Honda Urban EV Concept: world’s cutest electric car has been given the green light for production

THE cute-as-a-button pure electric Honda will be in European showrooms in 2019, but there could be a longer wait for Australia.

The Honda Urban EV concept has been given the green light for production. Picture: Supplied.

WHO said electric cars can’t be cool?

Honda has confirmed the cute-as-a-button Urban EV Concept will go into production next year.

The box-shaped hatchback — inspired by the design of the tiny two-cylinder, bug-eyed N360X introduced in the late 1960s and the first generation Civic introduced in the early 1970s — will be on European roads in 2019, Honda confirmed at the Geneva motor show overnight.

Who said electric cars needed to be boring? Picture: Supplied.

The news comes less than six months after the Urban EV was unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show.

At the time Honda President and CEO Takahiro Hachigo hinted, “This is not some vision of the distant future.”

In Geneva, Honda confirmed the order books for a production version of the Urban EV Concept will open in early 2019.

Honda Motor Europe senior vice-president Philip Ross said: “A production version of this highly acclaimed concept will be introduced to Europe during late 2019, and in response to the positive feedback to this model, we expect to open order banks for the Urban EV during early 2019.”

The interior design won’t be as daring as the motor show display car. Picture: Supplied.

However, the news isn’t quite so electric for Australian fans.

Honda is yet to confirm whether the model will be heading Down Under but it’s expected to be a safe bet given the vehicle will be made in Japan, also a right-hand drive country.

The company is also yet to announce key information such as battery charging times and driving range.

Cute butt ... the Urban EV concept. Picture: Supplied.

The production version of the four-seater hatchback also won’t look quite as daring as this motor show display car but here’s hoping it’s close to the mark, including the front bench seat.

Honda says the concept car can accommodate four occupants “in comfort across the concept car’s two bench seats, which are finished in different materials to create the ambience of a lounge”.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling