Honda teases next EV ahead of Beijing debut

Honda has previewed its follow-up to the Honda e city car with a larger vehicle it has created to appeal primarily to Chinese buyers.

Set to unveil the all-new EV at the Beijing motor show later this month, Honda has released a single image of the car to highlight the front-end design that trades the cute retro look of the Honda e for something more futuristic.

Featuring a set of slim-line headlights and full-length daytime running lights that stretch across the leading edge of the bonnet, the new model's body style is not immediately recognisable, but either a small SUV or a sedan are anticipated given their popularity in the world's biggest auto market.

No name has been released for the follow-up to the Honda e but it's thought it will be bigger all-round, despite being based on the same bespoke dedicated pure-electric architecture.

It's believed the new EV will also be powered by a development of the Honda e's powertrain, which is currently available in two states of tune – 100kW or 113kW, both with 315Nm of torque.

Higher-output twin-motor versions have also been mooted.

What the new sedan or SUV won't come with is the city car's small 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery that can only provide a range of 220km for the Honda e.

Instead, expect the new Honda EV to offer a driving range of around 500km.

Rumoured to have been created specifically for China, for now at least, the second battery-powered Honda is not likely to be exported to other markets which means Australia could once again miss out on one of the brand's zero-emission vehicles.

Stay tuned, as all will be revealed at the Beijing show on September 26.