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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