Tokyo show: Honda teases Sports EV Concept

HONDA will reveal an electric vehicle (EV) sportscar, the Sports EV Concept, at the Tokyo motor show later this month with the compact coupe likely to become a 2019 production model alongside Frankfurt's Urban EV Concept.

While the Japanese car-maker has handed down few details about its latest show car, it confirmed the Sports EV will share the same platform as the Urban EV, which will be built in left- and right-hand-drive for a European release in two years' time.

A single teaser sketch of the Sports EV Concept depicts its rear three-quarter angle, which bears similarities to Honda's S600 and S800 models from the 1960s, as well as the Urban EV Concept.

Rounded-square tail-lights that include three horizontal strips flank a wide, black rear panel, which appears to be lifted from the Urban EV and could feature an LED display.

Meanwhile, muscular wheelarches house large twin-spoke alloy wheels, giving the two door a fat, squared-off stance that is becoming synonymous with Honda's retro-looking EV concepts.

The rear glasshouse extends across the roofline and may even link up with the windshield, a design that is similar to that of the Tesla Model X.

A look inside the side window reveals a rectangular shape perched on top of the dashboard that is likely to be the ultra-wide multimedia system from the Urban EV Concept.

Further heightening expectations following the well-received three-door hatch, Honda says the Sports EV has an ''unforgettable silhouette, friendly front fascia that naturally blends into any lifestyle, and supple surfaces''.

Intended to ''realise a feel of unity with the car'', EV performance is combined with artificial intelligence that emphasises natural communication between the vehicle and its occupants.

If the Sports EV does become a production model, it will become a spiritual successor for the hybrid CR-Z coupe, which sold 600 units in Australia when it was on sale from November 2011 to January 2015.

Furthermore, this potential EV sportscar would contribute towards the manufacturer's goal of having electrified vehicles account for two-thirds of its global sales by 2030, with the European market to hit this target five years earlier in 2025.

The world debut for the Sports EV Concept will occur on October 25 at the Tokyo motor show, with information on its powertrain and other aspects expected to be released.

Honda will also show the AI-focused NeuV from CES in January and the Urban EV Concept at the event.