Formula 1 driver Alex Albon drove the Honda E Prototype at Goodwood last weekend. Toro Rosso’s pilot didn’t show much mercy to the small electric hatchback during the hill climb, despite traveling with a couple of Honda execs.
Its subcompact proportions will place it in the same class with the Renault Zoe. However, unlike its French rival, which is based on a front-wheel drive architecture, the E Prototype has a rear-wheel drive setup. The electric motor produces 150 PS (148 hp / 110 kW) and 300+ Nm (221+ lb-ft) of torque, so it can be called a warm hatch.
Also Watch: First Drive In Honda e Prototype Leaves Reviewer Genuinely Impressed
Performance is still unknown, but the company confirmed that it has a driving range in excess of 200 km (124 miles). The battery features a fast charge function that allows it to be filled to 80 percent in just 30 minutes, which is enough for the daily commute.
As the name suggests, the Honda E is a prototype, albeit one that’s 99 percent evocative of the final production model. It was previewed by the Urban EV Concept a couple of years ago, and it’s two months away from debuting in production guise, at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, in September. From there, the car will hit assembly lines before the end of the year and will launch in Europe next spring. Until then, let’s see it tackle the Goodwood course with a professional racing driver holding the wheel on video below.
