaboration with General Motors and will arrive in the North American market in 2024.
Honda is all set to launch its first all-electric SUV in North America in 2024. The company has been reluctant with the transition to electric vehicles. It was mostly because of the failure of their only EV offered in the US, Clarity.
The Japanese carmaker is set for the change by introducing a new fully electric SUV, the Prologue, in the US. Prologue EV is being jointly developed with General Motors and uses the same Ultium platform and batteries as the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
Honda says the 2024 Prologue will be positioned above the CR-V and alongside the Passport SUV. The Japanese automaker is trying to compete in the electric midsize SUV segment.
Honda’s all-electric 2024 Prologue
The electric SUV has a 121.8-inch wheelbase which is identical to the Chevrolet Blazer EV. Sitting on 21-inch wheels, the Prologue will have an almost similar riding height to that of the Passport.
The exact dimensions are 192 inches in length, 78.3 inches in width, and 64.7 inches in height. The Prologue will be eight inches longer and five inches wider than the all-new 2024 Honda CR-V. This means the cabin will offer more space for passengers and cargo.
The automaker has named the design of the SUV as “neo-rugged.” Honda describes the concept as the EV being both roomy for off-road adventures as well as compact enough for city driving.
The Prologue was designed at the Honda Advanced Design Studio in Los Angeles by a team of younger designers. It has a very attractive design with clean surfacing and some cool details. The front end features a black grille with horizontal LED headlights.
The taillights are set into another black panel and look very attractive. Instead of going for the classic H badge, the Prologue features the Honda name written out at the back.
The EV will be available in an exclusive North Shore Pearl exterior color. The shade is said to be inspired by the beauty and colors near Lake Tahoe in California.
“Our goal was to create a clean harmony based on a rugged SUV image by coordinating the colors and materials to express neo-rugged design styling that’s familiar to our customers and uniquely Honda,” said Masaki Sumimoto, design lead for the Color, Materials, and Finish.
Prologue’s interiors and new tech
The Japanese automaker says that visuals of fresh snow on the mountains were used to inspire the exclusive charcoal and light gray colored interiors. The cabin includes an 11.3-inch touchscreen running Honda’s new infotainment software. It includes a bunch of buttons and a physical volume knob. The 11-inch gauge cluster screen is fully digital and neatly integrated.
The Prologue seems to have the same horizontal theme as other new Hondas. It has familiar air vents that seem to extend across the entire dash. However, the Prologue goes without the honeycomb trim that we’ve seen on Honda cars like the Civic and CR-V.
There are physical buttons for seat heating and climate control under the central touchscreen. The steering wheel includes various functions, and there’s a wireless charging pad for mobile phones. There are also two cup holders and a covered storage compartment under the central elbow rest.
Honda to offer a transition program for Prologue
Lastly, Honda is planning a unique transition program for those interested in the Prologue. “That progression from CR-V to Prologue is a key step in our electrification strategy,” Robinson said.
Since the EV won’t be on sale until 2024, the company will be offering two-year leases on the new Honda CR-V Hybrid (instead of the usual 3 years). This will allow the customers to drop the CR-V and pick up the Prologue right when it launches.
The Japanese automaker plans to launch 30 new EVs worldwide by 2030. With this, the company is edging closer to its clean-energy initiative and a transition towards fully electric vehicles.
A vast majority of key specifications like range, battery capacity, and price are still not disclosed by Honda. Honda’s vice president of product planning, Gary Robinson, said the Prologue would be comparable to the Passport in both size and price. The 2022 Passport currently starts at around $38,000.
