Earlier this year, Honda unveiled the full range of Clarity Electric Vehicles (EVs) at the New York Auto Show. What this meant was that the once Fuel Cell-only Clarity was joined by two more variants, namely, the battery electric, and the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). This gave consumers a wider range of propulsion options.
Now, the Clarity BEV and PHEV arrive in their Japanese home market, debuting at the still ongoing 45th Tokyo Motor Show. Japanese consumers can now enjoy the 513km driving range offered by the 1.5-liter Atkinson’s cycle-equipped gas motor paired with a 17kw/h electric mill. This combo produces a total system output of 181hp and 315Nm, with the ability to top up on electric juice in as quick a time as 2.5 hours.
Yet the Honda Clarity sn’t just about long-distance driving. It is also a mix of comfort, style, and driving pleasure. The quiet EV propulsion from either the Fuel Cell, EV, or PHEV adds to the premium feel of the five-passenger cabin. Touches like Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as Honda Sensing—the brand’s very own suite of protective gear—come standard.
And all this is wrapped in a wide and low body that is both sporty and elegant at the same time. A mere glance at the car makes one want to hop in and drive—trying out one of the four driving modes: Normal, Econ, Sport, and HV. Each one is programmed to bring out the most of the car’s various facets.
With the availability of the entire Clarity series in Japan and the U.S., Honda seems to be on its way to realizing its vision of electrifying the world as it expects EVs to account for two-thirds of total vehicle sales by the year 2030.
