Autoblog

Ruffing It: Honda confirms canine-friendly Element to nuzzle into showrooms next month

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Crossover, Honda, Specialty

2010 Honda Dog Friendly Element - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Honda Element would seem to be a fine choice for anyone with an active lifestyle that wants a vehicle that's able to haul a ton of stuff while getting reasonable fuel economy and not breaking the piggy bank. Now - if you'll forgive us for regurgitating this very tired joke - it's gone to the dogs.

Starting on November 16, Honda will begin selling a "Dog Friendly" version of the Element for an extra $995 with a "pet accommodation system designed to improve safety, comfort and convenience for dogs and their owners alike." Out back, a nylon-webbed car kennel is intended to be a secure place to keep your precious pooch, and a soft floor and dedicated fan keep Fido comfy. To ease ingress and egress, an integrated ramp is also included.

For the 2010 model year, pricing for the Honda Element 2WD LX model starts at $20,525, and a fully-loaded 4WD EX with navigation will peg the meter at a fair $25,585. All Elements come with the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed automatic transmission. Two-wheel drive models garner EPA ratings of 20 mpg city and 25 highway; adding 4WD drops each of those figures by one. Want to know more? Hit the jump for the official press release.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Dog Friendly Element

Gallery: New York 2009: Dog Friendly Honda Element Concept

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Ruffing It: Honda confirms canine-friendly Element to nuzzle into showrooms next month

Ruffing It: Honda confirms canine-friendly Element to nuzzle into showrooms next month originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York: Honda ramps up attention for dog-friendly Element concept

Drew Phillips — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, Honda

Dog Friendly Honda Element Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda doesn't have any big reveal planned for the New York Auto Show this year, but it does have a vehicle on display that should make one section of the population sit up and take notice. Front and center in the Honda display here is an Element that's outfitted with Dog Friendly components, many of which should be available as accessories for the vehicle this fall. Fido will find himself very comfortable in the back of this Element where a cushioned pet bed is placed on an elevated platform. There are also pet restraint systems fitted to the second row and rear cargo area. An extendable ramp can be used to aid your pooch's ingress, while a 12V DC fan in the rear keeps him cool. A spill resistant water bowl, rubber floor mats covered in a toy bone pattern and second row seat covers with a dog-themed pattern round out Honda's cadre of canine friendly accessories. Check out the high-res gallery below to see them all and read Honda's official press release after the jump.

Gallery: New York 2009: Dog Friendly Honda Element Concept

Continue reading New York: Honda ramps up attention for dog-friendly Element concept

New York: Honda ramps up attention for dog-friendly Element concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More 2009 Honda Element pics surface

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Honda

Click above for gallery of the restyled 2009 Honda Element

Today we get to see the updates that Honda has made for its next Element more clearly. The most noticeable action is up front as the boxy 'ute gets Honda's new corporate-look grille. Classier head lights flank the five-sided opening and circular fog lamps slot nicely below them. It's a more mature look, which is fitting since the Element has proven popular with an older crowd than Honda had originally intended. Out back some shapely new tail lights appear alongside a subtly revised rear end.

As before, the standard model's clean lines can be enhanced a bit with the SC model, which gets a factory body-kit with pronounced flares and air dams. We don't spot any real changes on the inside, except an available nav system and chill box, though there was nothing wrong with the useful guts of the Element in the first place. We're also not expecting any major powertrain changes, but we'll report back when Honda makes things official.

Gallery: 2009 Honda Element

[Source: Carscoop]

More 2009 Honda Element pics surface originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Small recall for big suspension issue on 2008 Honda Element

Michael Harley — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Safety, Honda, Holden

~~All owners of 2008 Honda Elements are being asked to stop driving their cars until they have had them inspected at their local Honda dealer.~~ According to a recall issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the front bushing bracket of the left trailing arm of the rear suspension may have been improperly welded. If it fails, it could separate from the trailing arm causing the suspension to release part of the wheel hub, thus leading to a loss of control or crash. Although only 241 Elements are potentially affected (there are specific VIN number ranges during certain production dates), Honda is notifying all owners immediately and will inspect and replace defective parts at no charge. Rather than taking a risk, err on the side of safety and call your Honda dealer if you've got the keys to a 2008 Element in your pocket.

UPDATE: According to Honda spokesman Chris Martin all the affected owners were already notified before this story was published. Approximately half of the affected vehicles were unsold and sitting on dealer lots. Those have already been repaired. If you haven't already heard from Honda than you should be fine.

[Source: NHTSA via Carscoop]

Small recall for big suspension issue on 2008 Honda Element originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spirit of the VW Camper van goes Element-al

Dan Roth — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Honda, Lifestyle

click above for more pics of the Ursa Minor ECamper

The family vacation just hasn't been the same since the ubiquity of the Westfalia Camper and the VW Type2 as a family vehicle, both of which have been toppled by the rise of the minivan. There have been Westys since VW went mostly conventional with the Eurovan, but they're not much of a common sight on US Highways anymore.

Ursa Minor Vehicles understands that all those former kids who took trips to the Grand Canyon in a Westfalia have a soft spot for the poptop. Thus, the Ursa Minor ECamper kit for the Honda Element has been born. For those willing to part with an additional 4,000 bones, they will regain the ability to tilt up the roof again and contort themselves into an upper bunk area. The ECamper does require that the donor Element have a sunroof, which is the access hatch to the 85" x 50" sleeping area under the carbon fiber lid. Options such as color matched paint and roof racks are also available, and Ursa Minor will even sell you a fully outfitted Element if you don't want to tackle the kit. $4,300 is about what it'd cost in parts and labor to fix the head gaskets in your Wasserboxer, again, isn't it?

[Source: Winding Road]

Gallery: Ursa Minor ECamper

Spirit of the VW Camper van goes Element-al originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JDM Speculation: Worthy of seppuku?

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:06:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Japan, Acura, Honda

Few publications around the world provide highly-improbable speculation better than the magazines that come out of Japan (AutoBild holds down the fort in Germany). While most of the information is easily dismissed as rumor mongering and baseless conjecture, a few gems often reside in the rough.

So with that said, our friend 'S' and the peeps over at the Temple of VTEC let loose some scans from the oh-so-Japanese entitled, HolidayAuto magazine. The details and stories foretell the future of Honda's lineup, albeit with information that is, at best, dubious.

Follow the jump to see all the scans and read deets translated by the original author's girlfriend. Enjoy with a grain of salt.

[Source: Temple of VTEC]

Continue reading JDM Speculation: Worthy of seppuku?

JDM Speculation: Worthy of seppuku? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Review: 2007 Honda Element SC

John Neff — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Honda

Dave Thomas over at Kicking Tires is the first on the web to post his opinion of the new 2007 Element SC after Honda held a meet and greet for its new models last week. Thomas admittedly didn't get the Element at first when it appeared on the scene in 2003, but gives credit to the toaster on wheels for the market's current crop of box cars. The SC, however, is a new kind of Element that sheds a bit of the original's overtly utilitarian duds for a new front fascia with projector beam headlamps, a lowered ride height thanks to a sport tuned suspension, larger 18-inch wheels and bumpers actually painted to match the rest of the vehicle (a surprisingly new feature for the Element). Thomas tested a $22k example of an Element SC painted in Root Beer Metallic.

The Element's four-cylinder engine received a 10-horsepower bump to 166 hp this year, which moves this enemy of aerodynamics with a little more urgency than before, but not much. Davis, however, falls for the Element SC not for its performance (good thing), but for its practicality. He warns those considering a manual transmission, however, that Honda likes to put the stick up high on the dash, but we've found most people don't mind the odd placement. It looks wierd at first but generally feels comfortable.

To us, the Element and its boxy brethren always seemed like the cardboard boxes of the auto industry -- they're inherently useful and if you use your imagination can be a lot of fun. Looks like Honda used some imagination on the Element SC.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

First Review: 2007 Honda Element SC originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda announces pricing for 2007 Element

Stuart Waterman — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:58:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Honda

Honda launched its updated 2007 Element LX and EX models in the U.S. Wednesday, with prices starting at $18,900. The all-new Element SC will also debut in showrooms September 28, starting at $22,695.

The entire Element lineup benefits from freshened styling, an extra 10 hp (for a total of 166 hp), an available five-speed automatic, and added safety features.

The new Element SC (for "Street Custom") is intended to have a sportier look and feel, including a sport-tuned suspension with lowered ride height, 18-inch wheels, and unique styling touches inside and out.

Press release and more pics after the jump.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda announces pricing for 2007 Element

Honda announces pricing for 2007 Element originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2007 Honda Element SC

John Neff — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:36:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Spy Photos, Minivan/Van, Honda

Super sleuthing spy photographer Chris Doane has captured the upcoming 2007 Honda Element SC out in the wild. The Element SC was previewed as a concept at the New York auto show earlier in the year and the production version will come with many styling cues from the show car including "Ridgeline-inspired" projection beam lamps, body color exterior panels and an "aero-enhanced" grille. The suspension will also be lowered and the vehicle's 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC engine will now make 166 hp, up 10 ponies from the current powerplant. Also notice the much larger wheel/tire combo that should enhance the Element SC's performance envelope beyond that of a toaster on wheels. Look for the upgraded Element SC in Honda dealers starting this fall, as it will arrive as a 2007 model.

[Source: VTEC.net]

Spy Shots: 2007 Honda Element SC originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Auto Show: high-res shots of 2007 Honda Element SC intro

Eric Bryant — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Crossover, Honda

We were on hand to watch Honda executive VP Dick Colliver preside over the official debut of the Honda Element SC. Painted approximately the color of root beer, the various exterior and interior tweaks definitely represent an improvement for the box-shaped SUV (more details here). Honda sees the target audience as young men who are looking for a means of expression, which likely means that suburban baby-boomers will love it.

More high-res shots after the jump...

There are plenty more photos of the Element SC after the jump; each pic is a thumbnail that links to a higher-res version.

Continue reading New York Auto Show: high-res shots of 2007 Honda Element SC intro

New York Auto Show: high-res shots of 2007 Honda Element SC intro originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Apr 2006 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Auto Show: Honda rocks the box with Element SC prototype

Chris Paukert — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:22:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Trends, Crossover, Honda

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]

Continue reading New York Auto Show: Honda rocks the box with Element SC prototype

New York Auto Show: Honda rocks the box with Element SC prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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