SEMA sideways: Honda's RWD Element drifter
by Damon Lavrinc on Nov 1st 2006 at 8:37AM 
UPDATE: Added Frank's live shots after the jump
In the hotly contested "Most ridiculous thing to come out SEMA" award, our first finalist has been announced. The idea of creating a RWD Element whose sole purpose is to slide sideways is a engineering testament of how too much time and an exorbitant amount of resources can produce something one-part admirable and two-parts insane.
The Element-D drifter dispatched the stock four-cylinder to make way for a twin-turbo 3.2-liter Honda V6 that sends 500 HP to the rear wheels. Produced by a group of lonely engineers at Honda Associates American R&D center in Ohio, the overly-caffeinated group scoured their parts surplus and debut the Element yesterday in Las Vegas.
We can't wait to get video of the Element-D in action, but until then, it's a safe bet that this creation will me one of the more, shall we say, memorable offerings to come out of SEMA this year.
More images are availabe after the jump and be sure to check the dual side exhaust on the pics of the Element-D doin' it's thang.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
emulous1974 8:58AM (11/01/2006)
As a former Element owner, I always said it needed a little more power, but a 500hp box is a bit much. The paint job looks great and fits the Halloween motif to a tee. Am I missing something, cause I don't see a dual-side exhaust? And who ever thought a roll cage would be designed for the Element?
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epilonious 8:55AM (11/01/2006)
Maybe ToMoCo will parry next year by cramming the new 5.2L V8 in the upcoming tundra into an xB or a yaris.
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Don T. 9:10AM (11/01/2006)
Has there ever been a bigger waste of time and money?? I mean who cares about a box on wheels that can go fast and handle well? People buy cars like that for their practicality, not to go corner carving or drag racing. My apologies to the two or three people out there who think this is cool.
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D-Dog 9:14AM (11/01/2006)
I'm one of those two or three people out here that thinks this is cool!!! I'm an AARP/NHRA card-carrying member too.
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Dana 9:19AM (11/01/2006)
I'm the other person that thinks this is cool.
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Mookie 9:22AM (11/01/2006)
Can I retrofit the parts into my 2005 Element??? WOOO-HOOO!!!
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Steve 9:28AM (11/01/2006)
Ok, Don T., most of this blog is about wasting time and money on things with wheels... find something else to read to waste your self-righteous time and money on if you're not interested.
This is the first Honda Element I've ever seen that I liked... and I'm sure this is true of a lot more than "two or three" others who feel the same.
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Steve 9:31AM (11/01/2006)
Don T., most of this blog is about wasting time and money on things with wheels... maybe you should find something else to read (and waste your time and money on) if you're not interested.
(This is the first Honda Element I've ever seen that I liked... and I'm sure this is true of a lot more than "two or three" others who feel the same.)
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AndyC 9:38AM (11/01/2006)
I'm also the other person who thinks this is cool. As a current Honda Element owner, this is even cooler...
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PepsiLover 9:40AM (11/01/2006)
I like the Honda Element. This one is even better.
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Corey W. 9:55AM (11/01/2006)
This doesn't look like any Element I've seen on the road... Cool!!!
Any other stats other than HP??
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Samuel 9:45AM (11/01/2006)
Wow. How did they cram the V6 into that engine bay?
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Shawn 9:52AM (11/01/2006)
Don T., you're in the wrong blog...try http://www.autobloggreen.com.
The short answer is: Because it is fun. Does it make any sense to drive fast to go no where, ski down a mountain after you just paid to get up there, jump out of a perfectly good airplane, or bang the neighbor's college co-ed daughter that's not your wife? Probably not. However, if you had to ask "why," maybe you should just laid down and give up the whole "life" thing.
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Don T. 9:53AM (11/01/2006)
Steve, yeah most of this blog is about wasting time and money on things with wheels, but not totally idiotic, nonsense BS like this thing. The majority of stuff on this blog is about cars or mods you can actually buy now or at some point down the road. My point is what is the reason for this exercise? Is Honda going to build this car? No. Will they even offer these mods to consumers? No. Why? Because common sense tells them that, other than you and the few other creampuffs out there who like reading about this kind of crap, no one really cares.
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Samuel 9:57AM (11/01/2006)
This is SEMA though. All manufacturers bring out their crazy ideas at SEMA. I think this Element is perfect. Who would have ever thought to do this to an Element? Its genius. It's so different, you have to love it.
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JD 6:50PM (11/01/2006)
Very Cool.
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RZ 10:16AM (11/01/2006)
I have one beef with Honda Element, it is very big and comfy inside but it's rear seats are not bench like, it basicaly has two very comfortable L-Z Boys, so only two people can seat. Yes they can seat very very comfortbly but i guess it would be nice to seat a third person.
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MikeW 1:55PM (11/01/2006)
The V6 is at most wide as the 2.4 I4 is long. The V6 is probably shorter, and they don't have to worry about crash protection, it is a one off.
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Steve 11:31AM (11/01/2006)
Don T., you're getting personal now. I may be a creme puff, but I like to see people be creative, even if no one else can buy the stuff... it's like a good painting... the original hangs only on one person's wall, and the rest of us only get to admire it.
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aliasfox 11:36AM (11/01/2006)
All I'm wondering is why there isn't some special edition NSX with that twin turbo V6...
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