SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW: Honda SUV e:Prototype revealed

Honda has unveiled a new battery-powered version of what's rumoured to be an updated variant of the Honda HR-V at the Shanghai motor show in China.

Badged the Honda SUV e:Prototype, the new concept has been touted at the show as the Japanese car-maker's "first electric vehicle prototype".

Understood to preview a production model that will be on sale by the second quarter of 2022, the Honda SUV e:Prototype's slippery front and rear styling is said to be a rebodied version of the latest HR-V.

This has led many to speculate that Honda is planning to introduce a new pure-electric HR-V for other markets, including Europe and potentially Australia, helping it compete with cars like the upcoming Toyota bZ4X.

It's not the first time Honda has proposed a production pure-electric SUV. Just last year at the 2020 Beijing motor show it unveiled its Honda SUV e:concept – a wild three-door crossover.

However, the latest concept's toned-down styling and its 'Prototype' moniker suggests something more oven-ready.

No further details have been released, but it's thought the new zero-emissions SUV will boast both a bigger battery than the tiny 35.5kWh battery the small Honda e city car gets.

It will also need more power than the 113kW/350Nm single electric motor the stylish small battery-powered Honda e gets too, with the electric SUV likely to be offered with either a single- or dual-motor set-up for all-wheel drive.

A recent technical partnership entered with General Motors could also see the Honda SUV equipped with the GM's next-generation Ultium batteries.

As well as the electric Honda SUV, the Japanese brand also revealed a Chinese-specific plug-in hybrid version of the Honda CR-V.

Full details on both cars are expected shortly.