The last few years have been unkind to the Honda Ridgeline. Higher fuel prices have made trucks less appealing in general, but at five years old, the Ridgeline is also nearing the end of its lifecycle. Honda’s sales of its first-ever truck dipped more than 50 percent compared to 2008, and a revision will be necessary to boost sales over the next few years.

According to PickupTrucks.com, that new model could be coming soon – very soon. The second generation Ridgeline is scheduled to debut for the 2011 model year and will have a host of improvements, including better fuel economy, a more aerodynamic design and less weight. There’s no official word on when the 2011 Ridgeline will make its debut, but we shouldn’t have too long to wait.

[Source:Autoblog]

Honda just unveiled a concept version of its next-generation Oddity Odyssey minivan at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, and it was one of those rare instances where the media was actually seeing it for the first time, as God intended unveilings to be. Although billed as a concept, the 2011 Honda Odyssey Concept looks almost production ready… other than its door handles, lights and a few other details.

While the current third-generation van is the best selling minivan in America two years running, Honda decided not to play it safe with the redesign. The all-new fourth-generation Odyssey is a big departure for Honda. It’s lower and wider, taking an almost Mercedes R-Class stance. Although they claim it’s only one inch lower and 1.4 inches wider, it looked like a lot more than that. The 2011 Odyssey also features a “lightning bolt” lower greenhouse border that reminded us of the Nissan Quest a bit. Honda says it helps with rearward visibility.

The production version of this 2011 Honda Odyssey should be in dealerships this fall, and will likely look a lot like this concept. While no specifics were mentioned, it is said to have a V6 that will deliver slightly better fuel economy. The interior was completely blocked off so we aren’t sure what they have in store for us inside, but Honda reps promised something big. One thing Honda did share was the fact that this Odyssey is all-American. From inspiration to target market, styling to assembly, this is truly a product of the U.S. of A. There’s a press release after the jump and live and press galleries below.

Odyssey Concept Reveals Stylish, Dynamic Image for All-New Honda Minivan

The next-generation Odyssey adds sleek styling, new functionality and higher fuel economy to best-selling minivan

CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2010 – The Honda Odyssey Concept, on display at the Chicago Auto Show, introduces a sleek and distinctive exterior styling direction for the next generation of the industry’s best-selling minivan, set to debut this fall, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The Odyssey Concept dramatically departs from conventional minivan styling with its low and wide stance, highlighted by a “lightning-bolt” beltline that further distinguishes the vehicle’s profile. Compared to the current Odyssey, the Concept’s slightly lower roofline (-1.0 inch) and wider stance (+1.4 inch) contribute to a sleeker, stronger and more dynamic presence with improved aerodynamics that help increase fuel economy. Forthcoming improvements to the production Odyssey’s interior are designed to further enhance the current model’s accommodating space for people and cargo.

“The Odyssey established its reputation by providing families with what they most want in a minivan – great functionality, an emphasis on safety and good fuel economy,” said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of American Honda product planning. “Odyssey then further delighted customers with its surprisingly engaging, fun-to-drive and dynamic nature. The next-generation Odyssey promises to take these strengths to a higher level while adding more style and personality.”

The steeply raked front and rear roof pillars, unique side-glass profile, chamfered roof line, and tapered rear cabin shape combine to create a dynamic and distinctive appearance from any perspective. The lightning-bolt beltline dives toward the rear of the vehicle emphasizing the new Odyssey’s sporty appearance while enhancing outward visibility for third-row passengers. Aggressive body-to-wheel proportions reduce the perception of vertical height common to most minivan designs. Fender flares further accent the vehicle’s securely planted and stylish persona. The concept vehicle’s projector beam headlights, LED taillights and form-fit fog lights further heighten the sophisticated quality of the design.

Enhanced aerodynamics and advanced powertrain technologies will contribute to the next-generation Odyssey’s increased fuel efficiency. The all-new 2011 Odyssey is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating1 of 19 city/28 highway miles-per gallon on select models (preliminary estimate determined by Honda).

Currently in its third generation, the Odyssey’s unique array of features, including its superior driving dynamics, 3rd-Row Magic Seat® and efficient i-VTEC™ V-6 engine with three-mode Variable Cylinder Management™ (available) all combine to offer a sophisticated environment with room for up to eight people (seven on Odyssey LX). The Odyssey has been America’s best-selling minivan2 since 2008 and is produced exclusively in Alabama by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (using domestic and globally sourced parts). Both the concept and production vehicles, along with all development activity for the 2011 Odyssey, are being designed at Honda R&D Americas in Torrance, California, and Raymond, Ohio.

The Odyssey has won numerous awards and critical acclaim. Recent accolades include the Edmunds.com 2010 “Top Recommended” minivan award, U.S. News and World Report 2010 “Best Minivan for the Money” award, Automotive Lease Guide 2010 “Best Minivan for the Money,” the Kelley Blue Book award as one of the ten “Best New Family Vehicles of 2009″ and “2009 Best Resale Value Award” in the van category, which recognizes vehicles that are expected to have segment-leading resale value after five years of ownership.

Odyssey Concept Basic Dimensions
Length (inches): 202.8
Width (inches): 78.5
Height (inches): 68.3
Wheelbase (inches): 118.1

[Source:Autoblog]

With apologies to Get Shorty and the 1995 Oldsmobile Sillhouette, the Honda Odyssey may well be the Cadillac of minivans. Honda’s big, luxurious people hauler has been the hottest-selling minivan in the U.S. over the past two years, besting Chrysler and Toyota for the minivan sales title. With the success of the Odyssey over the past couple of years, it’s almost hard to believe that Honda is already looking forward to a redesign, but the present model has been on the market since 2005 with only nominal tweaking, and there’s a bold new Sienna to contend with from its crosstown rivals, too.

To that end, Honda has announced that they will unveil a new concept version of the Honda Odyssey at next month’s Chicago Auto Show, showing what the engineering-focused company’s fourth-generation minivan will look like. Honda promises that the next Odyssey “will further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character, while increasing its overall efficiency.”

We may have already seen the first indication of what the next Odyssey will look like in the SkyDeck concept (above) from the Tokyo Motor Show last October. The six-seat MPV was all pimped out with a pie-in-the-sky interior, Lamborghini-style front doors and what is fast becoming standard-issue for concept vehicles, a hybrid drivetrain. Strip down the concept-ness and we’re thinking the SkyDeck would make a very attractive Odyssey. However, we expect the Chicago showcar to significantly more toned-down than the JDM concept, and it will likely be a ‘concept’ in name only. Hit the jump to read Honda’s very brief press release.

[Source: Honda]

PRESS RELEASE:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will debut a concept version of the next-generation Honda Odyssey minivan at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show on February 10, the company announced today.

The next-generation Odyssey will further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character, while increasing its overall efficiency. The Odyssey, currently in its third generation, was the best-selling minivan in the United States in 2008 and 2009. It is produced from domestic and globally sourced parts by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC in Lincoln, Alabama.

[Source:Autoblog]

Hybrids aren’t exactly known for being the sportiest vehicles on the road, but that doesn’t mean their owners don’t want to look as good as possible behind the wheel. As such, perhaps it shouldn’t be too surprising that Japanese tuning companies are jumping on the gas-electric bandwagon almost as quickly as the automakers themselves.

Chief among those hybrid tuners is Tommy Kaira, which has released a slew of new bodykit bits, suspension upgrades and wheel options for both the 2010 Toyota Prius (which we saw teasers of previously) and Honda Insight. We’ll leave it up to you to decide if the add-ons add up to an improvement in the wedge-shaped hybrid hatchbacks. In any case, click here to see the whole kit and caboodle for the Prius and here for the Insight.

[Source:Autoblog]

India’s Auto Expo 2010 kicked off this week and the first major concept to come out of New Delhi is this: the Honda New Small Concept.

Befitting its name, the New Small Concept is both compact and rather bland – particularly when compared to Honda’s recent stylistic endeavors – but the five-door hatch is sure to find budget-minded buyers when it arrives in both India and Thailand in 2011.

Unfortunately, details on the proposed powertrain and interior are all but nonexistent, with Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. (Honda’s Indian arm) simply stating that the HSC can fit five people and benefits from an “Efficient Energetic Exterior.” For an inexpensive runabout, the HSC has potential to be a hit in emerging markets, but don’t expect it to hit U.S. or European shores anytime soon. Make a break for the brief press release after the jump.

UPDATE: Live pics added to the gallery below thanks to Indianautoblog.com.
UPDATE 2: Reports indicate (Automotive News - Sub. Req.) that Honda will sell the compact hatch for around 500,000 rupees (a little over $10,000) and power will be provided by a range of engines, maxing out at 1.2-liters.

PRESS RELEASE

Honda to Exhibit the Honda New Small Concept at Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi

January 5, 2010 — Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. (HSCI), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, today unveiled the world premiere of the Honda New Small Concept, a concept model for a new small-sized vehicle, at the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi. HSCI also announced plans to begin sales of a new model in 2011 based on this concept model.

For the Honda New Small Concept, a wide platform with a stable center of gravity was adopted to create a highly efficient compact size with seating for five people. With the “Efficient Energetic Exterior” design, the dynamic design of the Honda New Small Concept with front forward fenders highlight the presence of the vehicle.

Honda is planning to introduce a new model based on the Honda New Small Concept in 2011, in India and also in Thailand.

Honda will strive to provide a new small-sized vehicle that is beyond the expectations of customers in rapidly growing m

[Source:Autoblog]

The Honda NSX might be gone, but it’s set to live on as the HSV-10 GT in Japan’s SuperGT championship.

Although we don’t have an official release or specs yet, we do have the image above and some preliminary details on the HSV-10 GT or Velocity Sports Honda. Built to the 2010 GT500 regulations, the new front/mid-engine racer from Honda is packing a 500+ hp, 3.4-liter V8 and sending power through the same Ricardo sequential manual gearbox fitted to the 2010 SuperGT cars from Nissan and Toyota. Underneath all that glorious carbon fiber is the same chassis Honda’s been working on (originally as an NSX replacement) for the last two years. The SuperGT season opener is scheduled for March 20 and 21 of 2010, but we expect more details and a host of high-res images to hit soon. Stay tuned…

[Source: LeBlogAuto]

[Source:Autoblog]

In spite of being functionally outstanding, Honda’s odd looking Element crossover has never lived up to sales expectations. The funky box never approached the initial sales target of 75,000 units a year, and this year it’s on track for barely more than 15,000 sales. Despite its relative commercial failure, Honda has reportedly given the green light to a second generation model. Despite a couple of modest freshenings, the Element is already seven years into its life cycle – considerably longer than typical for a Japanese branded model.

Given the slow sales, why would Honda bother with a new iteration? Honda’s executive vice-president, John Mendel, has informed Automotive News that virtually all Element sales are incremental. The Element shares its platform with the much higher volume CR-V, but apparently almost no buyers cross-shop the two vehicles – Element buyers have no interest in the CR-V and vice-versa. If Honda does proceed with a new model, perhaps unique features like the recently introduced dog friendly package will be the key to increased differentiation and success.

[Source:Autoblog]

The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour hasn’t won too many fans amongst the automotive press, and while we’re sure it fills the Accord Wagon space in Honda’s lineup, the way the Crosstour has a foot both in the wagon and CUV realms still has us scratching our heads. Taking a peek at what’s being cross-shopped against Honda’s latest offering proves potential customers are in the same boat.

Fitting every car into a neat categorical box is a fool’s errand, but the Crosstour is apparently making everyone wonder just where it belongs. According to early Edmunds’ data, buyers seem to think the Crosstour competes most closely with the Toyota Venza, with ToMoCo’s wagon-on-stilts being cross-shopping against the Crosstour more than any other vehicle. Other Honda models are also heavily considered against the Crosstour, according to Edmunds Auto Observer, as are a panoply of other cars. Luxury rides like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series wind up in the comparison column, as do more traditional crossovers like the Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV-4.

While the Crosstour has been called lots of unflattering things, it’s clear that figuring out whether it’s neatly described as fish or fowl is more of a thorny chestnut. That said, none of this is exactly important if the car is generating showroom traffic and moving units.

[Source:Autoblog]

While the idea of a performance-tuned hybrid may have seemed nonsensical only a couple of years ago, as the earth-friendly vehicles become more mainstream, the sub-segment will undoubtedly grow to attract a fair share of our attention. Case in point: reports from overseas indicate that Mugen is seriously toying with the idea of creating a high-performance version of the upcoming Honda CR-Z.

The Honda tuner par excellence shares a close, even familial relationship with the factory, and it reportedly sees the electric motor in the hybrid drive as a sort of replacement for a turbocharger, offering a bit of low-end boost to small gasoline engines that are down on torque. The result could redefine the Japanese hot hatch as we know it.

[Source:Autocar]

With offerings like the FCX Clarity and the Insight, it’s been clear what technologies Honda favors for environmentally-friendly transportation. But a change in strategy conceded by CEO Takanobu Ito could see Honda focusing more energy on plug-in electric vehicles in the near future.

Although Honda takes the standpoint that battery technology has not progressed enough for widespread implementation in passenger vehicles, difficulty setting up hydrogen fueling stations have forced Japan’s second largest automaker to reconsider its strategy. With regulations constricting, especially in California, Honda will reportedly be shifting its focus to electric vehicles for the American market as well as for Europe and its own home turf in Japan.

[Source:Autoblog]