- Honda has just unveiled what could be the future of caravanning with its Base Station prototype.
- Its most significant development is how lightweight the construction is, weighing in around 680kg and capable of being towed by a wide range of cars.
- As far as when it might head to production, Honda reminds us that the “Base Station is still a prototype,” but here’s hoping it makes it beyond a concept.
Honda has taken the humble road trip and given it a slick, modular rethink with the Base Station prototype, arriving as a futuristic, ultra-light travel trailer built by its US R&D teams in LA and Ohio.
What makes this newsworthy is exactly how lightweight it is. Weighing less than 680kg (1,500 pounds), it’s featherlight compared to the average camper trailer, which means compact SUVs and electric crossovers can tow it without fuelling even more range anxiety. Park it in a standard garage during the week, hook it up on Friday, and you’re off without the need for a diesel AWD beast to leave home.
As far as the camping experience itself, the pop-up roof lifts the ceiling to a full seven feet, transforming the interior into a bright, airy living space. Five large side windows flood it with light, but here’s the party trick: those panels are modular “plug-and-play” bays that can be swapped for functional add-ons.
Possible add-ons include an outdoor shower for after a morning in the waves, a compact kitchenette for coffee at sunrise, or extra battery packs if you’re going off-grid for a longer trip. It’s customisable function in a form that’s easy on the eyes.
The sleeping arrangements have also remained front of mind, with space for a queen-size mattress inside, and a roof tent up top to deliver space for four guests– all without turning the trailer into a bulky tow load. The Base Station feels like Honda’s pitch for a more accessible outdoors experience, with a future-forward design, modular options, and a tow weight that plays nicely with the cars people actually drive.
If this is the template for road trips to come, we’re absolutely here for it.
Honda is yet to confirm if it will progress beyond a prototype, and as far as pricing goes, according to Car And Driver, it could cost, “between about $20,000 to $40,000” (~AU$29,800 to ~AU$59,600).
