Automotive Engineering - December 2023 - 16

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Honda's first North American EV is ready
for the FWD models are yet to be determined,
but said the AWD layout, with
a permanent-magnet traction motor/
single-speed transmission at each axle,
offers a fairly modest 288 hp and 333
lb-ft (451 Nm).
For comparison, VW's ID.4 has its
Honda calls the 2024 Honda Prologue the brand's first electric SUV, even if the SUV portion of the
description is subdued.
Honda knows what U.S. buyers like:
crossovers. So it makes perfect sense
that the company chose a crossover
SUV configuration for its first " mainstream "
U.S.-market EV, the 2024
Prologue. The company's not postulating
about how many Prologues it might
sell annually once its new EV, co-developed
with GM, goes on sale in early
2024. But Honda sold more than
350,000 CR-V crossovers in 2022,
which left little doubt Honda wasn't
going to take any chances regarding
the bodystyle for its first North
American mass-market EV.
The Prologue's smooth and rounded
sheetmetal is pleasant but cautious
(Honda calls it " neo-rugged " ) - and
like many current EVs from volume automakers
such as Hyundai (Ioniq 5) and
Volkswagen (ID.4), it's lowish-roof profile
stretches the definition of " SUV, " or
even crossover. At an overall height of
64.7 in. (1643 mm), the 2024 Prologue
seems noticeably lower, for example,
than an all-wheel-drive CR-V's height of
66.5 in. (1689 mm).
Meanwhile, the Prologue's rangy 121.8in.
(3094-mm) wheelbase is identical to
that listed by Chevrolet for the 2024
Blazer EV and its overall length and
width, 192 in. (4877 mm) and 78.3 in.
(1989 mm) are almost duplicates of the
Blazer EV, cementing the commonality
between the Honda and GM products. At
108.9 in. (2766 mm), the VW ID.4's wheelbase
is more than a foot shorter, while the
16 December 2023
Hyundai Ioniq 5 wheelbase of 118.1 in.
(3002 mm) is nearer the Prologue but
still nearly 4 in (102 mm) in arrears.
Highlighting the comparative sprawl of
the Prologue's footprint, at an overall
length of 192 inches (4877 mm), it is longer
than Honda's Passport (189.1 inches/4803
mm).
Appropriate battery power,
driving range
EV competitiveness seems to have coalesced
on a handful of key metrics and
the 2024 Prologue is carefully positioned,
with an announced battery capacity
of 85 kWh, which Honda said
provides an estimated 300 miles (483
km) of driving range for the single-motor
front-wheel drive configuration.
Honda said power and torque ratings
top-capacity battery option rated at a
similar 83 kWh, but was upgraded for
2024 with 330 hp for AWD models and
282 hp for rear-drive variants. An AWD
Hyundai Ioniq 5 offers 320 hp and 446
lb-ft (605 Nm) from its 77.4-kWh battery
pack, but at 260 miles (418 km)
driving range is markedly less than the
AWD Prologue. Honda said AWD is
standard for the top Elite trim and is
available for the EX and Touring trims.
Honda may not have to worry too
much about performance comparisons,
at least when the Prologue, to be priced
in the upper-$40,000 range to start,
initially is available chiefly in key EV
markets, although it can be bought in
any U.S. state. " We do expect a lot of
customers to come from within the
Honda brand, " said Rob Keough, department
lead, American Honda
Product Planning.
Honda did not provide much detail
regarding charging times for the 2024
Prologue's 85-kWh lithium-ion battery
pack, other than to say the crossover's
onboard charger enables DC fastcharging
at up to 155 kW, enough for
about 65 miles (105 km) in 10 minutes.
Honda designers chose to avoid a " tech-overload " impression in the cabin, retaining familiar
touchpoints and hardware, including the transmission selector on a steering-column stalk.
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
BOTH IMAGES: HONDA

Automotive Engineering - December 2023

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