2010 Honda Odyssey on 2040-cars

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Honda Odyssey Hybrid greens up your minivan

Almost neglected completely at the Honda press presentation at the Tokyo Motor Show today was what could be a true game changer. Lots of people drive minivans. Lots of people like hybrids. There are even some hybrid minivans for sale in Japan. But Honda has never offered its popular Odyssey premium minivan with a gas-electric powertrain. That's about to change. Too bad this fact was not mentioned at all during the press conference. The hybrid Odyssey was on the show floor, though, and a press pack distributed by Honda says that the minivan will have an updated dual-motor Sport Hybrid i-MMD powertrain "for outstanding environmental performance and powerful acceleration." Honda also says that this is the first time is has put the IPU (the Intelligent Power Unit, made up of the battery and Power Control Unit) under the front row seats. Overall, the powertrain update offers a, "new hybrid driving experience," Honda says, and that now, "the Odyssey Hybrid makes minivan travel more enjoyable than ever." The van also seems to be of a high specification, with plush seats, dark micro-fiber decorating the dash and forward areas, and captains chairs that look primed for napping. Hauling your family the green way comes with some creature comforts, it seems. Honda isn't any details about the environmental benefits of putting a hybrid powertrain into the Odyssey, but when the rumor of this vehicle first appeared, there was talk of a 50-percent reduction in fuel use. For a number of reasons - most important being that the American and Japanese Odysseys are very different vehicles – it's unlikely that a hybrid Odyssey will be available in the US any time soon. Featuring updated SPORT HYBRID i-MMD for outstanding environmental performance and powerful acceleration The most comfortable environment possible for transporting a large number of people. In fulfillment of this concept, the Odyssey premium minivan brings together a generously roomy cabin, distinctive styling, and an exhilarating yet steady driving experience. And now the Odyssey will also be available as a hybrid vehicle. Featur- ing a new power control unit with a compact and concentrated structure for outstanding power density, the innovative dual-motor SPORT HYBRID i-MMD hybrid system offers both outstanding environmental performance and the powerful acceleration of an electric motor.

Autoblog Podcast #394

Episode #394 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Steven Ewing, and Michael Harley talk about the possibility of a supercharged Dodge Viper, the Chevrolet Silverado Rally Edition, the newly released supercharger kit for the Honda CR-Z, and rumblings of an Alfa Romeo 6C. We start with what's in the garage and finish up with some of your questions, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Check out the rundown below with times for topics, and you can follow along down below with our Q&A. Thanks for listening! Autoblog Podcast #394: The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience. Topics: Supercharged Viper Chevrolet Silverado Rally Edition Honda CR-Z Supercharged Alfa Romeo 6C In The Autoblog Garage: 2014 Ford Fiesta SE 2015 Cadillac Escalade 2015 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro 2015 Audi A8 L TDI Hosts: Dan Roth, Steven Ewing, Michael Harley Runtime: 01:32:30 Rundown: Intro and Garage - 00:00 Supercharged Viper - 44:25 Chevrolet Silverado Rally Edition - 55:19 Supercharged Honda CR-Z - 01:00:52 Alfa Romeo 6C - 01:07:29 Q&A - 01:13:41 Get the podcast: [UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10 PM Eastern at UStream [iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes [RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator [MP3] Download the MP3 directly Feedback: Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com Review the show in iTunes

Junkyard Gem: 1991 Honda Prelude Si 4WS

The third-generation Honda Prelude was sold in the United States for the 1988 through 1991 model years, and the Si version with the optional four-wheel-steering system was one of the best-handling cars of its time. Most of these cars were used up and discarded a decade or so ago, but I spotted this one in a Northern California wrecking yard last week. The mechanical four-wheel-steering system on these cars enabled them to eat up much more expensive machinery in the corners. Though 140 horses out of 2.1 liters doesn't sound like so much today, a quarter-century ago it was very impressive in a car this size. Why did this car get scrapped? Perhaps that Honda Achilles heel, the fragile head gasket, signed its death warrant, or perhaps it just got too battered for its last owner to pay off a sheaf of parking tickets. Whatever the reason, this car's next stop will be the global scrap-metal market. Related Video: