Honda 0 EV Prototypes To Debut at CES 2025: The Rise of the ‘Software-Defined Vehicle’?

In a Dec. 19 announcement, Honda suggested it would be taking to CES 2025 (which takes place Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada) to introduce two of its most-anticipated prototype models.

Both belonging to the Honda 0 EV line set to see production models hit the road in 2026, as Car and Driver reported, the Saloon and the Space-Hub represent a definite push toward a futuristic and software-enhanced driving experience.

Honda’s Saloon and Space-Hub EVs Look Sleek and Low-Slung

As The Verge detailed, the first thing one notices about both models is their extremely unique design aesthetic.

The Saloon exhibits a vintage-inspired fastback shape that resembles a gaming mouse or something from sci-fi adjacent territory. The cyberpunk design is enhanced by both the rear lights and the front grill, both of which appear to feature a repeating pattern of illuminated rectangles. With the Saloon currently slated at a roofline of just 55.1 inches, per Car and Driver, that would place it 2 inches lower than where the current Accord rests.

The so-called Space-Hub is also giving major near-future vibes, but it has a bit more legroom and headroom. Resembling more of a CR-V where the Saloon seems to mimic the Accord, the Space-Hub’s rear lights adopt a U shape as opposed to the cascading rectangular lights of the Saloon.

In terms of performance, The Verge’s Abigail Bassett was able to test drive the latter prototype briefly and found it to be a worthy drive.

“The new Honda Zero platform feels similar to other EV platforms on the market in terms of acceleration and handling. Because the weight is low in the floor, the prototype CR-V cornered quickly and flat as you approached the limit. The powertrain is quick and responsive, and on the short, front straight that the engineers set up for our test laps, I hit 110km (just shy of 70mph) in a relatively short distance,” Bassett reported.

Honda’s ‘Thin, Light, and Wise’ Design Concept for 0 Model EVs

With Honda set to focus on the “Wise” portion of its “Thin, Light, and Wise” motto for the 0 Model EV lineup on Jan. 7, it appears that the automaker is ready to go all-in on the virtue of the software-defined vehicle (SDV).

As TechCrunch outlined, SDVs have been the source of a great many conversations in the auto space, with their primary attraction being a focus on software capabilities and upgrades that ostensibly enhance the overall driving experience. An SDV, as Garner automotive analyst Mike Ramsey explained to TechCrunch, is a vehicle with “capabilities that can be upgraded over time, fundamentally by software, instead of having to change physical parts.”

The Model 0 lineup will feature an original operating system, automated driving capabilities, and a system-on-a-chip (SoC) that could offer a more comprehensive suite of features than what has been traditionally offered in contemporary vehicles.