Honda is presenting not one, but two new EVs in China. Or well, two… the difference between the Honda e-NP2 and the Honda e:NS2 is minimal.
Let Honda’s ‘catchy names’ department slide. After the well-known e:Ny1 in Europe, which is sold in China as e:NS1 and e:NP1, that theme continues with the e:NP2 and e:NS2. In China, of course, because Honda only supplies both models there.
Both models? You can take that with a grain of salt. It is in fact one and the same car, but sold through the two different joint ventures that Honda has in China. The e-NP2 stands as the big brother of the e:NP1 (‘our’ e:Ny1, are you still there?) in the GAC Honda showroom, the e:NS2 performs the same function compared to the e:NP1 at Dongfeng Honda. On the outside, the two only differ from each other at the level of detail. For example, the e-NP2 has C-shaped headlight units that are reminiscent of what Renault used until recently, while the e:NS2 has vertical extensions next to the headlights that are reminiscent of the Peugeot-like style that Renault has used since the Rafale. There isn’t much of a picture, but we can get a good idea of the cars. Last year they were launched at Auto China as an almost production-ready prototype, while on AutoWeek.nl you were previously treated exclusively to photos of the production versions.
The nave of the e:NS2 and e:NP2 is completely the same and this also applies to the technology. Honda places them both on the e:N Achitecture F platform, where the F stands for front-wheel drive. That’s right: the platform we know from the E:Ny1. Unfortunately, we don’t get many concrete figures from Honda’s Chinese departments, but they do mention a driving range of 545 kilometers. That is more than neat, but please note: the Chinese measuring method is very mild. For example, the e:NS1 reaches 510 kilometers on Chinese paper, while the identical European e-Ny1 has a range of 412 kilometers. From June, Chinese buyers can sign up for the new EVs.
During Auto China in Shanghai, Honda is also showing three production-ready concept cars for a completely new electric model series, the Ye series.
