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Electric

Right, let’s all agree to pester Honda until it builds a 0 Series Type R

Is there a future for the Type R name? Honda says that it “hasn’t given up” on the joy of driving

Published: 08 Jan 2025

We’re very happy to admit we think the Honda 0 Saloon looks absolutely excellent. Go on, have a gander at those images above and click here to read the full news story, then try and tell us that it isn’t some sort of all-electric four-door Lamborghini Gallardo. Can’t disagree, can you?

Of course, this got TG thinking. Because although Honda hasn’t actually released any technical specs just yet, surely a 0 Saloon Type R would be perfect?

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“I cannot say at this point,” said Toshihiro Akiwa, boss of Honda’s BEV Development Centre when TG asked about the prospect of Type R appearing on a 0 Series car.

“However, you have a battery and an electric motor, so we cannot match what we have with an engine. But, as an electric vehicle, the question is how can we provide the joy of driving that Honda is known for? That’s what the 0 Saloon is all about. We haven’t given up on that.”

Sounds fairly promising, no? We already know the 0 Saloon (scheduled to launch in North America in 2026 and in Europe later down the line) will be the flagship of Honda’s seven-strong 0 Series lineup, but a little bit of extra power and some trick suspension would suit those low, wide looks. Heck, it’s got the diffuser already.

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“It’s not just about pure specs and horsepower,” said Akiwa. “It’s about sound, vibration, acceleration and the feeling that people expect. I think that’s the source of the fun of driving. So yes, I would like to make some kind of proposal like that.”

Of course, Honda has already confirmed the upcoming hybrid Prelude will use fake gearshifts to simulate both the noise and feel of an automatic or dual-clutch gearbox, so perhaps we could see something similar with an all-electric Type R taking a similar approach to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

So, it’s decided. We won’t rest until Honda decides to build a 0 Saloon Type R. Or at least until they start ignoring our calls. We’ll see which happens first…

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