New York Auto Show: Honda rocks the box with Element SC prototype
Finally answering the cult of Element enthusiasts (hey, we know a few), Honda is set to rock its Box with a production version of SC prototype unveiled here in New York.
Lowered three-inches on a sport suspension and seen here on 21" wheels and tires (245/35R21), the 2007 Element SC prototype sports a full body kit, painted exterior paneling and trim, and most obviously, a reworked nose with blacked-out grille and projector-beam headlamps.
The Element SC's interior has received a light revamp as well, netting a reworked center console, full interior carpeting (in place of the current Element's washable flooring), 'copper hue instrument panel' with LED backlighting and piano black trim.
Also indicative of the direction Honda is taking with its Element, the concept's 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine gets a ten pony bump to 166 horsepower, courtesy less-restrictive intake and exhaust systems, as well as high-lift cams. The throttle will henceforth be drive-by-wire, and the automatic sprouts a fifth gear.
In the safety arena, the Element gets a new seat belt design that eases entry and exit to the rear seat-- a common complaint among H-Box afficianados. This, along with a side curtain airbags, stability control, and anti-lock supervision.
A production version of the urbanized Element is set for this fall.
(full press release and tons of photos after the jump!)
[Source: Honda]
New York 04/13/2006 --
An all-new urban-oriented counterpart to the Honda Element will debut this fall with an exclusive sport suspension, larger wheels and tires, unique styling and special features like a carpeted interior and a center console, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today at the 2006 New York International Auto Show.
With performance more than skin deep, the Element SC prototype rides 3-inches lower than stock with a sport suspension that delivers sports car-like handling. A front-to-rear aerodynamic body kit further lowers the vehicle's stance, supplementing the new vehicle's performance direction with a ground-hugging presence. High on sophistication, the Element SC smoothly stands out with exclusive features such as fully-painted exterior panels and trim pieces, projector-beam headlights and an aero-enhanced black grille. The interior further complements the city performance demeanor with a driver-oriented center console, copper hue instrument panel lighting backlit with LEDs, piano black trim and a carpeted floor.
"The Element SC prototype is the city-dwelling, style-conscious brother of the original Element," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "Instead of features that accommodate outdoor sports and similar activities, the Element SC injects a new dimension of sophistication into the lineup that can best be characterized as 'night performer.'"
The exterior styling expresses a sophisticated, performance-oriented attitude with SC-exclusive features that include projector beam headlights, custom front bumper, lowered suspension, large alloy wheels, custom grille and a slightly lowered roofline (trim effect).
To match the outside, the exclusive interior takes on an entirely new personality with a center console that has enclosed storage areas ideal for mobile phones and MP3 players. Additional exclusive features include trim accents that correspond to the copper-colored illumination.
The 2007 Element SC prototype has a 2.4-liter, DOHC, i-VTEC engine that benefits from a 10 horsepower increase over the 2006 Element, bringing the total to 166 horsepower (SAE net revised 8/04). The increase is achieved primarily through the addition of high-flow intake and exhaust systems and high-lift camshafts. Additional enhancements include drive-by-wire throttle control. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, and the available automatic transmission has five forward gears instead of four.
Fulfilling the goals of Honda's "Safety for Everyone" initiative introduced in 2003, all 2007 Elements will provide a core suite of standard safety equipment that goes beyond existing regulations and includes side curtain airbags, driver's side impact airbag, front passenger's side impact airbag, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and ABS.
The 2007 Honda Element also introduces an Integrated Seat Belt System on the front seats that allows rear seat occupants to exit the vehicle without the need for a front occupant to disconnect his or her seatbelt. In place of the existing B-pillar, door-mounted shoulder strap, the new Integrated Seat Belt System shoulder strap originates from the top of the seat and helps to enhance vehicle ingress/egress convenience for rear passengers.
The Element SC prototype features custom 21-inch cast aluminum alloy wheels, 245/35R21 high-performance custom tires, and 4-wheel disc brakes with large brake rotors and custom copper-appearance brake calipers. The combination of the sport-tuned suspension and aggressive wheel and tire package results in an urban utility vehicle that handles like a sports car. A production vehicle based on the Element SC prototype will go on sale this fall.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Erik 11:32AM (4/13/2006)
...and it's STILL ugly
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Mike 11:34AM (4/13/2006)
STILL ONE OF THE UGLIEST VEHICLES EVER MADE... UP THERE WITH THE SCION XB, PONTIAC AZTEC, AND JEEP COMPASS
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Doogs 11:40AM (4/13/2006)
Wow. That's one good looking Scion xB!
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Howard Kerr 11:41AM (4/13/2006)
The brown/copperish hue on the interior parts makes them look like they came in contact with dog s**t. Is brown now the new black?
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RossL 11:54AM (4/13/2006)
Yeah, it's ugly - but in the best possible way. Yeah, baby!
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YOUR MOM 11:56AM (4/13/2006)
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO HATES THE LOOK OF THE SHIFTER COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD?
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steve s 12:08PM (4/13/2006)
Ugly is as ugly does.
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AJ Ballou 12:22PM (4/13/2006)
I must dissent--I love the Element. There's a soft spot in my heart, however, for tall, boxy wagons; my first car was an old Toyota Tercel 4WD wagon. You can fit a bunch of stuff in it, it's short enough for parking in the city, and it offers lotsa headroom for a tall fella like me. Sure it looks like a 1984 Chevy Astro, but those are big in Japan, right?
Thank god Honda attached the seat belt to the front seat. Why wasn't this in the original design? It's still at the top of my list.
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PM 12:24PM (4/13/2006)
Definitely think this is a good refresh for the Element. The seatbelt redesign was a good move, Toyota will have to do this on the FJ Cruiser as well.
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WillDaThrill 12:53PM (4/13/2006)
Nerds and tree huggers around the world rejoice! Now they can play their Mike Jones CD's and actually sing out loud.
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Ben 12:56PM (4/13/2006)
seriously .... what's the point of the Element again ??
first you took away the plastic bumper and stuff.
now you take away the washable interior ..
now it's just a really boxy CR-V.
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JB 1:10PM (4/13/2006)
Say what you will, there are still some of us out there that just love the E - I wish I could tell you, but it's more of why we look at those hot moms with a gleam in the eye - we don't say it out loud, but we still like to look. Same for the E. My 06 EX-P is hands down one of the best cars I've ver owned. You can bet that I'll do a trade next year for this one. Except I dont' like the color, make it black.
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dstnbth 1:58PM (4/13/2006)
I really wanted to like these. There are a lot of great ideas incorporated into this car. I was going to buy one. That is up until I test drove it. There is too much car for the civic engine. Had no guts when I mashed the pedal; the though of merging into traffic is a little scary.
I bought an 01 pathfinder instead - first year of the bigger v6 and last year of the manual transmission. I am happy, even if I don't have suicide doors.
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Adam Singer 2:12PM (4/13/2006)
Re: dstnbth
It's not the Civic engine, that's a 1.8 liter SOHC four. In the Element is a 2.4 liter DOHC four that's found also in the CRV/Accord/TSX.
I've never driven an automatic Element but the engine is more than adequate with the manual gearbox.
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Scott Eaton 2:32PM (4/13/2006)
I have a 2004 EX AWD model with manual tranny. It's actually very easy to drive quickly and you don't have to rev it up like other Honda engines to get some power out of it. The carpeted interior looks like it's OVER the plastic interior - so these may be the optional carpets that are currently available.
I don't like the painted panels on the 2006 EX-P - the plastic panels have actually saved me some damage already, so I think they're worth it. I know a lot of people think the car is hideously ugly, but it does grow on you. I used to think that. Now I just see it as character. It's certainly nowhere near an Aztek.
That said, I'm not getting another one. The gas mileage is just way to crappy for $3.xx gasoline - I expect better from Honda. Emissions are great, however, as always. Overall, I love the vehicle. I would be interested in sitting in the driver's seat and viewing the updated dashboard - I currently have sight line issues with the 2004 dashboard's gauges and I'm only 5'8". Oh, and it's been perfect since purchase with only 30,000 miles on it so far.
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Scott Eaton 2:40PM (4/13/2006)
oh and the coolest change shown: the integrated seatbelts in the front seats. Fantastic change.
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SoccerMomsRule 2:40PM (4/13/2006)
"but it's more of why we look at those hot moms with a gleam in the eye"
And with those fold-down seats you can get busy with the soccer mom's without hurting your mid-life crisis back!
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Vik 2:59PM (4/13/2006)
They upgraded nearly every part that needed work except the one woefully inadequate part of the Element- it's motor. The E is just too big for that 4 cylinder engine. Stick the Accord 6 in there and it's a winner- performance wise as least. My wife gets angry just looking at the car.
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fizzandpop 3:27PM (4/13/2006)
Is that some sort of Tartan surrounding the shifter? "Och aye the noo! there's a gear knob stickin' oot me sporan!"
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Tom Black 4:36PM (4/13/2006)
Wow. What a conservative crowd. There's not one thing about this car that I'd call "ugly", but since it's unconventional it gets called that all the time. Open your minds, people. I remember when my Dad got an 88 Taurus. He parked it and some kid in the parking lot yelled, "Land that airplane!" By today's standards, the first Taurus was boxy, but at the time, many people thought it was ugly too.
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