Skip to main content

No, that’s not a reject Transformer; it’s Honda’s Concept D

Honda’s Chinese arm has just revealed an all-new, full-size concept SUV at the Shanghai Auto Show, cleverly called Concept D.

While, based upon the looks, D could stand for any number of things, like Dragon Fish, Demonic Robo-Pig, or Dirigible, it might as well stand for “Don’t expect to see it Stateside,” as the concept shows the way forward for a Chinese domestic market range-topping SUV. Now, why exactly the handsome Honda Pilot isn’t good enough for the Chinese domestic market is beyond me.

d
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With gold paint, gold accent wheels, and a face that only a fourth century emperor could love, the Concept D is likely designed for hauling around middle-class Chinese and their gold-covered iPhones and Apple Watches.

Other than a few images, all Honda will say about the concept is that it features advanced technology. Like what? We can only guess. Maybe it’s a transformer … with the ability to transform into a better-looking SUV?

honda_concept_d-2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

All cheap shots aside, I do rather like the look of the thing. Not because I think it’s attractive, which I certainly don’t. Instead, I like it because it looks like nothing else on the planet. We’ve recently derided automakers like Lincoln for cribbing the design pages of other carmakers. Honda hasn’t done that in the slightest. For that, at least, it deserves kudos.

We’re likely to see plenty more wacky concepts unveiled in Shanghai this week, so be sure to check back soon for more.

Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
The Kia EV3 could be the cheap electric SUV we’ve been waiting for
White Kia EV3

The Kia EV9 was already one of the cheapest ways to get an electric SUV, but now the company is taking things to the next level. After teasing the Kia EV3 last year, the car is now official.

The EV3 is built to be a slightly smaller, cheaper version of the EV9 -- following the path of the Rivian R2, which arrived after the Rivian R1S. It's certainly not as technologically advanced as the EV9, but it still looks unmistakably like a modern Kia, and is clearly a sibling of the larger SUV. On the outside, the vehicle has the same split taillights and very similar Tiger Face front. But it is quite a bit smaller. The vehicle will be available in nine finishes -- however only "Aventurine Green" and "Terracotta" are being announced right now.

Read more
Kia EV3: release date, performance, range, and more
White Kia EV3

Kia is on a roll. Hot on the heels of the success of the Kia EV6 and EV9, the company is already announcing what could be its cheapest electric vehicle yet -- the Kia EV3.

The Kia EV line seems to follow the rule of lower numbers indicating a lower price — and if so, the EV3 will end up being the cheapest electric car Kia has released to date. That, however, thankfully doesn’t mean that the EV3 will be a low-end car — it just means that Kia may be pushing the boundaries on electric car pricing.

Read more
Kia EV3 vs Tesla Model Y: Can Kia’s new entry-level car take on Tesla?
White Kia EV3

The Kia EV3 is finally coming, and it could well end up being the best small-size electric SUV to buy when it finally rolls out. It's smaller than the Kia EV9, but it offers many of the same design elements and features. But there's another small-size electric car that's currently one of the most popular vehicles out there -- the Tesla Model Y.

How does the Kia EV3 compare with the Tesla Model Y? And is one vehicle actually better than the other? We put the Kia EV3 and the Tesla Model Y head-to-head to find out.
Design
The design of the Kia EV3 is very different than that of the Model Y, though they're both reasonably good-looking vehicles.

Read more