Honda’s electrification push didn’t go so well, as the company produced duds like the Clarity and Insight.

Fortunately, those failures will soon be a distant memory as the automaker has released the first sketch of the electric Prologue, ahead of its launch in 2024 (either as 2024MY or 2025MY).

Billed as an “adventure-ready SUV capable of satisfying everyday driving and weekend getaways”, the Prologue was designed at the Honda Design Studio in Los Angeles in conjunction with a design team in Japan. The company hasn’t said much about the model, but the teaser sketch suggests the crossover will have a streamlined front fascia with a fully enclosed grille flanked by slender headlights.

Read also : Honda’s GM-based electric crossover will be called the Prologue

Backing up, you can see a sculpted hood, plastic body cladding and a slender windshield that’s vaguely reminiscent of the Cadillac Lyriq. The crossover also sports a prominent shoulder line, a sloping roof and an expansive greenhouse.

While Honda was tight-lipped on details, they “focused on aerodynamics, refining the body with simple surface steering and fewer lines to improve range and reduce cabin noise.” The latter is important because electric vehicles are quiet and this can make wind and road noise more pronounced.

The automaker declined to mention specifications, but Honda and GM previously revealed that the crossover will be based on GM’s Ultium platform and will be modified to “support Honda’s driving character”. Although the crossover has a unique design, there will be a lot of GM integrated into the vehicle as it will offer OnStar as well as Super Cruise. The connection doesn’t end there as the Prologue and its Acura counterpart will be built by General Motors.

In addition to teasing the Prologue, Honda announced that it will begin production and sales of electric vehicles based on its own e:Architecture in 2026. A year later, the company will team up again to build a “new series affordable electric vehicles based on a new vehicle architecture co-developed with GM. Thanks to the influx of new electric vehicles, Honda expects to sell nearly 500,000 electric vehicles in North America by 2030.

Revamped dealerships for an era of online shopping focused on electric vehicles

In addition, Honda is working with dealerships to prepare them for the era of electric vehicles. As part of this effort, the company has developed a “tiered approach with dealerships based on potential EV sales in their local markets.” The automaker has also developed guidelines for the number and type of electric vehicle charging stations dealerships will need to install based on their expected electric vehicle sales volume through 2030.

More interestingly, Honda has created a new dealership design with a “modular and flexible space reflecting changes in how customers buy and buy vehicles, as well as low inventory dealerships will need to support sales in the future” . As you can see from the renders, Honda dealerships are designed to be bright, airy and inviting with large windows and a prominent display area that invites customers to check out featured vehicles.