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2026 Honda Ridgeline ReviewHonda Steals the Show at CES 2025
Honda came to 2025 Consumer Electronic Show ready to show off its newest EV’s, AI advancements, and a partnership with Sony Electronics.
Everything New in Car Technology
The Consumer Electronics Show, CES for short, is the annual shindig held in Las Vegas to show off the latest and greatest technology. Auto manufacturers have historically attended CES to preview what’s coming down the pike and the 2025 CES Show – running from January 7th through the 10th – predictably has those makers focused on electric vehicles (EV).
However, the latest EV news has a heavier dose of artificial intelligence (AI) thrown in. A common thread as this year’s CES is the use of “AI agents” that are being designed to “learn your habits and evolve alongside you” in the words of Sony regarding its Afeela 1 EV, an all-new vehicle from the Japanese company’s partnership with Honda.
Though there were other automakers in attendance at CES 2025, it was Honda that stole the show with its Series 0 platform. In case you missed it, Honda has seemed somewhat behind the eight ball on new EV car development. A recent collaboration with General Motors on the Prologue and Acura RDX ended after less than 2 years for example.
That said, with hot new products like the hybrid-powered Prelude coming soon and plans afoot for a major tie-up with fellow Japanese automaker Nissan, Honda may in fact have its foot firmly planted in the future. Just get a load of these new EV cars.
Developed under Honda’s “Thin, Wise, and Light” design motto, the Series 0 SUV and Series 0 Saloon that strutted at CES 2025 are currently prototypes. But Honda claims the production versions will be rolling off the Marysville, Ohio line as soon as mid-2026, starting with the SUV.
No longer working with GM’s Ultium platform, these Series 0 vehicles will be riding on Honda-developed proprietary architecture. Specifics on range and powertrain specs are so far scant, but we know that the operating system (OS) will be dubbed ASIMO. A nod to Honda’s humanoid robot, the ASIMO OS will tie together the vehicle’s electrical architecture and infotainment system into a single integrated unit capable of Over-The-Air updates.
Some of this technology will be enabled by Honda’s partnership with Renesas Electronics. The deliverable is a high-performance system-on-chip using multi-die chiplet technology and advanced AI. Not only that, Honda is planning to include Level 3 autonomous driving systems into these new Series 0 vehicles. The automaker notes that it is already piloting a Level 3 program in its home market with consumer leases of the Honda Legend.
Honda Announces Series 0 SUV
Though Honda has yet to share info on battery pack sizing, electric motor specs, or driving range, it has made clear that these new EVs will make use of by-wire technology for the steering, suspension, and brakes. A mid-size crossover, the SUV will be the first in line for production and builds off the previously released Space-Hub concept.
Pixelated headlights and a low-slung roofline give the SUV sleek good looks while the Kammback rear end echoes Honda’s original Insight and the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 9 The wraparound thin taillight design is common to both Series 0 models and seems to be a popular look these days as evidenced by the Scout Terra pickup.
It flows with the “Thin, Wise, and Light” theme that carries over to an interior dominated by huge panes of glass for an airy feel and what Honda says will be outstanding visibility. If the finished product follows this prototype, we can expect a lack of physical buttons in favor of screen-based vehicle control. The ASIMO-managed digital interface purports to make this less cumbersome than is currently the case with production vehicles featuring this approach.
Honda’s Series 0 Saloon: A Futuristic Vision for Sedans
Honda is calling the Saloon its Series 0 flagship with sporty wedge-shaped styling. It is certainly different styling that looks unlike almost anything on the road today. Aside from the Lamborghini Gallardo vibe coming off the angular schnozz – which is no bad thing. Hope springs eternal that Honda will channel the Oldsmobile Toronado and its hidden headlights by keeping what appears to be retractable headlamp covers for production.
Either way, the Series 0 Saloon is about as futuristic as a vehicle that is going into production can get. Whether the side body cameras will see the light of day is unclear, but the “ultra-personal optimization” that Honda describes surely will. What exactly this vague language means from a practical perspective is tough to suss out, but a fair guess would be that buyers will be getting cozy with AI.
Honda says the Saloon will follow the SUV in Series 0 production at its EV Hub in Ohio. The rollout will start in North America followed by other global markets. There is currently no information on pricing or other pertinent details for these new Series 0 vehicles, but that is not the case for Honda’s other EV initiative with Sony.
Sony’s Afeela 1 EV Hit the Road Next Year
Under the Sony Honda Mobility umbrella, a joint venture between the two Japanese companies, comes the Afeela 1 EV. The 2025 CES event showcased the latest iteration of this sedan that has been prowling the Las Vegas show for several years as a concept. However, the Afeela 1 is no vaporware, it’s a full-fledged EV that is currently open for reservations.
For a refundable $200, buyers – in California only for now – can reserve a spot in line for the Afeela 1. Deliveries are slated for mid-2026 and the price tag starts at $89,900. It is said to have a 300-mile driving range and will come with a 3-year subscription to a suite of connectivity services including Level 2+ advanced driver-assistance systems, immersive entertainment, and an Afeela Personal Agent powered by AI.
It remains to be seen, but features like air suspension, spatial sound audio, 5G connectivity, yoke-style steering, an all-glass roof, and a dash-spanning display certainly sound interesting. Clearly, Honda is hard at work on tackling the EV transition and we’re excited to see what’s next.
