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2018 Honda Odyssey bests Pacifica, Sienna in minivan crash, LATCH tests

Honda has a lot to be proud of following the latest round of passenger small-overlap crash testing by the IIHS. The safety organization tested the 2018 Honda Odyssey, 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Toyota Sienna, and the Odyssey managed the best rating of "Good." The Pacifica followed behind with an "Acceptable" rating, and the Sienna brought up the rear with just a "Marginal." Both the Pacifica and Sienna lost points because the structure around the passengers collapsed to differing extents, leading to parts of the structure intruding into the passenger compartment. The Pacifica didn't intrude enough to harm passengers, with each injury area still having a Good rating, but the Sienna's structure intruded far enough to potentially harm the leg and foot areas, leading to an Acceptable rating in those specific areas. In addition to the small overlap crash test, the IIHS evaluated all three minivans for LATCH child seat anchor ease of use. Once again, the Odyssey aced the test with a Good+ rating, which is awarded for both ease of use and offering multiple anchor point options. The Pacifica and Sienna swap the crash test ratings, with a Marginal for the Chrysler and an Acceptable for the Sienna. The Odyssey and Pacifica can both brag that they're Top Safety Picks, and they'd get Top Safety Pick+ awards if they weren't hampered by headlights that only get Acceptable ratings. The Toyota Sienna fails to earn the regular Top Safety Pick award because both small overlap tests yielded results that were too low. Only one other minivan tested by IIHS has the Top Safety Pick rating, and that's the Kia Sedona. It earns an Acceptable rating in LATCH usability, and its headlights actually earned a Good rating. It hasn't undergone passenger-side small overlap crash testing yet. If it fares well, it could get bumped up to a Top Safety Pick+ rating. Related Video: Image Credit: IIHS Chrysler Honda Toyota Safety Minivan/Van consumer toyota sienna chrysler pacifica IIHS Top Safety Pick

That thing got a Hemi? Mopar engine kits make it easier to say yes

Thanks to a new kit from Mopar, classic car owners will have an easier time dropping Hemis into their muscle cars. The kit works with Mopar's 345 and 392 Hemi engines (5.7 and 6.4 liters respectively) and with cars built before 1975. The kit will run $1,795 and has everything needed to get one of the above engines running. The parts include a power distribution system, engine computer, engine and chassis wiring harnesses, O2 and intake air temperature sensors, ground wiring and a gas pedal. The kit is also designed to work with a manual transmission, but Mopar says a transmission such as the Torqueflite 727 and 904 can be made to work with the system. As for examples of the kit in action, take a look at the Jeep CJ66 and Dodge Challenger Shakedown that Mopar revealed this week at the SEMA show. Mopar also offers a few other parts to help complete the project, including various oil pans to clear subframes, a set of headers, and accessory drives for power steering and air conditioning. All of these parts are extra cost though. You'll also need an engine, and the 345 starts at $6,070, and the 392 runs $9,335. However, if you happen to already have one from 2014 or newer, that will work, too. Muscle car fans are getting more choices for their engine conversions. Chevrolet Performance already sells crate engines with "Connect and Cruise" kits to get its engines working in classic cars. The General also offers it with more engines. However, for people who want to keep a Mopar engine in their classic Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, or Jeep, this is a cool new option. Related Video: Featured Gallery Mopar Hemi V8 Engine Swap Kit Image Credit: FCA Aftermarket SEMA Show Chrysler Dodge Performance Classics FCA engine swap SEMA 2016

Chrysler Airflow being redesigned and renamed for production

The Chrysler Airflow concept is dead in name and form. Motor Trend spoke to Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles, who said brand CEO Chris Feuell "wanted a statement that had literally zero to do with anything that you have seen today, even the Airflow concept car. It is evolving in a new direction." When MT spoke to Feuell about the name, she said, "There is a group of people who love the Airflow name and just as many who beg us not to use it." The magazine believes a new-to-the-brand name will get the nod, Chrysler perhaps hoping to perform a hard reset on buyer perceptions. The redesign is far enough along to have been previewed in Los Angeles earlier this year, Feuell saying reactions tell them "we have a hit on our hands," Gilles saying "It blew the doors off." We won't see it until next year, and no one at the brand has offered a clue about how it's changed from the Airflow concept now a couple of years old. We know Feuell is plotting a remake of the entire the Chrysler experience, from shopping its products online and at dealers to after-sales care. She's said before she wants Chrysler to become Stellantis' "startup brand," offering "clean mobility, seamless technology," and affordable pricing. Affordable doesn't mean what it used to mean, so we don't know where product planners intend to slot the coming vehicles. Tesla buyers have been mentioned as one of Feuell's targets, but we're clearly still in the early days of transformation when marketing Venn diagrams encompass aspirations and projections that will be whittled out as production nears. Even for all that, the Airflow didn't scream "Chrysler transformed!" save for its battery-electric powertrain. Chrysler's tracking like Jaguar at the moment, with a lean range for dealers until the EV revolution begins in 2025. And as with Jaguar, considering how long Chrysler's plateaued, putting it kindly, it's not surprising the boss wants a more compelling wrapper. When the Pentastar's two-row crossover debuts, it will sit on the STLA Large platform, offer 400- and 800-volt electrical architectures, and pack batteries that power up to 400 miles of range. More important, it will establish the baseline for the product overhaul leading to an entirely new portfolio by 2028. We'd love to see Chrysler get it right. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.