The boxy Honda Super-N needs to deliver kei-car pleasure (and a faux gearbox) to Britain

It’s small. It’s gentle. It’s shamelessly designed to be inexpensive. The Honda Super-N is every part we’re informed trendy vehicles can’t be. But Honda is rebelling – by bringing the enjoyment of right-sized kei vehicles to the UK.

Alright, let’s relax. The Super-N is strictly solely a prototype for now. Not an idea automobile: it has mirrors, wipers and seatbelts. It’s an actual automobile. And we all know it drives in actual life, as a result of Honda introduced a disguised check mattress Super-N alongside to the Goodwood Festival of Speed again in the summertime.

Now we get to see what it seems to be like, whereas Honda does the maths on what it’ll price and when it’ll go on sale.

How it seems to be is, nicely, boxy. In the massively profitable kei automobile custom (which sees Japan’s city roads festooned with slab-sided, small-wheeled vehicles powered by engines no greater than 660cc) the Super N is extra straight-edged than a block of cheddar cheese and the wheels are the size of a Babybel. But simply have a look at these pumped out flared wheelarches! When this factor grows up, it needs to get stanced by Liberty Walk.

The pugnacious ickle face has echoes of the Honda e about it, although hopefully the Super-N will promote in better numbers than the three and a half managed by the gorgeously designed however range- and price-hobbled e. The touchscreen doesn’t dominate the surroundings.

There’s bodily buttons for heating and air-con, and oh, what’s that behind the steering wheel? Paddleshifters? To take pleasure in these, you’ll have to activate ‘Boost Mode’. Honda explains “not only does this increase vehicle output to maximise performance, but it also simulates a multi-gear shift with Active Sound Control”. We’re getting pocket-sized Hyundai Ioniq 5 N vibes, folks.

“Coupled with dedicated interior displays and coordinated lighting sequences, this ensures a sense of excitement and enhanced driving engagement that is unique to a vehicle of this size,” Honda confidently claims. And it is perhaps proper. Though the teeny EV scene is – lastly – blossoming with enjoyable vehicles, the Renault 5, its Alpine cousin and the inbound Volkswagen ID.1 don’t have simulated gearboxes.

The Super-N can be right here in 2026, as soon as Honda has informed us essential unknowns like what it weighs, how a lot energy it develops, the vary of the batteries and crucially, what it prices to purchase.

And you would possibly anticipate it’s what all of Europe has been crying out for: a cute, chuckable EV that’s low-cost as chips to purchase (hopefully). But as a result of the remainder of Europe likes the steering wheel on the left (which is mistaken) Honda says it solely has plans to promote the automobile within the UK, Japan and Asia.

Officially, Honda says it “does not have any immediate plans to introduce the Super-N Prototype to any further European markets”. However, it additionally admits “the success of this new mannequin will assist to know the patron urge for food for any future small EVs inside the area”.

So no stress, but when numerous us purchase this, it’d herald a brand new period of entry stage enjoyable vehicles. Roll on the numbers please Honda. And when you’re at it, wouldn’t a ‘Type R’ badge look natty on the bootlid?