Honda EV-N concept

The Honda EV-N will be on display at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show as a part of Honda's "HELLO! Zone" electric vehicle showcase.

Details about the powertrain are still fuzzy and vague, but we do know that it's all electric.

The EV-N's grill houses a display that can communicate certain information to the owner. Potential applications include battery charge state, system warnings, etc.

Is this the battery charge meter or the turn indicator? We won't know for certain until Tokyo.

The EV-N's aesthetic lands somewhere between robot-pug and plastic panda. However, hints of the true source of inspiration can be found in the EV-N moniker. Take a look at the Honda N 360 of the 60s and you'll see what I mean.

There's only really space for 2 passengers in the EV-N microcar, but there's seating for 4. Tiny wheels and a short overall length are the hallmarks of a low-speed, easy-to-park city car.

If you look close, you'll see that the flap covering the charger is shaped like a two-pronged electrical plug. Other design cues include a rear hatch that aligns with the belt line. We're not sure how that will help with loading/unloading, but it looks pretty neat.

The roof appears to integrate solar panels, potentially to augment the battery charging or to run auxiliary systems, such as the climate control.

The door houses and charges Honda's U3-X unicycle, a concept that aims to make its users look even goofier than Segway riders.

Inside the EV-N displays a clean and Apple-esque aesthetic. White and grey plastic panels and seats are offset by a piano black dashboard. Instrumentation has been reduced to a single central gauge.

Look closely and you'll see a tiny Prius-like, dash-mounted gear selector.

There's space for four in the EV-N, but those back seats don't look particularly comfortable.

If you don't like the color of the seat accents, then just pop the panel out and replace it with a pattern that better matches your vibe.

You'll have to decide between carrying more friends or more stuff, because storage space is almost non-existent without the rear seats folded flat.