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With India a key market for the production 0 Alpha SUV, Honda has tried to maximise space in a smaller footprint for its latest EV.
Honda has uncovered another electric car in its 0 Series called Alpha, which claims to draw inspiration from India and is expected to morph into a global small SUV.
Billed as an SUV for “both urban and natural environments”, the production model will be the new entry point to Honda’s flagship zero tailpipe emissions models, slotting in under the Saloon and SUV.
It will also be aimed at first-time electric vehicle (EV) buyers, hence the ‘alpha’ name.
The 0 Alpha is a chance for Australia too, with plans to roll it out first to India and Japan from 2027, but Honda’s local division is still unclear as to which of the 0 Series models it will bring Down Under.
Honda Automobile Product Designer Taku Fukui travelled to India, a key market, to draw inspiration.
“We couldn’t base the design of a global model solely on Japanese values,” Fukai said.
“I sensed a sparkle in the eyes and a positive aura among the local youth, as if they truly believed tomorrow would be better than today.
“The starting point for the design was to directly channel that energy and belief in the future, felt in India, into the Honda 0 Alpha.”
With India’s densely-packed city streets, the 0 Alpha was created to be a smaller model than the Saloon and SUV, but exact physical dimensions are still unclear.
Maximising interior space was also high on Honda’s priority list, but to keep overall vehicle height down while still maintaining a jacked-up ride, the Japanese brand says it employed the idea of “thinness” to create enough space for families.
On the outside, the 0 Alpha adopts a minimalist aesthetic and light-up grille, while the chunky wheel-arch cladding adds rugged visual appeal.
The rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillar, and the upswept window line and thick rear-quarters harken back to the second-generation Honda HR-V.
No powertrain or battery information has been revealed, but Honda is expected to divulge more in the coming years when the production version comes into view.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
