Honda Cars : 2013 Honda Odyssey Offers Unmatched Safety Ratings, Class-Leading Fuel Economy Ratings and High-Tech Convenience Features | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Ultimate family vehicle seats up to eight and offers enhanced standard equipment

08/31/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.

The 2013 Honda Odyssey minivan continues to lead its class in fuel economy and safety ratings, while providing spacious accommodations for up to eight passengers and a refined and engaging driving experience. The Odyssey Touring is rated at a remarkable 28 mpg¹, the highest EPA highway fuel economy rating of any eight-passenger minivan. All Odyssey models are an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK, and the Odyssey has earned the best possible overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score,² an accomplishment that no other currently-tested minivan can claim. The 2013 Honda Odyssey goes on sale September 6, and pricing begins at $28,575³.
There are five models in the Odyssey range: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite. Each provides a unique combination of features, value, luxury and in-vehicle entertainment technology. Changes for 2013 include a rearview camera that"s now standard on all Odyssey trims, and the base Odyssey LX now shares a simplified center stack design with the Odyssey EX. The new center stack includes an 8-inch full-color intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) along with a rearview camera, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, USB input, and CD library function.
Powertrain
All Odyssey models are powered by an advanced 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), which provides a balanced combination of performance, fuel efficiency and low emissions. Producing 248 horsepower (hp), it"s the most powerful engine ever for the Odyssey. With 250 lb-ft. of torque at 4800 rpm, the engine offers excellent responsiveness and acceleration, while delivering a class-leading V-6 EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy2 rating of 19/28/22 mpg on Odyssey Touring models (18/27/21 mpg on Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models). A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models. Odyssey Touring models feature a 6-speed automatic transmission for enhanced driving refinement.
Body
The Odyssey has a distinctive body design with a signature "lightning bolt" side character line that creates a dynamic appearance, and improves the outward view for third-row passengers through a larger rear window. Interior quietness was a design priority, and the Odyssey"s highly rigid body is constructed of 59-percent high-strength steel to help isolate road noise and to reduce body weight for agile handling and excellent fuel efficiency.
Chassis
For confident driving performance and a comfortable ride, the Odyssey features a long 118.1-inch wheelbase, with a fully independent suspension and standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with traction control. MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension combine to give the Odyssey a quiet, composed ride. Variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering assures light steering effort in low-speed maneuvering coupled with secure highway manners.
Interior
The Odyssey"s roomy interior offers a wide range of seating versatility to accommodate child seats, adult passengers and cargo. The passenger volume measures 172.5 cu-ft. (Odyssey LX and EX) and the cargo volume ranges between 38.4 cu-ft. of cargo volume (all seats up) to 148.5 cu-ft., depending on the seating configuration. With the second-row seats removed, a 4x8 sheet of plywood can fit inside the Odyssey's cargo bay. With the available front console removed, 10-foot-long 2x4 studs can fit inside the vehicle.
The Odyssey"s interior provides three rows of comfortable seating with generous legroom in each row. Up to five Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) positions for child seats (the Odyssey LX has four LATCH positions) allow parents great flexibility in locating car seats.
The driver's seat is 10-way power adjustable (8-way power adjustable on Odyssey LX) for maximum comfort. A "3-mode" second-row seat design provides the ability to attach up to three child seats across the second row (Odyssey EX and above) by relocating the outboard seats to alternate positions closer to the doors. The one-motion, 60/40 split third-row Magic Seat®, one of the Odyssey's most versatile features, is easy to operate with one hand.
The Odyssey offers an extensive range of standard comfort and convenience features, including air conditioning with manual front and rear controls, power driver's seat, power windows with auto-up/down on the driver's and front-passenger's windows, tilt and telescopic steering column, and a maintenance minder system. Odyssey EX models and above come standard with power sliding rear doors, center console storage and a conversation mirror. Odyssey EX-L models include leather-trimmed seating surfaces (front and outboard second row), heated front seats, power tailgate, a cool box, and XM Radio® capability. Standard equipment on the Odyssey Touring includes the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System⁴, a Rear Entertainment System with a 9-inch display, driver"s seat with two-position memory, 115-volt power outlet, fog lights, parking sensors, and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Odyssey Touring Elite adds an Ultra-Wide Rear Entertainment System (RES), blind-spot information system, and High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights.
For 2013, the Odyssey offers more technology than ever before, with a rearview camera, 8-inch, full-color i-MID display and Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard on the entry-level LX model. A Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System² with Voice Recognition is available on the Odyssey EX-L and standard on the Odyssey Touring, and it features an 8-inch, high-resolution VGA color display and GPS technology to provide turn-by-turn guidance. The system also includes subscription-free FM Traffic data and a Zagat® restaurant guide.
The Odyssey Touring Elite features a state-of-the-art, factory-integrated Rear Entertainment System that includes an ultra-wide 16.2-inch flip-down LCD screen and a 12-speaker, 650-watt sound system capable of reproducing Dolby® Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. A High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video input and two wireless headphones for rear passengers are also provided. The Odyssey Touring Elite also includes the Blind Spot Information system (BSI), which helps alert the driver when other vehicles are detected in set zones to the left and right of the Odyssey.
Safety
Safety is a key Odyssey attribute, and an extensive list of safety equipment helps give owners peace of mind. The Odyssey"s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure is a Honda-exclusive body design that can enhance occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional standard safety equipment includes: Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®); anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; driver's and front passenger's side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags.
Third-party analysis highlights the Odyssey"s safety credentials. The Odyssey was named a TOP SAFETY PICK (the highest rating possible) by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The rating recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting vehicle occupants involved in front, side and rear crashes. The rating also factors in standard electronic stability control as well as rollover performance based on ratings in IIHS tests. The Odyssey earned the highest-possible score of GOOD in all four ratings, including the rigorous roof-strength test. The Odyssey was also one of the first vehicles, and still the only minivan to achieve NHTSA's best-possible Overall Vehicle Score of 5 Stars, with 5-Star ratings for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash safety tests2 in all evaluated front and rear seating positions and scenarios.
Manufacturing and Awards
Designed, engineered and assembled in the United States⁵, the 2013 Odyssey is truly an American-made vehicle that represents the expanding capabilities of Honda in North America. Virtually every aspect of the Odyssey was developed, tested and finalized by Honda associates throughout California, Ohio and Alabama. The Odyssey is produced exclusively at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Awards and accolades for the Odyssey include the 2012 "MotorWeek" Drivers' Choice Award for Best Minivan and selection as one of 2012"s 10 Best Family Cars by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. Parenting magazine also recognized the Honda Odyssey Touring Elite as one of 2012"s "Smartest Family Cars." The Odyssey is well known for its exceptional value, and both the 2011 and 2012 models were recognized with Residual Value Awards from Auto Lease Guide (ALG). The Odyssey also captured AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA), which is based on over 75,000 surveys completed by owners of new cars and light trucks in the United States.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2013-honda-odyssey-offers-unmatched-safety-ratings-class-leading-fuel-economy-ratings-and-high-tech-convenience-features

Honda Cars : The Future of Honda; CVTs, new engine family will reshape Honda line | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

This is a spyshot of the upcoming 2013 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid.

by  Mark Rechtin of www.autonews.com

Honda's new Earth Dreams engine family will debut in the redesigned Accord this fall and then trickle through the rest of the lineup.

The new engines have direct injection and double-overhead cams. They will produce at least a 10 percent fuel economy advantage over Honda's current four-cylinders.

Earth Dreams engines will be added as each vehicle is redesigned, and in some cases will be available for mid-cycle revisions. Even the base four-cylinder will have a twin-cam profile setup, variable valve timing and direct injection. And there also is talk of bringing a 1.6-liter diesel with 220 pounds-feet of torque to the United States.

Honda also is putting heavy emphasis on continuously variable transmissions. While performance models and off-road vehicles will retain geared transmissions, mainstream cars will have CVTs.

With the introduction of Honda's large-car hybrid powertrain system next year, more vehicles in the lineup will have a hybrid option.

Here's a look at Honda's product plans:

Fit: Europe gets a hybrid version, but Honda has canceled plans for a Fit hybrid in North America.
A redesign of the Fit comes in summer of 2014. Because Honda will have a dedicated plant in Mexico to handle Fit production for the United States, expect some local market design cues and features that won't appear in the Japanese or European models. But Honda might not wait until then to install the Earth Dreams 1.5-liter inline-four with 127 hp and 111 pounds-feet of torque, as well as a CVT.

Fit EV: The electric version of the Fit went on sale this summer with an EPA-rated equivalent of 118 mpg. But its range is just 82 miles. Packaging the battery pack was difficult, so expect the next Fit to have a different suspension module for the hybrid and EV versions.

Insight: No word on whether the nickel-metal hydride battery pack will swap out for lithium ion before the 2015-model redesign.

Civic: Terrible reviews of the Civic's interior plastics have prompted a major freshening for this fall, just 18 months after launch. Expect a big improvement in the tactile feel of the instrument panel. A 1.8-liter inline-four Earth Dreams engine with 148 hp and 133 pounds-feet of torque, mated to a CVT, could be installed in the spring 2014 midcycle change.

CR-Z: A higher-performance CR-Z supposedly was on the way. But with the punishing yen exchange rate jacking up the price, that version may not reach the United States.

S2000: Honda hasn't had a proper sports car since the S2000 went away in 2009. The early success of the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ have American Honda product planners angling for a competitive model. But it is not a priority in Japan.


Accord: A redesign for the sedan and coupe comes this fall. The current Accord was considered too large, so expect a slightly narrower version that's about two or three inches shorter. The wheelbase may stay the same.
This will be the first Honda model with Earth Dreams engines. The base engine is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with 181 hp, 177 pounds-feet of torque and much-improved fuel economy. The Accord will have a CVT as its only four-cylinder automatic offering. The V-6 Accord will have a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.
Honda is placing a major emphasis on crash safety, as well as such devices as a lane-departure warning system. The Accord also will be the first vehicle with Honda's new large-car hybrid system. Engineers say the four-cylinder plug-in hybrid will have a 2.0-liter engine teamed with a lithium ion battery pack and will easily beat the Toyota Camry Hybrid's 41 mpg.

Crosstour: A midcycle change in the 2013 model year will bring a six-speed automatic transmission but not an Earth Dreams engine.

FCX Clarity: Honda's hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle is trickling into Southern California garages as part of a test for an eventual launch in 2018.

CR-V: Redesigned for the 2013 model year.

Fit Crossover: According to Japanese press reports, Honda is studying a compact crossover that would slot below the CR-V. Honda's top U.S. manufacturing executive has said the plant in Mexico that will produce the Fit will have flexibility to build multiple variants for the North American market when it opens in 2014. Given Honda's typical factory ramp-up timing, that probably means a smaller, entry-level crossover will arrive in the United States in the spring of 2015 as a 2016 model.

Pilot: A full redesign on the shared Odyssey platform comes in fall of 2014, and sheet metal will move away from the "angry robot" look. It likely will get a 3.5-liter Earth Dreams V-6 with around 310 hp and 265 pounds-feet of torque. Expect the front-wheel-drive version to have a CVT and the all-wheel-drive version to get a six-speed automatic transmission.

Odyssey: The minivan was redesigned in fall 2010 on a six-year cycle. That means the 3.5-liter Earth Dreams V-6 probably will be incorporated during the 2014 model year.

Ridgeline: Honda's pickup will keep the Ridgeline name but won't look or feel the same when it is redesigned in 2014. Honda wants to keep the handling dynamics and packaging, but the styling, fuel economy and sticker price are weaknesses.

Source;

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120730/OEM04/307309983/1216/cvts-new-engine-family-will-reshape-honda-line

Honda Cars : 2013 Honda Odyssey Information for Canada | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

There won't be much in the way of changes to the 2013 Honda Odyssey with the exception of a backup camera trim level wide.  Here are the trims and colours that will be available;

2013 Honda Odyssey LX

NH-700MX     Silver Exterior/Grey Interior

NH-731P      Black Exterior/Truffle Interior

NH-737M      Grey Exterior/Grey Interior

YR-573M      Beige Exterior/Beige Interior

NH-603P      White Exterior/Truffle Interior

2013 Honda Odyssey EX

*Same colours as LX

2013 Honda Odyssey EX-RES (Rear Entertainment System)

*Same colours as LX and EX

2013 Honda Odyssey EX-L RES (Leather w/DVD)

*Same colours as LX, EX, and EX-RES adding;

R-529P       Red Exterior/Grey Interior

-This is a different shade of red from 2012's R-549R

2013 Honda Odyssey Touring

*Same colours as EX-L RES

For a list of features, which is essentially the same as a 2012, here is a direct link to Honda Canada's 2012 Honda Odyssey spec sheet;

2012 Honda Odyssey Spec's

Source;
Honda Canada