2010 Honda Odyssey Redesign Information

Well with all this talk of the Japanese Odyssey van being redesigned, I thought I'd put together a little piece on what us North American's can expect in the redesign here.

First off, Honda has raised the bar so high with the current model that aside from a potential Diesel engine, I dont' know how they are going to 'improve' on the van.

Here is what we can expect;

-a full model change for 2010 (I wouldn't be too surprised if Honda held off for one more year)

-"low-emission diesel V6 engine specifically designed for the U.S. market for the 2010 model year."

-as far as the potential diesel engine goes Forget notions of a rattling, smoking truck engine. This one will use Honda’s latest clean-diesel technology to provide smoothness and exhaust emissions that rival a gasoline engine, but with more torque (the thrust you experience when you hit the gas) and better fuel economy.

-the 3.5-liter diesel V-6 should be 30 percent more fuel-efficient than the equivalent gas engine.

-an updated version of the 3.5L gasoline engine will be sold along side the prospective diesel.

-updated interior, don't expect the 2nd row to fold into the floor, althought they will probably tumble closer to the front seats.

-expect the 2010 Honda Odyssey to continue with front-wheel drive and not offer all-wheel drive.

That's all I have for now.

Honda Announces the All-New Japanese Odyssey

Above is the 1st generation Honda Odyssey that we recieved here in North America from 1995-1998.
TOKYO, Japan, October 16, 2008– Honda announced that sales in Japan of the all-new Odyssey will begin October 17, 2008. The fully remodeled Odyssey features a low-floor and low center-of-gravity package that enables a low profile roofline and performance beyond ordinary minivans together with a spacious cabin. The new Odyssey is also equipped with advanced safety technologies, including the new Multi-view Camera System. A special mobility-assistive version equipped with a lift-up front passenger seat will go on sale November 13, 2008.

Designed around the concept of emotive quality that will move all who experience it, the new fourth generation Odyssey provides an advanced fusion of the human/machine interface, a liberated feeling for all occupants, and a distinctive presence. So, the all-new Odyssey was developed with the goal of generating strong feelings in every circumstance: riding in it, driving it, and looking at it.

To fulfill customer expectations for excellent fuel economy related to growing awareness of environmental issues, the all-new Odyssey is equipped with a 2.4l DOHC i-VTEC engine and torque converter-equipped CVT*1, a combination that enables the vehicle to achieve both superior performance and class leading*2 fuel economy of 13.2km/l*3. Moreover, the all-new Odyssey features DBW (drive-by-wire) control and an ECON mode which improves fuel economy by applying collaborative control of the CVT and air conditioner to reduce engine load.


-New 2.4-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine delivers nimble, lively performance
-Low center-of-gravity and advanced chassis balancing ensures luxurious ride comfort and handling that complieswith the driver’s intentions
-Also available is the Odyssey Absolute, a sporty model with further refined performance characteristics


-More slender front pillars secure a wide, clear field of view for the driver, for a greater sense of security
-Advanced instrument panel design offers instant recognition and intuitive operation that enhances driving pleasure
-The three rows of seats are positioned in a V-shaped layout to allow all occupants to enjoy the forward view

-Distinctive one-motion form is lower and sleeker, providing a sensation of speed and functional beauty
-Resolute expression and contoured front styling emphasize power and vitality

Key Features of the New Odyssey

·The exterior is designed around a concept of sensual dynamism, with richly contoured surfaces to express both dynamism and solidity for conveying elegance and power.

·The front view features sharp graphics, with headlights flowing out from the chromed bumper center portion and a sculpted V-line extending up over the hood from the front grill to impart a sense of speed and power. The narrow headlights add an intrepid feel.

·The side view features a fluid silhouette with a one-motion line from front nose to roof end. This combines with the strongly contoured surface in an expression of sleekness and power.

·For the rear view, the cabin has been strongly tapered and the rear window rounded to impart a compact feel for the cabin. Horizontally oriented rear combination lights add a feeling of breadth.

·The voluptuous body contours are further highlighted with a super platinum coating.

·Six color variations are available, including two new colors.

For the rest of the News Release, follow the link;
http://world.honda.com/news/2008/4081016All-New-Odyssey/

More Pic's of Japan's 2009 Honda Odyssey, This Time with George Clooney

Here is the original Teaser pic of the JDM 2009 Honda Odyssey.

Well, this beats the teaser pic that Honda has released. This is a gorgeous van, I think it would do very well here in North America, oh, and by the way, it's not this one that is expected to make the jump to North America, it's the Honda Latitude - also a very nice car.

Source;

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/BXoga-S5FsK/George+Clooney+Set+Honda+Commercial/z8nAfbVtp6R

2009 Honda Odyssey Offers Efficient Performance and Comfortable, Spacious Seating in All Three Rows

09/09/2008 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
Following a significant refresh for the entire lineup of Odyssey minivans in the 2008 model year, the 2009 Odyssey receives additional upgrades on the EX-L trim level with features previously exclusive to the Odyssey Touring. The Odyssey EX-L adds a power tailgate to its existing features, while its available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System gains Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard equipment.

"The Odyssey has earned a reputation for its spaciousness, versatility and a fun-to-drive feel," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "For 2009, we've expanded the application of Bluetooth and added a convenient power tailgate to the Odyssey EX-L."

Contributing to fuel efficiency, the 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine exclusive to the Odyssey EX-L and Touring models benefits from Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology that provides the capability to seamlessly deactivate either two or three of the engine's six cylinders during cruising and deceleration. An "ECO" light near the speedometer provides driver feedback when the vehicle is operating at an optimal level of fuel efficiency.

Known for its industry trend-setting One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat®, the Odyssey's innovative eight-passenger seating areas (seven-passenger on LX) quickly and easily adapt between passenger and cargo duties.

The 3rd-Row Magic Seat can accommodate up to three passengers and still provide 38.4 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the seats, or fold completely flat into the floor for cargo duty to create 91.1 cubic feet of cargo volume while still maintaining room for five passengers (four passengers on LX). With the second row seats removed, total cargo volume expands to 147.4 cubic feet. Total interior volume measures 209.8 cubic feet for passenger and cargo volume combined. The 2nd-Row PlusOneSeat™ integrates a storage bin inside the seat structure and is standard equipment on the Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring.

The Odyssey achieves the highest five-star crash safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for both frontal and side impacts1 . The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the Odyssey as a Top Safety Pick with "good" ratings for frontal offset, side impact and rear crash protection crash tests, while including electronic stability control as standard equipment. All Odyssey models are equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), also known as electronic stability control; standard anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist; advanced dual-stage, dual-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS front airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Protection Detection System (OPDS); three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; active front seat head restraints; daytime running lights and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle. An Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure provides enhanced occupant protection in a frontal collision.

Designed with families in mind, a total of three Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child seat attachment systems exist: two are located in the outboard second-row seating positions and one is located in the middle third-row seating position.

Standard comfort and convenience features include dual-zone air conditioning (tri-zone automatic climate control on Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring), tilt and telescope steering wheel, power windows and door locks, keyless entry and cruise control.

Available premium features include leather-trimmed seating surfaces; the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™2 with voice recognition, an 8-inch screen, and Zagat Survey®3 restaurant guide information; and a Honda DVD Entertainment System with a 9-inch screen.

A rearview camera aids rear visibility on the Odyssey EX-L equipped with the available navigation system. Odyssey EX-L models without the available navigation system provide a rearview camera display via a 2.5-inch monitor embedded in the rearview mirror.

The 3.5-liter, all-aluminum, SOHC VTEC® engine on the Odyssey LX and EX produces 244 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 240 lb-ft. of torque at 5000 rpm. The Odyssey LX and EX models achieve an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 16/23 mpg4 . A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment.

The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models feature a 3.5-liter, all-aluminum, SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine with VCM for enhanced fuel efficiency. This engine produces 244 horsepower5 at 5700 rpm and 245 lb-ft. of torque at 4900 rpm. The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models achieve an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 17/25 mpg4. (US MPG)

The 2009 Odyssey features Honda's latest version of VCM that provides the capability to selectively deactivate either two or three of the engine's six cylinders during cruising and deceleration.

Vehicles equipped with VCM use both an audio system-based Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system and a chassis-based Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) system to cancel noise and vibration that can occur during cylinder deactivation

An independent front and rear suspension and a rigid unit body structure help provide comfortable and refined handling performance. Additional chassis components include power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes and variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models have 16-inch wheels (alloy on EX and EX-L) with all-season 235/65R16 tires. Odyssey Touring models are equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season 235/60R17 tires (standard); Michelin® PAX® System run-flat technology wheels and tires are available (460 mm wheels and 235-710R 460A tires). (PAX Tires US only-thank god).

1Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side-impact airbags (SABs).
2 The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available on EX-L and Touring models in the United States except Alaska. See your Honda dealer for details.
3Zagat Survey® is a registered trademark of Zagat Survey, LLC.
4 Based on 2009 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
5 Testing of production engines for horsepower and torque output of the i-VTEC V-6 on the Odyssey EX-L and Touring models has revealed that the average horsepower and torque produced by these engines is higher than originally estimated prior to the start of mass production. Though there have been no design changes to the engines to create more power, the horsepower and torque ratings for the specified 2009 models have been increased to reflect the actual output of the engines. Note: 2008 to 2009 hp @ RPM = 241@5700 to 244@5700. 2008 to 2009 lb-ft. @ RPM = 242@4900 to 245@4900

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/4772

2009 Honda Odyssey Update

"What's New" for 2009: (Canada)
Power tailgate standard on EX-L and Touring models.

DX, LX, EX, EX-L, EX-L Res, Touring trim levels will remain the same otherwise.

Honda Increases Civic Production and Slows Down on Odyssey and Pilot's

Honda announced today that it will cut production of the Odyssey minivan and Pilot by 10,000 units total at its Lincoln assembly plant. Honda produced 158,316 Odysseys and pilots at the plant in the first half of 2008, down by 2.4 percent during the same period last year.

“Honda is not immune to the shift in the market,” Honda spokesman David Iida told Automotive News. “We don’t want inventories to get too high.”

The production cut will take place from August up through October. The plant will close on August 1st and August 29th after which the second shift will be canceled each Friday during the three month period. Iida said that there will be no layoffs during the cuts and Honda will use the remaining time for employee training.

Iida also said that Honda’s Ridgeline production will be moved from Alliston, Ontario to Lincoln, making room for an increase Civic output.

Source; www.autonews.com (subscription needed).

2008 Honda Odyssey Mid Model Facelift Pics

Minor changes at best, 'if it ain't broke....'.