A TOP-selling car brand is bringing back a fan-favourite small electric hot hatch – but this time it’s cheaper and sportier.
The new model is set to revive the spirit of the much-loved city EV that disappeared from UK showrooms just a year ago.
Honda is behind the comeback, confirming that its new Super-N prototype will launch in Britain next year.
The compact EV, previewed at the Tokyo motor show, is a follow-up to the Super EV Concept first seen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and is designed to blend city practicality with driving fun.
It’s a development of the Super EV Concept that wowed crowds at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this year, and it marks Honda’s renewed push into the compact EV market.
Built on one of Honda’s N-Series kei car platforms, the Super-N is closely related to Japan’s N-One E but comes with a wider body, sporty bumpers, aero ducts and a small rear lip spoiler.
According to Autocar, the Super-N is “the latest development of the Super EV Concept” and will serve as a direct replacement for the short-lived Honda E.
While Honda hasn’t revealed full performance figures, the N-One E it’s based on uses a 63bhp electric motor and measures under 3.4 metres long, roughly 20cm shorter than a Fiat 500e. T
That makes it one of the tiniest EVs expected to hit the UK market.
What sets this little car apart is its unusual “manual” mode, a simulated gearshift system that mimics the feel of a traditional gearbox.
When Boost mode is activated, the car produces artificial engine sounds and simulated gear changes, giving, according to Honda, “enhanced driving engagement that is unique to a vehicle of this size.”
The Super-N will go on sale in Japan first before reaching a “select” number of global markets.
The UK is confirmed as its only European destination – a sign of how strongly the brand believes there’s still demand for a fun, compact electric car here.
Pricing hasn’t been confirmed, but it’s expected to undercut the now-defunct Honda E, which started at more than £37,000.
That model won praise for its cute looks and futuristic tech but struggled to attract buyers due to its short 137-mile range and high price tag.
When Honda discontinued the Honda E last year, the brand said it had “brought many new customers to the brand with its distinctive design, advanced technology and trademark Honda driving dynamics.”
But with most drivers now choosing SUVs, demand for the compact hatchback was too low to keep it alive.
The new Super-N is Honda’s answer – a return to a smaller, simpler, and more engaging electric car that could win back city drivers put off by expensive, bulky EVs.
The prototype joined several other new electric models on display at the Tokyo motor show, including the 0 SUV, a new entry-level 0 Series model for Japan and India, and the RSX SUV prototype for Honda’s US performance arm, Acura.
If it delivers on its promise, the Super-N could be the small, affordable spark Britain’s EV market has been waiting for, and a worthy follow-up to one of the country’s most charming electric cars.
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