The Honda Element is a compact crossover SUV manufactured in East Liberty, Ohio from December 2002 to December 2010. The Element followed a concept vehicle called Model X, which was first shown at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It was developed by a core group of young R&D engineers in 1998. The Model X was designed to be the ideal vehicle for their activities, combining some features of a pickup truck and a SUV. The 4-seat Element is optimized to carry large loads. The floor is made of textured urethane that is easy to clean; the fabric is tough and stain-resistant; the individual rear seats recline, fold up, and are removable. The rear clamshell tailgate arrangement is large and the vehicle is tall, allowing large loads. Powering the Element is Honda's 2.4L Engine, an i-VTEC four cylinder engine producing 166 hp and 160 ft·lbs of torque. The Element is available with front wheel drive or Honda's optional "Real Time" four-wheel drive system — a hydraulically-actuated system that operates only when front wheel slippage occurs.
In 2007, the Honda Element won the Dogcars.com's "Dog Car of the Year" award. Honda chose to follow up on that with a concept vehicle unveiled in 2009 New York Auto Show specifically designed for canine transportation. It includes an "pet restraint system", an extendable cargo area load-in ramp, a 12V DC rear ventilation fan, second-row seat covers with a simple beige dog-outline pattern design to match the bed cover fabric, all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern, a fan, and "Dog Friendly" exterior pawprint emblems. A spill-resistant water bowl, also included, can be placed into a nook in the corner of the pet bed. The second row pet restraint system is a small net crate suitable for cats or small dogs, which can be belted into place. It straps directly to the lower portion of the seat and the captive animal cannot see out the windows, unlike the pet "booster seats" sold by pet-supply vendors specifically designed to allow small dogs to see through the windows and sniff the incoming airflow. The pet bed is a thick cushion for the whole of the rear cargo area. The cargo area pet restraint system consists of netting on the sides and the top of the dog bed, as well as a zip-up fourth side to be secured after the dog is loaded. Unless the top of the restraint system can be opened, which is not clear from the press release and accompanying photos, it severely limits the ability of the dog to see out the side windows or rear window. However, the concept vehicle does not include an element much requested on sites dedicated to Element owners with dogs: roll-down rear windows, which would allow dogs to put their noses outside. The concept vehicle's windows remain the pop-out vent type.The package is dealer installed and retails for $1,000.
Honda expected first year sales of 50,000. Sales in 2003 amounted to 67,478 units in the U.S., exceeding Honda's projection. by December 2010, shortly before the model was scheduled to be discontinued, it had sold a total of more than 325,000 units.
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A man who filmed the speedometer of his car while driving more than 140 miles per hour so he could post it on YouTube, ended up in jail on Saturday. Stanislav Vadimovich Bakanov was pulled over by police on Oregon Interstate 5 after he was clocked driving his black 2005 BMW at 118 mph. He filmed Sheriff's Deputy as he approached the car. When he asked why he was videotaping, Bakanov said he was filming his speedometer, and his arrest, to post on Youtube. (Now that's FUDJULATED) The video later revealed that Bakanov had attained speeds in excess of 140 mph. He was arrested and charged with reckless driving and speeding. It was his third speeding incident in the past year. The video was confiscated and will be used as evidence against him.
Honda Motor Co. plans to recall another 273,000 Honda and Acura vehicles because of an air bag problem that can kill drivers. It also will inspect an additional 603,000 vehicles to see whether the same defective parts were used in repairing autos that have been in accidents. Honda said it doesn't know how many of those vehicles might have been repaired with the defective parts. In the recalled vehicles, from the 2001 through 2003 model years, the driver's side air bag can deploy with too much force in an accident, causing a metal part that holds and channels explosive propellant to rupture that are causing the injuries. 18 injuries and two deaths have been caused by these faulty air bags. Honda has had four previous recalls over the same issue, and the latest recall raised the total to more than 2.5 million vehicles in the U.S. The latest recall now includes certain 2001 and 2002 Accord, 2001 through 2003 Civic, 2001 through 2003 Odyssey, 2002 and 2003 CR-V, 2003 Pilot, 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL vehicles.
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