The 2024 Honda Prologue is a sign of points to come back again for the automaker. As these kinds of auto unveilings usually go, the Prologue carries a further futuristic exterior design, a tech-packed and linked cabin, and an electrified powertrain, all centered in direction of a youthful demographic. Nonetheless, with the 2024 Honda Prologue, a bit further is happening beneath the ground.
Probably the most fascinating data is how Honda will present shorter-term lease plans in zero-emissions automobile (ZEV) states to transition hybrid prospects to electrified autos and improve the possibility of additional widespread EV adoption. That and the way in which the 2024 Honda Prologue was developed in dwell efficiency with Common Motors.
Impressed by Nature
Honda dubs the final design of the Prologue as “Neo Rugged,” a appear and feel devised by the automaker’s design workforce in Los Angeles (the Honda Design Studio is in LA). The thought is to present quite a lot of elements concurrently by the design, be it clear and simplistic or modern and calm. Like totally different autos sooner than it, the 2024 Honda Prologue finds part of its id in nature. For example, the North Shore Pearl exterior paint was impressed by the colors near Lake Tahoe, whereas the charcoal and lightweight gray inside is meant to resemble snow on the mountains.
“Our aim was to create a clear concord based mostly on a rugged SUV picture by coordinating the colours and supplies to specific neo-rugged design styling that’s acquainted to our prospects and uniquely Honda,” talked about Masaki Sumimoto, design lead for the Shade, Supplies, and End.
2024 Honda Prologue: Car Classification
As the first completely electrified SUV from Honda, the Prologue is assessed as a lightweight truck throughout the automaker’s portfolio. It can most likely be in good agency, alongside the already modern CR-V and further rugged Passport. The 2024 Honda Prologue may have a wheelbase of 121.8-inches, about eight inches longer and 5 inches wider than the 2023 CR-V. In response to Honda, the Prologue will most likely be obtainable with all-wheel drive.
Collaboration With Common Motors
Honda wants to appreciate carbon neutrality by 2050, aiming to introduce 30 new EVs globally by 2030 and procure a world product sales amount of two million objects. In North America notably, Honda is following an formidable timeline of EV debuts in three preliminary phases leading to 2030 (and in the long run to 100% zero-emission automobile product sales by 2040). The phases are as follows:
2024: Honda Prologue, co-developed with Common Motors, goes on sale.
2026: Start product sales of fashions based mostly totally on Honda e:Structure to be produced by Honda in North America.
2027: Launch a model new sequence of cheap EVs co-developed with GM, moreover produced by Honda in North America.
The Honda and GM collaboration has been brewing for a while. In September 2020, the automakers launched a non-binding memorandum of understanding after preliminary discussions a few North American automotive alliance. The scope of the proposed alliance included quite a lot of autos to be purchased beneath each agency’s distinct producers. Each automakers would cooperate throughout the areas of shopping for, evaluation and development, and linked suppliers.
In April 2022, Honda launched a $40 billion funding to hurry up the occasion of electrified automobile know-how. The 2024 Prologue and an unnamed Acura SUV had been talked about in that announcement as quite a lot of the primary autos that will debut with GM’s Ultium powertrain. In the meantime, Honda plans to assemble a loyal EV manufacturing facility in North America, very like how GM has executed with its Detroit Manufacturing facility Zero.
Quick-Time period Lease Choices
The Honda and GM collaboration should have varied “behind the scenes” benefits for the companies. Ideally, the partnership will help producers reduce costs and maximize engineering and product development efficiencies. In idea, that ought to help reduce the barrier of entry for purchasers, whether or not or not their reservations stem from range anxiousness or the larger MSRP typically seen with EVs.
To help facilitate the larger movement in direction of electrification, Honda is inspecting its evaluation that displays how hybrid-electric prospects are among the many many first to maneuver into full-electric merchandise. Based mostly on that information, Honda will improve the “mannequin combine” of the 2023 CR-V to 50 % hybrid, offering potential CR-V hybrid shoppers a shorter-term, two-year lease in ZEV states. In response to Honda, this allows prospects in centered markets to easily transition proper right into a Prologue when it arrives within the market.
“We’re not going to attend till 2024 to draw EV consumers, as a result of we see a pure development for a CR-V buyer to Prologue with its barely bigger measurement, bigger inside, and succesful dealing with,” talked about Gary Robinson, Vice President, automobile planning and approach at American Honda. “We are going to help that transition now by placing sensible methods in place with the CR-V hybrid that may allow our prospects to transition to an EV.”
The brand new CR-V is prepared for a fall 2022 launch, whereas the Prologue will arrive in North America in 2024.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Affiliation and the Society of Automotive Historians. He serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Basis, is a earlier president of Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photographs & Supply: Honda North America.
