Honda never explicitly states it, but its latest EV concept takes a lot of inspiration from the 1983 Honda City Turbo II. With its aggressive stance, flared blister fenders, and asymmetric grille, the nods are unmistakable. It even comes in a similar silver hue as the hero color of the original.
Honda teased a camouflaged version of the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed months ago, but the only reference to the City Turbo II, also known as the Bulldog, is the little radio control toy in the beginning of the new video (below).
Honda says the Super-One is an EV that is made to be fun to drive. It’s built on the best-selling N-Series platform (itself a nod to the N360), but with a wide track and more aggressive styling. It features something Honda calls Boost Mode, perhaps another wink at the Turbo II, that mimics the sensations of an internal combustion car.
Though the EV doesn’t have gears, it simulates the shifting of a 7-speed transmission. An Active Sound Control simulates engine noises and even vibrations. In a sense, it’s much closer to the cybernetic bulldog image that the original City Turbo II was trying to convey.
The world does need more affordable, fun-to-drive EVs, so maybe the Super-One will be the, uh, one. Honda famously had a one-make racing series with the original City Turbo II. Maybe they could do the same with the Super-One.
Honda says that a production version of the Super-One Prototype will hit showrooms in Japan in 2026. It will be sold in other markets to follow, including other Asian countries where it will be called the Super-One. It will also be sold in the he UK, where it will be called the Super-N. Unfortunately, Honda did not say whether the car was coming to the US.
Images courtesy of Honda.
