Filed under: Minivans/MPVs, Japan, Honda
JDM Honda Odyssey teased ahead of debut
Click above to enlarge the new JDM Honda Odyssey
As many of you doubtless know, the Japanese Honda Odyssey isn't the same thing we get here in the States. While we get the more jumbo-rific family escape pod with sliders and the whole shebang, the JDM Odyssey is a sleeker-looking MPV with four traditionally-hinged doors anf four-cylinder power. And now it's time for a new one. Honda's just put up a special site to welcome the upcoming 4th-gen JDM Odyssey, whose styling further evolves the shape that's by now a common site in Japan, while the front end is likely to showcase Honda's current family design theme (think Clarity, Insight, etc.). You can check out the teaser site by clicking here, and keep in mind that Honda's reportedly thinking about sending over some of its JDM machinery. In lieu of, say, an Accord wagon, this (or the more compact Stream) might work for a lot of people -- especially those of us who view the typical U.S.-style minivan as Superman does kryptonite.
[Source: Honda via NihonCar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
taipeileviathan 3:07PM (9/20/2008)
oh my god does every single new car have to have some low-light teaser pics thrust upon us in feeble attempts to whet ppl's appetites prior to the actual car's release? i was unimpressed with teaser pics from lambo, how excited do they think we'd be with teaser pics for a *minivan*?? give me a break, please!
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Frank 5:05PM (9/20/2008)
was thinking the same thing, does a minivan really warrant a "tease" .... im sure soccermoms everywhere are salivating and scouring the web for additional pics in nervous anticipation.
tekdemon 8:30AM (9/21/2008)
In Japan people actually tune Odessey's...which is why there's even a Mugen page dedicated to it:
http://www.mugen-power.com/street/odyssey/introduction/index.html
It's only available with 4 cylinder engines, but the higher horsepower engine found in the Acura TSX actually makes it's way into the Odyssey as well...meaning it's a minivan with a redline over 8000RPM (not sure exactly what since there are so many variants of the K24A).
Anyways, I guess people in Japan get excited about it. I don't think it's actually that big, even though the pictures make it seem massive I think it's actually pretty small compared to the minivans you're used to thinking of.
BTW, this minivan *might* be coming stateside with the new focus on smaller cars and all. I wouldn't mind seeing a smaller minivan around.
Hamud 3:23PM (9/20/2008)
Looks like it has the length of a bus, eheheheh.
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James 3:59PM (9/20/2008)
It does in the photos, but remember the JDM Odyssey is a smaller, lower, sleeker-looking design than our Odyssey.
Darrell 3:39PM (9/20/2008)
I'd love to see the Stream hit our parts. Even though I'm not in the demographic (more in the Fit side), it'd be a great alternative to the crossover or minivan.
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Swede 3:56PM (9/20/2008)
In Japan that must be considered obnoxiously large.
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Bobby 3:39AM (9/21/2008)
If this is huge, you might wanna check out the Toyota Vellfire, or Nissan Elgran, Honda Elysion.
Torrent 5:50PM (9/20/2008)
I like it. Better than the one we have here now.
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oZ 5:55PM (9/20/2008)
Looks like what would be a 'crossover' here.
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Ak 6:02PM (9/20/2008)
Saw one of these today (probably the current one rather than the one being teaseD); was kicking myself for not having a camera with me. It's like a long station wagon essentially, with two fold-up seats in the back. IP is pretty similar to the US Odyssey with some size changes.
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Will 8:57PM (9/20/2008)
Size-wise, does this play in roughly the same league as the Subaru Exiga?
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BoneHeadOtto 9:51PM (9/20/2008)
why would you have a minivan without sliding doors. sliding doors are the greatest thing for a practical car. I would get them on a sedan if i could. But they are a necessity on a minvan. Without them your kids will ding the door of every car you park next to and you will not have the automatic door opening mechanism. Im all for a smaller minivan and possibly even a 4cylinder but please please keep the sliding doors!!!!
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rickhamilton620 2:12AM (9/21/2008)
Perhaps the Freed would be better for the US, http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/30/honda-freed-mini-minivan-debuts-in-japan/ (potential Mazda 5/Rondo competitor anyone?)
Heck, maybe they could bring both over so they can please both the minivan traditionalists (that didn't really gravitate to this format with the 1st gen. Odyssey) and those who wouldn't be caught dead in anything that has *gasp* sliding doors.
mole 9:51PM (9/20/2008)
it looks pretty much like the current model in terms of size and height.. they changed the rear lights..
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Staggers 12:43AM (9/21/2008)
They sell this in Australia as well. It has a much lower roofline then a typical minivan to give a sportier appearance, but it is actually pretty roomy inside. No V6 though, and Oz only gets the less powerful 4 cylinder out of the Accord, not the higher spec 147kw version from the Oz spec Accord Euro offered in JDM. The 'space ship' like interior is not to everyones taste though.
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Willis 1:37AM (9/21/2008)
I had to laugh at the caption:
"Click above to enlarge the new JDM Honda Odyssey"
don't think I can make it any bigger than that
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catgirlshyla 4:17AM (9/21/2008)
All I can say is....It needs some Bippu.
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P.V. 11:41AM (9/21/2008)
HOTNESS!
Could this be that mystery camo'ed Acura vehicle that was spied a while ago?
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Doug Dieter 12:59PM (9/21/2008)
LL Subaru has been ahead of them all along by staying the same for the past 20 years!
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