The big news with this somewhat sporty little Honda is that it may soon make it across the causeway!
For those looking to add a little spice into their EV life, here is something from Honda that might just be up your alley. Meet the new Super-One, which recently made its international debut at the Singapore Motor Show. And for Malaysians anyway, there may be particular cause for excitement, as rumours are already swirling that this sportier twin to the N-One e: could soon make its way across the causeway!
Now right off the bat first, it is worth pointing out that anyone expecting “supercar” performance from the Super-One will likely be left a little disappointed. Power after all in this warm hatch comes from a single front-mounted electric motor producing just 95 PS and 162 Nm of torque, figures that are incidentally lower than those of Honda’s previous small EV, the e, which managed 154 PS and 315 Nm.
That said, this is still a small EV should still see anyone behind the wheel wearing a big smile. This is as the Super-One debuts a new Boost mode, that temporarily optimises the front motor’s output for an extra burst of oomph. There is also a rather playful setup that simulates seven-speed gear changes, with artificial engine sounds generated by Honda’s Active Sound Control system rounding off this fun package.
Honda has yet to release an official driving range figure for the Super-One, though it is assumed to share the same 29.6 kWh battery as the N-One e:. And with its extra performance focus, range is expected to be slightly shorter than the N-One e:’s WLTP-rated 295 km. On the upside though, charging remains reasonably quick, with DC fast charging from 20 to 80 percent taking just 30 minutes, identical to its sibling.
Under the skin, the Super-One’s kei-car roots mean it retains a relatively simple mechanical layout. Its petite 15-inch alloy wheels hide a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear setup, while braking hardware consists of disc brakes up front and drum brakes at the rear.
Visually meanwhile, the production Super-One looks almost identical to the prototype shown earlier. The originally cutesy N-One design has been dialled up with a more aggressive edge, thanks to swollen front and rear bumpers, boxy flared fenders along the sides and a cheeky rear spoiler perched on the tailgate.
Interestingly, those swollen fenders have pushed the Super-One out of kei-car territory altogether. The revised dimensions now measure 3,589 mm long, 1,573 mm wide and 1,616 mm tall, making it 194 mm longer, 98 mm wider and 71 mm taller than the kei regulations-abiding N-One e:, while retaining the same 2,520 mm wheelbase.
Moving along inside, the Super-One largely carries over the simple and functional cabin of the N-One e:. Highlights include a nine-inch Display Audio infotainment touchscreen and a surprisingly premium eight-speaker Bose sound system. Part-leather upholstery with increased bolstering for the front seats serves as a reminder of this kei warm hatch’s sportier intent.
Safety-wise, the Super-One comes equipped with the usual Honda Sensing suite, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centring assist and Honda’s LaneWatch blind-spot camera.
Finally as for pricing, being a Singapore-market car means the Super-One comes with an understandably eye-watering price tag. It starts from S$178,999 (around RM570,000), inclusive of COE. Thankfully, should it ever arrive in Malaysia, pricing would almost certainly be far more palatable.
And as hinted earlier, a Malaysian debut does appear increasingly likely. This all-electric kei warm hatch has already been spotted on local roads in camouflaged form, fuelling whispers that the Honda Super-One could soon be launched here, possibly even as a locally assembled CKD model! Anyone up for a warm kei EV for just over six-figures?
