Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

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

Add as a preferred source on Google

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.

Recommended Videos

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 Automotive Editor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
GM is giving OnStar AI smarts and a new way to monitor your parked car
GM's 2027 OnStar overhaul will introduce an AI assistant for natural-language vehicle controls and a new camera feature that records certain incidents around parked cars.
GM OnStar featured

Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.

General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.

Read more
Musk says you can’t just buy the Cybercab. It’s primarily for Tesla-owned cab service
Plan on riding a Cybercab, not parking one.
Tesla Cybercab at night

Missing out on the self-driving future is a tough pill to swallow, especially as a car enthusiast. But that is what Tesla handed us on Wednesday, without a hint of mercy.

During its October 21, 2026 earnings call, Elon Musk told investors the Cybercab is meant mainly as a ride service. Further, nearly all of them will be owned and managed by Tesla.

Read more
Tesla will let you add your Model Y to its Robotaxi fleet with the FSD V15 update
Tesla is targeting the second quarter of 2027 for owner-operated robotaxis, though earnings, insurance, and eligibility remain unclear.
Tesla Model Y on road with red brick building in background

Tesla is making steady progress toward letting owners turn their idle Model Y vehicles into a source of passive income. The automaker provided a concrete timeline during its latest earnings call and stated that the first customer cars could join its Robotaxi network in the second quarter of 2027.

FSD V15 will bring unsupervised driving to customer cars

Read more