Judging by these patent images, Honda has been thinking of adding a compact-sized pickup truck and an off-roader for outdoor enthusiasts to its North American lineup. Car and Driver says these were submitted back in December 2022, but the media hadn’t discovered them until today.
Starting with the SUV, it resembles the Honda Element that had stayed in production in the USA from 2002 until 2011 (see video). Among other things, the apparently back-hinged rear doors look similar to those of the Element. Note also the short overhangs, a hint that the model may have been envisioned as an EV.
While the patent description doesn’t say so outright, it looks like the SUV is targeted towards the more adventurous crowd. One of the images depicts it with a pop-up roof housing a tent and a bulky tailgate box unfolding into a larger structure of some kind.
In turn, the mini-pickup looks like a potential competitor for the likes of the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz. It also features a fairly unusual design with a sophisticated partition between the cab and the bed. Judging by the drawing, you can slide it back down the bed and then pull a special roof section over it to create more cabin space.
Honda has never announced either model, and hasn’t commented on this news yet.