The EV partnership between Honda and General Motors, announced in 2020, will begin to bear fruit in the coming years with the arrival of the 2024 Honda Prologue. However, the electric crossover is based on GM’s Ultium platform and uses technology from the US automaker’s proprietary battery, raising questions about whether they’ll drive like Honda-designed automobiles.
The answer to this question, apparently, is “not really”. Honda CEO, President and Managing Director Toshihiro Mibe and Senior Managing Director Shinji Aoyama met with members of the media at a recent roundtable, where the Ultium platform was a frequent topic of conversation. Speaking of the Prologue and GM’s Ultium crossovers, Aoyama admitted that the driving experience would likely be similar.
“We are limited due to the core architecture,” he said. “To differentiate [them] in terms of performance will be difficult.
Mibe agreed, pointing out that the Honda Prologue’s performance would likely mirror some GM crossovers — likely the Blazer EV — thanks to the shared platform and similar battery specs. However, both Aoyama and Mibe were convinced that the Prologue will still be Honda-like in many of the ways that consumers will be most concerned about.
“The design – the top hat – is where we will do our differentiation,” Mibe said.
Indeed, the Honda Design Studio in Los Angeles realizes the styling of the Prologue, with a unique exterior and cabin that draws inspiration from the adorable E sedan not intended for America. Among those Honda signatures will be a funky wordmark on the rear hatch written in the company’s slightly retro script. Additionally, the E sedan will donate its HMI infotainment software, helping the cabin feel modern and EV-specific. Finally, the Japanese manufacturer will participate in the quality control of the Prologue, ensuring that it meets Honda’s durability and reliability standards.
The Prologue will arrive in Honda dealerships in 2024, alongside the Passport as a versatile, adventure-focused battery-electric equivalent. Pricing and final specs have yet to be announced.
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