2014 Honda Odyssey Delivers More Value to Customers with Refreshed Styling, Enhanced Safety and Additional Standard Features

Already the benchmark minivan, the 2014 Honda Odyssey is the most fuel efficient V6 minivan on the market and offers new innovative features like HondaVAC^™
 
MARKHAM, ON, July 24, 2013 /CNW/ - The 2014 Honda Odyssey minivan arrives at Honda dealerships nationwide the week of July 22, refreshed with a host of powertrain, styling, interior, feature and safety upgrades, all designed to meet the needs of today's family. Key changes to the 2014 Odyssey minivan include the addition of a standard 6-speed automatic transmission on all trims resulting in class-leading fuel-economy ratings for a V6 minivan, enhanced safety equipment, cleaner front and rear exterior styling, plus revised instrumentation and electronic controls.

For the first time all 2014 Odyssey models will include a 4-way power passenger seat, Expanded View Driver's Mirror and an SMS text messaging function. New available features include the Honda exclusive LaneWatch^™ blind spot display, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). Additionally, Odyssey Touring models will now come standard with the much-anticipated HondaVAC^™, the world's first in-vehicle vacuum cleaner, which allows customers the ability to quickly and easily clean-up dirt and debris from every corner of the minivan.

Two new packages have been added to the Odyssey line-up in Canada for 2014; an EX-L Navi and SE. The Canadian-exclusive SE includes all of the standard features of the LX plus 17" aluminum alloy wheels, front centre console and 8-passenger seating.

The 2014 Honda Odyssey will have a starting MSRP¹ of $29,990. This represents zero increase in base price for a thoroughly revised Odyssey equipped with additional standard features for increased convenience.

With the addition of a standard 6-speed automatic transmission paired to the 3.5-litre, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), the Odyssey further solidifies its place as a fuel economy leader in the minivan segment with all 2014 models offering Transport Canada fuel economy ratings of 10.9 / 7.1 L/100km² city/highway.

Further enhancing occupant safety, the 2014 Odyssey receives the next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering^™ (ACE^™) body structure. The reinforced frontal structure improves frontal crash energy management through a wider range of offset and oblique collision modes. With the revised structure, the 2014 Odyssey is anticipated to earn the highest rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including a GOOD rating in the stringent new IIHS small overlap frontal collision test. The Odyssey is expected to be the first minivan to earn a TSP+ from the IIHS.
For 2014, the Odyssey continues with its successful model grade strategy: six different available trim levels include the well-equipped base LX model, Canadian-exclusive SE, EX, EX-L RES, EX-L Navi and the line-topping Odyssey Touring. A DVD Rear Entertainment System (RES) is also available on EX models
 
New Features by Trim Level:
 
Odyssey LX:

• 6-speed automatic transmission
• 4-way power front passenger seat
• Expanded View Driver's Mirror
• One-touch turn signals
• Bluetooth^® streaming audio

Short Message Service (SMS) text function
New SE Trim (new trim)

• 8-passenger seating
• 17" aluminum wheels
• Removable front centre console with storage and flip-up trash bag ring

Odyssey EX adds:

• LaneWatch^™ blind spot display**
• Push button start with keyless access system
• HondaLink^™ featuring Aha^™ compatibility

Odyssey EX-L RES add:

• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Odyssey EX-L Navi (New trim):

• Replaces Rear Entertainment System (RES), with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with trilingual Voice Recognition, 3D map display and FM Traffic
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera

Odyssey Touring adds:

• HondaVAC^™ integrated vacuum system
• Power folding mirrors

Advancing the Odyssey
In redesigning the Odyssey for 2014, Honda's goal was to reinforce and expand upon the vehicle's already great features, including the exceptional value for money that already defines the Odyssey for its target buyers: Gen X and Gen Y families. Odyssey aims to surprise and delight by adding upgrades and amenities, making it once again the top pick among individual buyers.

Powertrain
The 2014 Odyssey features a 3.5-litre, 24-valve V-6 engine producing 248 hp at 5,700 rpm and 250 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. Honda's i-VTEC^® enhances power delivery while Variable Cylinder Management^™ (VCM^®) helps maximize fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

With the 2014 model, Honda has targeted best-in-class V6 fuel economy ratings for all trim levels. As a result, the transmission has been upgraded to a 6-speed automatic across the model range, replacing the 5-speed automatic previously found on the LX, EX and EX-L. Transport Canada fuel economy ratings are now 10.9 / 7.1 L/100km² city/highway for all trim levels, an improvement of 0.8 L/100km city and 0.1 L/100km highway for LX, EX, and EX-L RES trims.

Body
Refined and youthful, sporty and advanced, the Odyssey's refreshed styling adds new premium elements for 2014. Highlights include new black-trimmed headlights, new available fog lights, a new muscular hood, and black-surround grille for an upscale appearance. New body-colour matched side mirrors and additional bright chrome trim add to the premium appearance. New rear styling and LED taillights with clear lenses and eye-catching perimeter "light pipes" add to the polished look.

Weight savings come from the use of aluminum for the hood, front fenders and front suspension lower control arms. The LX model features 17-inch steel wheels with premium covers, while SE, EX, EX-L NAVI and EX-L RES models utilize 17-inch premium aluminum alloy wheels. Touring models feature 18-inch premium sport aluminum alloy wheels.

In addition, new standard one-touch turn signals improve convenience for the driver when making routine lane changes. With this system, one flick of the turn-signal lever provides three blinks of the turn signals - ideal for changing lanes. Pressing the lever past the "click point" provides continuous blinking.

A new keyless entry system with push button start on EX, EX-L, and Touring allows the driver to approach the vehicle, open the door and start the engine - all without touching a key. The system only requires the driver have possession of the key fob. The system also simplifies opening the sliding side doors and tailgate - locking all doors when leaving the vehicle requires only touching the lock button on any door handle.

Interior
Redesigned instrumentation, new trim and fabric, and upgraded electronic features and functionality make the 2014 Odyssey interior ideal for families. Design changes include upgraded meter illumination and interior lighting, chrome-trimmed instrument dials and door handles, a new available 7-inch touch-screen, and a repositioned DVD player for the available Rear Entertainment System. Updated styling and a change from blue to white halo lighting make the instrumentation easier to read. Similar changes make the climate control easier to operate.

All 2014 Odyssey models and trim levels get an Expanded View Driver's Mirror. The driver's side mirror provides a 19-percent increase in visible area, offering an enhanced view of objects that might otherwise be hidden in the vehicle's blind spot. Included on Odyssey EX, EX-L Navi and EX-L RES models, the Honda LaneWatch^™ blind spot display provides an expanded rear view of the passenger side roadway. The system uses a camera mounted on the bottom of the passenger door mirror, which when activated by the right turn signal or the signal-stalk LaneWatch^™ button, displays a live, 80-degree view of the passenger-side roadway, compared to 18- to 22-degrees typical of a standard door mirror.

A rearview camera is standard on all Odyssey models. Odyssey LX, SE, EX and EX-L models feature a single-angle "Normal View" display, while EX-L Navi and Touring models have a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with wide, normal and top-down views - all with improved optical quality. All rearview camera systems feature guidelines.

HondaVAC^™
The Odyssey Touring features the first minivan in-vehicle vacuum cleaner system, HondaVac^™ which is designed to help families keep the minivan interior neat and clean. Engineered for dry use, the HondaVAC^™ operates on the vehicle's 12-volt electrical system, and its performance easily surpasses that of a handheld rechargeable vacuums.

Integrated in the rear cargo area of the vehicle, the HondaVAC^™ includes an extendable hose that can reach every corner of the vehicle. Two separate head attachments expand versatility, while a removable debris canister and replaceable filter bag makes maintaining the vacuum easy. To protect the vehicle battery's state of charge, the HondaVAC^™ runs up to eight minutes with the ignition turned to the Accessory setting - or continuously if the engine is running.

Audio & Entertainment
Odyssey EX, EX-L RES, EX-L Navi and Touring models have new intuitive touch panel controls that reduce button clutter on the centre stack. An upper 8-inch display and a lower 7-inch display provide a simpler overall interface improving usability.

When paired to a compatible cellular phone, Aha^™ interfaces are available on EX, EX-L, and Touring models. XM^® Radio is included in EX-L and Touring models, a HDD audio system comes on the EX-L Navi and Touring models, and a rear DVD player is standard in EX-L RES and Touring models. The Touring also features new Neural 5.1 Surround^™ audio.

Audio system output is 240 watts for Odyssey LX and SE, 270 watts for EX, and EX-L RES, and 246 watts for EX-L Navi. The premium audio system in the Odyssey Touring has 650 watts. All audio systems have seven speakers except for the Touring, which features 12 speakers.

Simplified pairing and enhanced functionality with smart phones improve the Odyssey's telematics for 2014. HandFreeLink^® is included on all models, and Bluetooth^® audio streaming, SMS and email functions are available with compatible smartphones. Additional features include a phonebook, call history, speed dial and contact picture. Odyssey EX, EX-L RES, EXL Navi and Touring include HondaLink^™ featuring Aha^™ which offers content from hundreds of channels through a tethered compatible smartphone.

The Rear Entertainment System (RES), which is optional on EX, and standard on the EX-L RES and Touring models features upgraded control layout and screen quality. This system features improved placement of the DVD player and more intuitive operation for the rear audio controls. Screen resolution is VGA on EX RES and EX-L RES models, and the Touring's upgraded ultra-widescreen offers four times higher resolution.

Safety
With the application of the next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, significant structural changes to the unit-body were made, including more extensive use of high-strength steel in the A-, B- and C-pillars, roof rails, floor rails, front body area, and front subframe. As a result, the front door opening is now stronger, with less chance of deformation in a frontal collision.

The previous Odyssey achieved a top Good rating in IIHS Front Crash, Side Crash, Rear Crash and Roof Crush tests. For 2014, the Odyssey is targeted to add a GOOD rating in the IIHS's rigorous new Small Overlap Barrier Test and be among the first minivans to receive the highest IIHS rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+.

Newly available on the Odyssey, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) help the driver indentify potential collision situations. Using the Odyssey's front camera module, FCW warns of a possible collision with a vehicle detected in front, while LDW notifies the driver of departures from detected lanes³. The two systems are packaged together on Odyssey EX-L RES EX-L Navi, and Touring models, and provide visual and audible warnings.

North American Development and Manufacturing
The Odyssey represents Honda's robust product development capabilities in North America with its design, engineering and assembly all taking place in the U.S., using domestically and globally sourced parts. Designed in Los Angeles and engineered at Honda R&D America's in Ohio, the Odyssey is manufactured⁴ by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Inc. Currently, 95 percent of all Hondas sold in Canada are built in North America.

2014 Honda Odyssey Pricing and Transport Canada Data
Model	Transmission	MSRP2	Transport Canada Rated City/Hwy/Combined L/100km1
Odyssey LX	6-Speed Auto	$29,990	10.9 / 7.1 / 9.2
Odyssey SE	6-Speed Auto	$31,990	10.9 / 7.1 / 9.2
Odyssey EX	6-Speed Auto	$34,990	10.9 / 7.1 / 9.2
Odyssey EX w/ RES	6-Speed Auto	$36,490	10.9 / 7.1 / 9.2
Odyssey EX-L w/ RES	6-Speed Auto	$41,990	10.9 / 7.1 / 9.2
Odyssey EX-L w/Navi	6-Speed Auto	$41,990	10.9 / 7.1 / 9.2
Odyssey EX-L Touring	6-Speed Auto	$47,990	10.9 / 7.1 / 9.2

 
Connect with Honda:
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Twitter: @hondacanada
YouTube: www.youtube.com/hondacanada
¹Based on 2014 Transport mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
²Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) excluding tax, license, registration, destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
³FCW cannot detect all objects ahead and may not detect a given object; accuracy will vary based on weather, speed and other factors. System operation affected by high interior heat. FCW does not include a braking function. Driver remains responsible for safely operating vehicle and avoiding collisions. LDW only alerts drivers when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use. LDW may not detect all lane markings or lane departures; accuracy will vary based on weather, speed and road condition. System operation affected by extreme interior heat. Driver remains responsible for safely operating vehicle and avoiding collisions.
⁴The Odyssey is built using domestically and globally sourced parts.
The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd is under license; Sirius, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries.

SOURCE Honda Canada Inc.

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1202659/2014-honda-odyssey-delivers-more-value-to-customers-with-refreshed-styling-enhanced-safety-and-additional-standard-features

Rules of attraction: How Honda added a vacuum to a van

Want to save some loonies at the car wash? The inside story of how Honda and Shop-Vac fitted a vacuum cleaner in a minivan

Minivans. Love them or loathe them, it's pretty hard to argue with their practical magic, be it people-packing, drywall-stacking, and making seats disappear so fast they almost need a lovely assistant smiling next to them in sequins. 

While some manufacturers have completely left the Hockey Mom/Dad arena of sliding doors and cup-holders, there are those that have carved enough of a niche to validate continued panel stamping. 

The Honda Odyssey is one of those players, and like the Toyota Sienna, and the Nissan Quest, the question that must be continually asked is this: how can we steal some steam from Chrysler, Father of the Magic Wagon?

Enter the vac

As in life, sometimes you just have to suck it up. With the 2014 Odyssey Touring, Honda becomes the only automaker to offer a built-in vacuum cleaner in a minivan. 

It's called the HondaVAC and it should be just the thing for cleaning up everything from spilled Chereeos out of even the tiniest of cracks. 

"It was interesting how the palm hit everyone's forehead at the same time," said Lennie Sherlinski, who witnessed the 'Why-Didn't-I-Think-Of-That' factor first-hand in The Big Apple, when the 2014 Honda Odyssey was revealed. 

Sherlinski is vice president of Shop-Vac Corporation, having been with the family-owned company for 22 years. He's just now starting to wind down from the press onslaught, brought on following the 2013 New York International Auto Show where the HondaVAC system was unveiled.

The Shop-Vac Corporation, based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has been cleaning up messes your significant other doesn't know about (in my house, anyway) for half a century.

How'd it start?

"Honda approached Shop-Vac in late 2007," said Sherlinski. "We were flattered that one of the best car companies in the world realized that they needed our expertise to make this thing work." 

This collaboration was the first time that Shop-Vac had worked with an automobile manufacturer. 

The HondaVAC system is also the first 12-volt DC vacuum that the Shop-Vac Corporation has developed for consumer use. Both companies were venturing into new territory.

Shop-Vac is well-versed in the field of over-engineering. (Just ask the still-working mid-80s model in my Dad's garage, wearing the pounded-out dents inflicted by my '71 Impala.)

"We do extensive internal testing," said Sherlinski. "The auto industry takes it to a whole new level." While it's too soon to reveal the vacuum-geek specs, Sherlinski assures us that the mechanicals within the HondaVAC share much of what makes a standard Shop-Vac work. 

Performance of the Honda system was validated in varying weather extremes, in the same manner that other vehicle systems are checked for reliability.

Test, test, test some more

"The [vacuum] motor has been designed to take a lot of abuse," said Sherlinski. "Honda was very diligent about testing everything that you could expect to happen to an onboard vacuum in a vehicle environment." 

Honda Canada confirms that the HondaVAC is covered for the duration of the standard bumper-to-bumper warranty period.

Consumers should be aware that the HondaVAC is designed for dry pick-up only. Don't expect a 'Vac Full' indicator on the driver information display. "You still have to be diligent with emptying dirt and debris for optimum performance, just like any other form of vacuum," said Sherlinski. 

The QuattroFlex hose, which appears on other Shop-Vac products, has a four-to-one stretch ratio, easily circumnavigating the topography of the Odyssey floorboard. 

Tools have been designed to stow easily in the vacuum location, on the driver's side of the rear cargo compartment. 

"We're excited that the interest has really taken off," said Sherlinski. But, don't expect to see upright versions, next to Honda lawnmowers and generators. 

"It's currently forecast as a built-in product," said Sherlinski. "We hope that they're so successful, that Honda is compelled to put it into everything they sell." 

Considering the compact size of the unit, and the fact that dirt and grit doesn't discriminate between vehicle categories, the HondaVAC could be the solution. 

Yes: it could be what keeps Loonies and Toonies from exiting our palm, and ending up in the always-useless car wash vacuums that seem to hoover up spare change but leave floor mat dirt where it lies… 

Source;

http://autos.sympatico.ca/features/16013/rules-of-attraction-how-honda-added-a-vacuum-to-a-van#

2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite® Makes World Debut in New York with Host of Safety Upgrades and Innovations Including HondaVAC™, the First In-Car Vacuum

03/26/2013 - NEW YORK

The 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite® is making its debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), setting the new 'ultimate family vehicle' standard. Thoroughly refreshed for 2014, the Odyssey Touring Elite® provides core safety upgrades, sharpened exterior styling and a revised interior with a host of new features and technologies designed to make the segment's benchmark minivan even better.
Demonstrating trademark Honda innovation, the 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite®  will also mark the debut of HondaVAC™, the first-ever in-vehicle vacuum system. Available exclusively in the Odyssey Touring Elite® trim, the all-new HondaVAC™ system is part of a thorough refresh of the Honda Odyssey for the 2014 model year, adding to its already class-leading fuel economy ratings and unmatched safety ratings. The 2014 Odyssey will go on sale at Honda dealerships nationwide this summer.

"The Odyssey is already the leader in its segment, and for 2014, Honda has made the modern family hauler even better," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations at American Honda. "Honda is once again showcasing its reputation for innovation with HondaVAC, and its ability to provide true value to our customers."

The 2014 Honda Odyssey brings an array of improvements to Honda's minivan, including structural upgrades expected to help it achieve top marks in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) stringent new small-overlap frontal crash test, which is part of IIHS's new TOP SAFETY PICK+ protocol. The refreshed Odyssey Touring Elite® will also come equipped with advanced Honda driver assistive and visibility technologies such as an Expanded View Driver's Mirror, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

The 2014 Odyssey features sleeker, more sophisticated exterior styling with a new, more deeply sculpted aluminum hood, new aluminum front fenders, a new bolder twin-bar grille, and a revised lower front fascia with integrated chrome-trimmed fog lights. New two-tone mirror housings, darker-finish projector-beam headlight housings, LED taillight bars and new badging add to the 2014 Odyssey's premium look.

Inside the 2014 Odyssey, new finishes brighten the cabin and an all-new center stack showcases a host of new features. Additional standard technology on the Odyssey Touring Elite® brings new levels of ease and connectivity to owners, including keyless Smart Entry with Push Button Start, HD Radio®, an SMS text messaging function, and HondaLink™ featuring Aha™ Mobile interface. HondaLink™, which debuted on the 2013 Honda Accord, enables Odyssey owners to connect quickly and easily to a wealth of cloud-based content. The free HondaLink™ smartphone app uses the owner's favorite online content to create live, personalized radio stations, allowing drivers to put away their phones and hear updates and news feeds from Facebook and Twitter, as well as check out restaurant reviews or find the closest coffee shop.

Standard on the 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite®, the all-new HondaVAC™ was developed in conjunction with industry-leader Shop-Vac®, and is composed of a powerful vacuum, replaceable filter and canister bag, with nozzle accessories neatly integrated into a dedicated space on the driver's side bulkhead of the rear cargo area. HondaVAC™ makes quick cleanups a snap no matter the location, offering powerful cleaning suction and an integrated hose and cleaning attachments that reach into every corner of the Odyssey's cabin. The HondaVAC™ system's powerful electric motor never needs an outlet or recharging, can operate continuously when the engine is running, and will continue to operate for up to eight minutes when the vehicle is turned off for additional family duties.

Already one of the most lauded vehicles in its segment, the current 2013 Odyssey has earned IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK and NHTSA 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score crash safety ratings. The Honda Odyssey is an AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Award winner, an ALG Residual Value award winner, recipient of the Best Family Cars of 2012 designation from both Parents Magazine/Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, and a Best Cars for Families award winner from U.S. News and World Report. The Odyssey represents Honda's robust product development capabilities in North America with its design, engineering and assembly all taking place in the U.S., using domestically and globally sourced parts. Currently, 95 percent of all Hondas sold in the U.S., are built in North America.

Along with the 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite® and Honda's complete lineup of fun-to-drive cars and trucks, the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid and 2013 Fit EV also will be on display at the Honda booth during NYIAS press and public days. The 2014 Accord Plug-In and the fully-electric Honda Fit EV both recently became available in New York.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2014-honda-odyssey-touring-elite-makes-world-debut-in-new-york-with-host-of-safety-upgrades-and-innovations-including-hondavac-the-first-in-car-vacuum