Honda gives China a new EV series

Khodrocar - Honda today unveiled a new EV series for China, Ye (烨), and says it will launch six models in the serics by 2027. Three of those cars were seen at the series launch in Beijing. These consist of the Dongfeng Honda S7 and the GAC Honda (P7) due to launch later this year along with the Ye GT concept which should be produced next year. Ye should be pronounced somewhat like the English word ‘Yeah.’

烨 (ye) means to ‘shine brilliantly’ and apparently represents "Honda’s desire to enable everyone who drives Ye Series models to unleash their innermost passions through the joy of driving, and let their individuality shine brilliantly.” The Ye series sits alongside the e:N series of EV models which already exist in China. Honda hasn’t said much about how the two ranges are positioned relative to each other but Car News China believes the Ye series represents a more high tech EV line. Adding to the confusion Dongfeng Honda launched its own EV brand, Lingxi, last year.

The three Honda Ye series cars seen on the stage at the Beijing launch.

Visually setting the new series apart from other Honda models is a new illuminated H logo designed exclusively for Honda’s next generation EV models. Honda says the Ye series uses new pure EV architecture exclusively developed for the series and based on the needs of Chinese users.

Stealing the show the Ye GT concept creates a low and wide Grand Tourer EV. The car was designed by the Chinese R&D team where the average age is just 32 years old. At the front there is a through light strip design. Behind the car are a number of mainstream Chinese suppliers withs CATL suppling the battery, Huawei the intelligent cockpit and iFlytek the voice control system

Chinese suppliers behind the Honda Ye series of EVs.

Inside we can see that the design is not only futuristic but sporty as well. According to Honda the driver’s seat is designed to immerse the driver in a race driver like experience (Ed – just right for traffic jams on the gaojia).

Honda Ye GT concept

The front seat passenger gets a far-focus display which is meant to create the depth and experience of viewing a large screen. Currently Honda are claiming that it will be on the production version saying that it will be a first for a Honda car. Like with the 7 expect to see versions from both Dongfeng and GAC with sales currently meant to commence by the end of 2025.

Before that both the Ye P7 and Ye S7 are due to go on sale this year. Essentially the same car each has a slightly different front to give two supposedly different cars for each JV partner. The Dongfeng S7 version gets more aggressive three pronged LED running lights whereas the GAC P7 has a fuller light cluster with the LED running lights acting as outlining around the cluster. Each car will have two variants, a one motor rear wheel drive version along with a dual motor version.

The cars ride on the newly developed EV platform. Inside ambient lighting through LED lights in the instrument panel and door panels are controlled by an AI powered assistance. The interiors of the cars seem similar to the GT Concept. They come with dimming panoramic roof, headrest mounted speakers and a wireless charging pad. Safety comes from the Honda Sensing 360 package and the cars have Honda Connect 4.0 for Android phone connectivity.

Expect to see more of the cars at next week’s Beijing Auto Show.