Unparalleled Low Seats Made Possible by EVs! In-depth interview with the developer of Honda's EV Outlier Concept [Japan Mobility Show 2025

At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, Honda unveiled the world premiere of the EV Outlier Concept, a design study of a fully electric motorcycle. The two-wheel drive is achieved by motors mounted on the front and rear wheels, producing superb torque. It has a lower seat height than Honda's current model, and its original design is also attractive. We asked the developer about the details of this model, which is scheduled to go on sale in 2030 or later!

The goal is to bring it to market in 2030 as an entity that transcends the boundaries of the market!

The EV OUTLIER Concept was unveiled as a world premiere by Honda at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, which opened on October 29. It features a futuristic streamlined design, an ultra-long and low body, and two-wheel drive (2WD) with in-wheel motors in the front and rear. While leveraging Honda's strengths in internal combustion engines, it expresses the new value that is possible only with electric power. The name "Outlier" means "deviant," and as the name implies, the model is designed to challenge the question of how to deliver surprise and excitement without being bound by stereotypes. The keywords that embody this concept are "Low" (an exhilarating view of the scenery), "Gliding" (a gliding ride), and "Ecstasy" (an acceleration feel of a different dimension).

Honda unveiled two electric models at the 2024 Milan Show (EICMA), the EV Urban Concept and the EV Fun Concept, and the EV Outlier Concept "was announced to further develop a model for the future," The EV Outlier Concept is "a model that is even more future-oriented," according to the company. This model, to their surprise, "is targeted for commercialization after 2030. So, will it go on sale as is? We are not going to mass-produce it as it is. We would like to incorporate the ideas and technologies developed for this model into a mass-produced vehicle. As for the design, since we are still in the early stages of the electric vehicle industry, we hope that it will be seen as one of the many possibilities that exist. What do you envision for the design? We also aimed for something different in terms of driving. While most EVs have the motor installed under the seat, the Outlier has motors mounted on the front and rear wheels. This allows for a high degree of freedom in layout, and the seat height can be much lower than that of an internal combustion engine motorcycle, enabling dynamic proportions. The seat height is lower than the 690mm of the Rebel 250, and is said to be the lowest seat height on a current Honda vehicle, although the company says it "cannot say" what the seat height is. We started with the layout first. We wanted to make it possible for people to experience how different it is from what they are used to when they ride on it themselves.

The torque that makes your body sink into the seat and the driving performance is also out of the ordinary!

The company says that it aimed for something "different" in terms of driving. The acceleration is unique to EV and 2-wheel drive, and the torque is just amazing. You need to put your back against the backrest to catch the acceleration. The past NM4 also had a major feature of turning with the backrest resting on the back, so we are incorporating that aspect into the design as well.

The reason for incorporating front and rear in-wheel motors is "to give customers a new riding experience that cannot be obtained by simply replacing the internal combustion engine with an electric power source. By incorporating front and rear two-wheel drive, which is different from the usual theory, we aim to create a new riding experience that is different from that of internal combustion engines or commercially available electric vehicles. But can a two-wheel drive vehicle corner properly? "It can drive naturally because it is controlled. The ability to do this is a strength that Honda has cultivated with its internal combustion engines. I think it is a characteristic of Honda that anyone can drive the car normally, so I would like to work toward the future while taking advantage of such strengths. As for the class of the car, "I envision it to be about the size of a large car. In addition, although the car will use an electronically controlled suspension, "the affinity with electric models is very high," he said.

Honda's assets are also evident in the suspension and dimensions.

The front suspension is a double wishbone, familiar from the Gold Wing. The rear suspension is a horizontal link-type arrangement. In addition, the dimensions of the bike are also based on Honda's experience. We've built a lot of motorcycles, so we've got a lot of knowledge about dimensions," said Honda's president and chief executive officer, Yoshio Suzuki. If the wheelbase were to be extended any further, it would be at a level where it would not be viable as a motorcycle. As long as the Gold Wing's? "It's definitely quite long (laughs). The characteristic of Honda is that any bike can be ridden normally. I think one of Honda's specialties is to be able to make these long, low models run well, and to make them run well even with two-wheel drive," he said.

The motif is a glider.

The styling concept is "unconventional beauty. According to the release, the model expresses a challenging and innovative beauty that is not bound by conventional values. The release states, "The model features the word 'gliding' as a key word. The motif of this model is to run smoothly on the ground like a glider, so we used the image of a glider. To make the body as smooth and aerodynamic as possible, we designed it so that everything from the front tires to the handlebars is concealed. In addition to the glider-like smoothness, a mechanical expression was adopted for the center section where the engine normally sits. The team sought "a new expression through the contrast between the two. The headlights are mounted on the winglets. The step and backrest pads are adjustable, allowing the rider to change the riding position according to his or her body. Regarding the intention behind the extensive use of see-through exteriors, the company says, "We are considering environmental impact by using sustainable materials and eliminating paint. This is the same material as DURABIO, which is already used in commercial models. We also made it transparent to create a smooth image while giving it a mechanical feeling. The development concept is different from the previous models, and the design is also different from the conventional cruisers and scooters," he says. Honda made no comment as to whether or not the model would be able to run on actual roads, but it may be a very realistic model, as it was often mentioned as being easy to ride and there were scenes of it running in the PV at the event. The introduction of this model is said to be "after 2030," but perhaps we will be able to experience a two-wheel drive electric motorcycle sooner than that!

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