Honda previews close-to-production Urban EV prototype

It will be the star of Honda's display at the 2019 Geneva auto show.

The Urban EV concept that Honda unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show is well on its way to production. The Japanese firm will travel to the Geneva auto show opening its doors in March of 2019 to unveil a close-to-production prototype of the car.

Though it's a sketch, Honda's image seemingly confirms the yet-unnamed production model will keep the concept's defining design cues. The front end wears round LED headlights integrated into a black panel and a back-lit Honda emblem, an interesting feature that's illegal in many European countries (including Germany). The Urban EV looks like it has gotten a little bit rounder in its transition from a concept car to a production model, though we'll reserve our judgement until we see it in the metal.

The door-mounted cameras remain. And, while this isn't visible in the sketch, we expect it will grow a set of rear doors.

We haven't seen the interior yet, and we don't know what's under the sheet metal. However, the Urban EV is part of Honda's electric car offensive, and it's being developed with an electric powertrain in mind. It won't be available with any kind of gasoline-powered engine, whether it's the main source of power or a range extender.

We'll learn more details about the production version of the Honda Urban EV concept during the Geneva auto show. We'll have to admire it from afar when it goes on sale, though. Honda has confirmed the model is being developed primarily for the European market, and it will not be sold in the United States. Rival Volkswagen made the same decision about its electric I.D. hatchback.