Kinetic Watts and Volts Limited has brought back the spirit of the Kinetic Honda DX in a fresh electric scooter, and the look tells the story right away. This is not Kinetic Green. The new DX electric arrives in two variants with deliveries set to begin in October, and the design is clearly aimed at riders who loved the old two‑stroke DX but now want a modern city runabout. The styling keeps the nostalgia intact while adding upgrades that fit the EV age.
Side profile that triggers memory
View the scooter in profile and the resemblance jumps out. The overall silhouette is very close to the original DX. The way the front apron flows into the side panels, the straight seat line, and the tucked tail section all mirror the old school stance. Kinetic seems to have worked panel by panel to maintain that familiar shape so that anyone who rode or simply saw the classic DX will recognise the form in seconds. It is a neat mix of memory and today’s plastic quality.
Bodywork details carried over
Look closer and you will spot the three vertical slats carved near the model badging, just like the old scooter. These slats were a tiny thing on the petrol DX, but they gave the side panel character, and they are back on the electric. The two faux vents on the body panel under the seat also return. On the original they added depth to an otherwise simple panel. On the new electric they do the same, keeping that layered look that made the DX stand out in period. These small touches are what make the design feel authentic, not a loose tribute.
Familiar face with a tiny visor
On the front, the small flyscreen with Kinetic branding sits above the headlight, echoing the old DX’s cheeky face. It is not an aggressive nose. It is friendly, a little upright, and that suits the DX name well. This small visor was part of the classic charm and bringing it back helps the scooter look like a DX at first glance even before you notice anything else.
Cluster shape and the red button nod
The shape of the digital instrument cluster has been kept similar to the original hooded pod. Of course the internals are new with modern readouts, but the outline gives a sense of continuity. The most fun throwback is the bright red square button that wakes the scooter. On the old DX that red square was your electric starter and people remember it. On the EV it serves as the power switch, delivering a small joy every time you tap it.
What has changed on the face
There are clear differences too. The headlight on the electric DX is rectangular and flanked by slim strips, and the entire set uses LEDs. The classic DX had a different lamp design with simple halogen hardware. Under the main light, the new DX wears a Kinetic logo shaped LED DRL. It is a modern brand signature that the original never had, and it gives the scooter a cleaner, more premium light signature in traffic. These bits make the front look sharper without losing the friendly stance.
Tail section updated for today
Move to the rear and you will see a slimmer tail lamp that still hints at the original but again runs full LED. The older scooter had bulb lighting and a chunkier lamp piece. The new unit looks tidy and saves a bit of volume visually, which suits the EV’s cleaner surfacing. Indicators also sit neater, and the whole rear looks tighter when viewed three quarters.
Wheels, motor and the missing spare
The biggest mechanical visual change is at the back wheel. The DX electric uses a hub‑mounted motor, so you do not see a conventional rear wheel and exhaust layout like the old petrol model. This makes the rear hub look different and quite minimal. Another change fans will notice is the absence of the spare wheel mounted at the rear. On the original KiHo DX, that spare was a signature element and part of its identity. On the new electric there is no spare wheel, which cleans up the tail but also removes that quirky old school feature people used to talk about.
Same soul, fresher parts
While the panel shapes and cues feel familiar, the finish is understandably modern. Plastics fit tighter, lighting is LED, and the instrument screen is digital with a different layout and functions. That is the point here. The DX electric keeps the soul of the DX in its stance and surface cues, but it updates the parts that matter for daily use. From a distance it looks like a DX. From the saddle it feels like a 2025 scooter.
Why this approach works
Scooters with history sell on emotion as much as on spec. By keeping the three slats, the faux vents, the small visor, the cluster outline, and that red square switch, Kinetic has built a bridge straight to the memory of the petrol DX. By changing the lights to LED, adding a logo shaped DRL, slimming the tail, and using a hub motor, the company makes sure the new EV fits today’s expectations. That balance is tricky, but the DX electric seems to land close to the sweet spot.
Verdict: a respectful remake with sensible updates
If you ever rode the original Kinetic Honda DX, this new electric version will look instantly familiar in photos and even more so in person. It is a faithful rendition in the broad strokes with thoughtful callbacks in the details. At the same time, it acknowledges that city riders now want LED lighting, a digital console, and the packaging freedom of an electric drivetrain. You lose the visible rear wheel and the signature spare, but you gain a cleaner tail and a modern light signature. For a scooter that aims to convert nostalgia into real‑world EV sales starting October, this design strategy feels right. The DX electric nods to the past without getting stuck in it, which is exactly what a comeback should do.