On April 16, Honda China unveiled the new electric brand “Yè” and globally debuted three new models: Yè P7, Yè S7, and Yè GT CONCEPT. These vehicles will be built on the new intelligent and efficient pure electric “W” architecture. Yè P7 and Yè S7 will be launched by the end of 2024, while Yè GT CONCEPT is scheduled for 2025. All three new cars will be showcased at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show.
As the first models of the “Ye” brand, the “Ye P7” and “Ye S7” are both pure electric SUV models with different exterior designs, which also divide the target audience in more detail. The “Ye P7” adopts more of the Honda design style, including the daytime running lights on the front and the tail light design.
The “S7” adopts a new design style, with a more visually impactful appearance. The daytime running lights are outlined with straight lines, creating a sharp effect. In addition, the brand’s vehicles will use a new logo design, still featuring the “H” symbol, but more appealing and welcoming to embrace the future market and consumers.
The two cars have similar side body designs, with hidden door handles commonly used in electric car models. Both cars on site are equipped with electronic rearview mirrors, and traditional rearview mirror versions should be available after the official launch.
Because this is just a debut, the body size is still unknown, but the new car should be classified as a mid-size SUV. Both new cars will use a sleek design and come with 21-inch low drag petal-style wheels, the overall proportion is very coordinated.
In the rear part of the car, the changes of the two models are very significant. The “Ye P7” uses a double C-shaped taillight group, and the rear bumper is more stable, suitable for family use. The “Ye S7” still retains the design style of the front headlight group, with two vertical light strips and a horizontal light strip forming an “H” shape. The rear bumper is more exaggerated, appealing to young consumers’ aesthetics.
The changes in the interior are not big. Both cars use a new design language. There are no physical buttons inside, most functions are integrated into the central screen. The central screen has a vertical layout with three parts: the main screen on top, the air conditioning control panel in the middle, and the touch operation area below.
The button-style gear shift in the new Honda models is consistent with previous ones. Placed in the middle of the central console, it may seem to waste space. Moving it to the side or using a knob-style shift could improve space efficiency.
The new car will feature a sporty steering wheel design, with a good overall feel. The multifunction buttons are physical and easy to operate blindly. The instrument panel design is thoughtful, with a higher overall height to avoid blocking the view of the steering wheel, maximizing driving safety.
The seats of these two cars perform excellently, both front and rear seats are very soft and supportive, especially the rear seats, the cushions are like sofas, and the backrest angle is reasonable, even long rides won’t feel tiring.
The new car will feature a two-stage sunroof, which can automatically adjust the transparency, similar to the common variable glass. This design is very appealing.
In terms of power, the press conference only mentioned that they will be equipped with single and dual motors, and will adopt front double wishbones and rear multi-link suspension, which maximizes passenger comfort. This car will be launched by the end of 2024, we still need to wait for more details.
The “Yue GT Concept” will be launched in 2025, a sportier coupe with exaggerated front design featuring integrated headlights and hidden light strips on the front bumper, enhancing the futuristic technology feel.
The new car will feature a four-door design, with a sloping rear end and rounded body lines. The protruding fenders give the car a fuller look. It will come with 22-inch wheels and 275/35 R22 tires.
The design of the rear end is consistent with the front, including the lights hidden on the rear bumper. The GT model is equipped with a retractable electric wing with indicator lights, giving it a sporty look.
The design of the rear bumper is unique, featuring a rear spoiler and marble-like accents. The center-mounted rear fog light is a popular element among young people.
The interior design is more sporty, inspired by racing style. The racing steering wheel with indicator lights not only looks good, but also lights up. Below the steering wheel are two buttons, one for one-touch start, the other for switching to “R” mode.
In terms of technology configuration, the new car will heavily utilize screen-based operations, including central control screen, gear shift operation screen, driving mode operation screen, and Huawei screen for the co-driver, showcasing the car’s sporty genes and attributes, giving every driver a rush of adrenaline. Summary: At this press conference, the birth of the new “Ye” brand will officially kick off Honda’s electrification process. Through the introduction, we can see that this time, our own designers are more involved in the product design and development, along with more key components starting to be “localized”, indicating Honda’s emphasis on the Chinese market. These three new cars will debut at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, where everyone can experience up close Honda’s determination and efforts towards electrification.