Tiny EV Hot Hatch
Honda looks set to add another name to the list of cars Americans can only admire from a distance. The new Super-One is a compact, kei-inspired electric hatchback built to make daily driving more fun, mixing retro cues with current EV tech.
Honda first showed the Super-One as a prototype at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, describing it as a small EV with a focus on making everyday drives more engaging. Production was originally set for 2026, but with launch prep already underway in Japan and other markets, it looks like the car will arrive ahead of schedule.
Honda
The Honda City Turbo II Reboot
Almost unchanged from its prototype form, the Super-One uses Honda’s N-Series platform but goes beyond the usual kei-car formula. It sits wider, with bigger tires and a more planted look, pushing it closer to a mini hot hatch than a standard city EV. The styling calls back to the City Turbo II, with clear hints of Honda’s 1980s performance DNA.
According to Honda’s designers, the Super-One’s performance features were built straight into the bodywork. The EV hot hatch uses real ducts at the front and rear to cut drag and manage airflow. Relief vents at the back help reduce turbulence, improving cooling and stability instead of just adding visual flair. There’s also a model-exclusive paint color called Boost Violet Pearl, which is inspired by the “Blue Jet” lightning.
Inside, the Super-One aims to keep drivers engaged. Sports seats, a 7-inch digital cluster, active sound control, and a new BOOST mode work together to deliver some of the feel of classic performance driving on an electric platform.
Honda
Not Your Typical Honda Kei Car
Honda hasn’t released full specs yet, but early info points to the Super-One breaking past typical kei car limits in both size and power. Output is rumored to be around 95 horsepower, well above the 63-hp cap for kei cars in Japan.
BOOST mode bumps up performance for short bursts, syncing simulated engine sounds and a virtual multi-speed transmission to give drivers a more familiar, performance-focused feel even with an electric setup.
As for pricing, reports from Japan put the Super-One at about ¥5 million, or $32,000. That’s higher than most would expect for a car this size, but once it steps outside kei car rules, extra taxes and hardware drive the price up.
That price likely puts the Super-One in niche territory, aimed more at enthusiasts than the average city car buyer. In Japan or Europe, it could still find a following as a fun, urban performance car. For American fans, it’s shaping up to be another small Honda that looks right for US streets but remains out of reach.
Honda
