Honda Odyssey 2008 News

Honda Australia is working around the clock to replace 600,000 potentially faulty airbags.

Honda's Odyssey people mover is changing into something like it was a few years ago -- a more bus-like vehicle instead of an overblown wagon as it is now. And the new model, due next year gains a seat taking the pew tally to eight. The new Odyssey lobs in February 2014 and marks the 20th anniversary of Honda's entry into the so called "mum-bus" segment. New Odyssey features a 2.4 litre engine and CVT from Honda's Earth Dreams Technology series that have both been completely redesigned and reengineered. Fuel economy has been improved to a reasonable 7.6 litres per 100 km -- a fuel saving of over 14 per cent. New Odyssey is bigger on the outside  than its predecessor and its exterior styling is totally new featuring one-touch power sliding doors (on selected models only), daytime running lights and wide-angle reversing camera. Odyssey will be available as either a seven or eight seater for the first time ever. It features a state-of-the-art audio system and several new advanced technologies to ensure peace of mind. Pricing and further specifications will be released closer to the launch date.

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The original was launched here in 1994 and helped establish the company's credentials in the mini-van people mover market.However, by the third generation, the people mover also morphed into a more stylish interpretation of a family carrier with better, car-like dynamics.The newest fourth-generation Odyssey is an evolution of that car and does not mess with the proven formula.However, prices have risen sharply by $4700 and $4200 for the two model lineup partly because of exchange rates and also the lift in specification.The Odyssey opener now starts at $43,990 but still remains competitive against the Chrysler Grand Voyager, Toyota Tarago and VW Caravelle.The Hyundai iMax, Kia Carnival and Citroen Picasso undercut it.For the extra money, the Odyssey gets a more powerful 2.4-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder engine and five-speed automatic, better safety, visibility.The safety gear extends to six airbags and Honda's version of electronic stability control.All passengers get three-point seatbelts in all seven seats and active front seat headrests.Height and reach adjustable steering and double wishbone suspension improve function and driveability.At 4810mm long, the newcomer is 30mm longer yet sits on the same 2830mm wheelbase of the old car.By comparison a Ford Territory is 4856mm long.Front and rear tracks remains the same at 1560mm.Visually the Odyssey continues the low-lean look, which also contributes to a low centre of gravity.The car's low floor is made possible by the design and layout of the fuel tank, rear suspension, exhaust and other components.With an overall height of 1545mm, the cabin is 5mm lower but passenger room has been improved, particularly for third-row occupants.Honda has spent a lot of time making access easier to the back.The C-pillar has also been made 40mm thinner for easy access to the third row.When not in use, the third row stows flat into the floor.Comfort in the second row has been improved with the belt anchor built into the pillar, 20mm greater head clearance and bigger centre armrest.The second row also has a one-action lever to tilt them and slide the seats forward 320mm.The rear hatch is now wider and thinner to improve luggage space.In its five-seater configuration the Odyssey has 708 litres of luggage space and 259 litres with seven-seats in use.Inside, the car's V-shape seating layout gives all passengers a clear view forward by positioning the second and third rows closer to the centre of the car.Like the previous model the driver has a panoramic view of the road.Honda has slimmed down the A-pillars by 30 per cent without affecting the car's strength by using ultra high-strength steel.High-strength steel and more sound deadening have also helped reduce cabin noise.Electric power steering is also standard.Power remains the proven 2.4-litre i-VTEC four cylinder but it gets an extra 14kW while torque remains the same. It will run on 91RON. SpecsPrice: $43,990 and $49,990 (Luxury)Body: five-door wagonEngine: 2.4-litre four cylinder i-VTEC front wheel drivePower: 132kW at 6500 revsTorque: 218Nm at 4500 revsTransmission: Five-speed automaticFuel economy: 8.9 litres/100km (combined), 12.1 litres/100km (city), 7.1 litres/100km (highway)Co2 emissions: 212 g/km 

New-car buyers have a unique opportunity to bargain with dealers as the industry weathers a perfect storm of plummeting demand, rising costs and fallout from the credit crunch.“Right now, it's an epic fire sale. We'll never see this repeated,” Channel Nine motoring expert and consultant John Cadogan said.“If you've got the money, now is the time to buy. It won't be this good again.”Some brands are offering huge incentives, including extended warranty, free on-road costs and price reductions running from $1000 to more than $10,000.Mr Cadogan said that for a determined buyer these were merely the beginning.“The basic formula for getting a discount is to ask for the drive-away price, subtract 15 per cent and offer that,” he said.“If they won't be in it go somewhere else, because some dealer somewhere will trade in for that sort of discount. Be prepared to compromise on colour and trim if you have to.“And even if it's not the make you want, you will get the same sort of car.“The only caveat is that the car has to be in stock.“When it's on the floor, the dealer is paying the finance cost of owning it because he has to buy it from the manufacturer.”AMP chief economist Dr Shane Oliver said car sales were “in the process of falling off a cliff”.“Given the urgency with which some dealers need to get rid of their stock rather than have it repossessed, there are bargains out there,” Dr Oliver said.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Andrew Mackeller said brands are “doing what they can to clear the decks. There are excellent deals to be had on 2008-plated stock.”The window will not be open for long.The Australian dollar's dramatic plunge against major currencies will soon bite hard, forcing prices to rise.For the moment, dealers disadvantaged by the credit crunch and the market downturn seek to urgently shift stock.This buyer's market has been brought about by a downturn in car sales so dramatic that Holden has suspended production at its Adelaide plant for the first three months of 2009.New-car sales for October were down by more than 10,000 units on the same month in 2007.Dealers have also been hit by the withdrawal from the car market of financiers GE Money and General Motors Acceptance Corporation. This has caused a funding shortfall of about $2 billion which affects as many as 30 per cent of the nation's dealerships. 10 TIPS TO A GREAT DEAL* Look for slow-selling models* Look for 2008-build models* Compare prices from dealers* Go for a car that's in the showroom _ these are the ones the dealer needs to get rid of* Big, thirsty cars are unpopular, but the savings on the purchase price can equal a year's worth of fuel* Demand the driveaway price and offer under that* Demand extended warranty and on-road costs* Lean hard on the dealer to include optional extras* Compromise on colour and trim and even make in order to save big* Be ready to walk away there's no lack of competition out there START HERE AND THEN OFFER 15 PER CENT LESS ...HONDA ODYSSEY: $39,290 (Driveaway)MITSUBISHI LANCER: $20,990 (with $2008 cashback)HYUNDAI ELANTRA: $19,990 (Driveaway plus $1000 gift card)NISSAN MICRA: $14,990 (Free on-roads) 

We collectively bought more than 82,000 vehicles last month, close enough to a 7 per cent rise over January 2007.Looking at it another way, contracts on 213 vehicles were signed for each of the 25 selling days in the month. That's a record over last year, which in itself was a record over 2006.Toyota remains king of the sales heap and the big movers were the small, medium and SUV sectors. Sales of large cars continued to plummet, which must be a worry to Ford as it prepares to launch its new Falcon.Mitsubishi, which is pulling out of manufacturing here, finished a distant sixth in the sales race, with Honda and Mazda both outselling the former car giant. So, according the industry statistician facts, who were the winners?Toyota's Yaris dominated the cheap and cheerful light market, with the Mazda2 and Honda Jazz also popular with buyers.The hotly contested small car market continues to be a bloody battleground. Toyota's Corolla was streets ahead of its opposition but the real fight was for the crumbs, with the Mazda3, Ford Focus and Honda Civic all doing well.The mid-sized market, which has been quiet, is picking up pace as buyers downsize. Most went for the Toyota Camry ahead of the Mazda6, with Subaru's Liberty a distant third.The large car market was a disaster for the local players. The Commodore was the best seller but it, along with the Falcon, Mitsubishi 380, Honda Accord and Hyundai Grandeur, lost ground.The star performer was Toyota's Aurion, which outsold the Falcon.Of the rest of the new car fleet, Honda's Odyssey beat the cheaper Kia Carnival in the people mover market, while the big surprise was in the SUV sector where Honda's CR-V outsold the Subaru Forester, Toyota's RAV 4 and recently launched Nissan X-Trail.The sales stats throw up some interesting facts and figures.Private buyers are taking a big liking to diesel engines (sales are up 82 per cent but still a low volume), while vehicles running on LPG are out of favour (down 64 per cent). Hybrid models enjoyed 11 per cent growth.And just to show how global the industry has become, last month we bought vehicles made in 23 countries. While most cars still come from Japan, there were models from the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.