While not the NSX or S2000 replacements that enthusiasts have long been waiting to see, the Japanese firm’s EV-STER concept shows that Honda still has some faint traces of sporty genes left in its DNA.
The pure electric roadster model is very compact in size measuring just 3,570mm (140.5-in.) long, 1,500mm (59.0-in.) wide and 1,100mm (43.3-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,325mm (92.5-in.). That makes it slightly bigger than the Beat, Honda’s mid-engined, two-seat roadster kei car that was produced from 1991 to 1996.
But unlike Beat’s conventional 0.66-liter gasoline engine, the EV-STER is motivated by a an unspecified electric motor that draws energy from a 10kWh lithium-ion battery powering the rear wheels (nope, that’s not a typo) and allowing for a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of just 5 seconds and a top speed of 160km/h (100mph).
The battery can be charged in under 3 hours using a 200V source and in less than 6 hours with a 100V source, offering a maximum driving range of 160 kilometers (100 miles).
Honda says that the EV-STER makes liberal use of carbon fiber materials to reduce the two-seater’s weight, while other highlights include a twin-lever steering system, multi-information instrument panels and a system that allows the driver to make his or her own adjustments to certain vehicle characteristics such as motor output and suspension settings.
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