Honda considering offering JDM models in the U.S.

[mikeyb]

Honda, Buoyed by Fit, Reviews More Japan Models for U.S. Lineup

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/hondastream2_opt.jpg

Honda Motor Co., encouraged by U.S. demand for Fit subcompacts, is reviewing its Japanese lineup for other possible imports as near-record fuel prices spark interest in cars once viewed as too small or quirky.
``There are a couple of things that we are looking at again, whether they make sense right now,'' Dan Bonawitz, Honda's U.S. vice president for corporate planning, said in an interview yesterday, without naming specific models.

The U.S. introduction of the Fit in 2006, five years after its Japan debut, is helping Honda post gains in 2008 even as a slowing economy and gasoline that topped $4 a gallon erode industrywide demand. U.S. sales of the hatchback, rated at 30 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, jumped 73 percent through last month.

Those gains contributed to making Honda the only major automaker to expand U.S. sales this year. General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. are now also considering bringing in small cars designed for overseas markets.

Honda has studied the compact Stream wagon and a Japanese version of the Odyssey minivan that would be categorized as a station wagon in the U.S., Bonawitz said in an interview in Malibu, California. He declined to say whether either would be added to Honda's U.S. lineup.

The automaker is also benefiting from demand for fuel- efficient Civic small cars and four-cylinder Accords. Honda's U.S. sales have grown 3.2 percent this year, compared with an 11 percent industrywide decline through the first seven months.

The company won't rush any Japan market models to the U.S. until it's confident current U.S. patterns are likely to continue, said Bonawitz, who manages a team of U.S. product planners.

``We've got a fairly long-term product plan laid out and we're going to try to stick with that,'' Bonawitz said.

[TinmanMS6]

I'd love either a Stream or the JDM Odyssey.

[coolmazda5]

Mazda pioneered the crazy idea back in 05 with the Mazda5. With "low" gas prices and its ridiculous "small" people mover size all the other car manufacturers did not care, except by KIA, but now that the thirsty NA Odyssey drinking habits are an expensive thing to maintain, small cars rule and less space is no longer an issue, hummm...

Oh well, more options in the future are always welcome :D

[SuperStretch18]

An extra billion dollars will help give you some cojones, huh?

They should have done this before. The JDM Odessey is a personal favorite...

[nate0123]

Mazda pioneered the crazy idea back in 05 with the Mazda5. With "low" gas prices and its ridiculous "small" people mover size all the other car manufacturers did not care, except by KIA, but now that the thirsty NA Odyssey drinking habits are an expensive thing to maintain, small cars rule and less space is no longer an issue, hummm...

Oh well, more options in the future are always welcome :D
I'm not sure I'd call Mazda a pioneer... The original Odyssey in 1995 was a tall wagon with a 2.2L 4-cylinder good for a whopping 140 hp

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/1996/Honda/4213/1996.honda.odyssey.4933-E.jpg

[coolmazda5]

LOL. To be honest I think Mazda did not have a crystal ball on this either, but they pioneered in the come back though, when everybody was going BIGGER. I believe they were just timely lucky when they brought it in. Just see the sales numbers for 05, 06 and 07 (ugh). Now, in 08, it actually comes to O'Sullivan's press language rather frequently, in the past I actually doubt he even knew it was part of the lineup.

I can imagine the guy on his staff meetings: "Hey Joan, it says Mazda5 in this revenue spreadsheet, Are you sure? Shouldn't be Mazda6 or something else? Can you double check?" (lol2)

[coolmazda5]

I'm not sure I'd call Mazda a pioneer... The original Odyssey in 1995 was a tall wagon with a 2.2L 4-cylinder good for a whopping 140 hp


or even earlier...


Funny...

Interestingly, the first-ever mainstream minivan in North America, the Dodge Caravan, was roughly the same size. More than two decades later, the Mazda5 keeps the spirit alive in a market that's continuously evolving. It's almost as if the pendulum had gone a full swing and come back to its initial spot...

http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/97366/inline-comparo.jpg

http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/97366/Mazda5-Comparison-chart-i001.jpg

Source:
http://www.auto123.com/en/mazda/5/2008/review?carid=1083900302&artid=97366&pg=1

[dmitrik4]

^^that's funny. i didn't realize how much minivans have grown over the years. my parents' first minivan was an '88 Plymouth Voyager with that horrible 4-cyl and a 3-speed auto. i wonder how close a new Odyssey or Sienna is to an old "full-size" van?

one thing about the 5...for all its supposedly greater efficiency, its mileage is not that great. i was surprised.

[nate0123]

A bit tangential, but have you seen the Honda Pilot commercials in which the owners brag that it gets 23 MPG on the highway? It's supposedly the big punch line.

News flash: 23 highway MPG is horrendous. I realize SUVs are inherently challenged in that department, but don't make that the punch line of your whole commercial. It's just baffling.

[TinmanMS6]

A bit tangential, but have you seen the Honda Pilot commercials in which the owners brag that it gets 23 MPG on the highway? It's supposedly the big punch line.

News flash: 23 highway MPG is horrendous. I realize SUVs are inherently challenged in that department, but don't make that the punch line of your whole commercial. It's just baffling.

Sadly, that's exceptional for an SUV of that size.

Edit: I guess the closest other SUV to this nowadays is the Buick Enclave/Saturn Outlook/etc, which gets 24 mpg highway.

[mikeyb]

So we might see the Freed here?

http://www.nihoncar.com/en/news_pics/812/news.jpg

[TinmanMS6]

[QUOTE=mikeyb;4005354]So we might see the Freed here?[QUOTE]

I think that's still a bit small for the US market for a while.

[mikeyb]

I would love to see this Accord Tourer make it here as a TSX sportwagon

http://www.nihoncar.com/en/news_pics/738/gallery/Honda_Accord_004.jpg

http://www.nihoncar.com/en/news_pics/738/gallery/Honda_Accord_005.jpg

[SuperStretch18]

(iagree)

[coolmazda5]

^^ +1. That would be great, and the Mazda's crystal ball should show the Mazda6 wagon :D

[TinmanMS6]

^^ +1. That would be great, and the Mazda's crystal ball should show the Mazda6 wagon :D

Fuck that. CX-11, bitches. :p

[coolmazda5]

one thing about the 5...for all its supposedly greater efficiency, its mileage is not that great. i was surprised.

Yeah, many articles highlight that, but the thing is not as light as many people think, plus the engine is very picky to the diff driving styles. I get ~22-24MPG 40highway/60city, but wife gets 25-27MPG driving like a grandma, and with no highway.

And also, I've noted some MPG improvements from the 06 to the 08, so they are progressing on that...

Others Mazda5 guys posting here get much higher MPGs, but I think is risky driving so slow or "light" IMO...

[coolmazda5]

Fuck that. CX-11, bitches. :p

CX-11? An even bigger CUV? Hummmm... oh, wait, Hummer is for sale (lol2)

[mikeyb]

Fuck that. CX-11, bitches. :p

Why??? The age of big gas guzzlers is at it end.

[TinmanMS6]

Why??? The age of big gas guzzlers is at it end.

NEVER!!!!

[dmitrik4]

there will always be a spot for big trucks. but unless a CX-11 can tow 6-7000 lbs, i'm not interested.

now, that Honda wagon or a new 6 wagon? very interested. i'm considering finding an old 6 wagon once my lease is up on the 7.

the 5 is crying out for a good diesel.


Sadly, that's exceptional for an SUV of that size.

Edit: I guess the closest other SUV to this nowadays is the Buick Enclave/Saturn Outlook/etc, which gets 24 mpg highway.

this is why i've stopped getting down on the CX-7's mileage. it's actually pretty on-target w/ the rest of the pack. last road trip i got a shade over 23 cruising fully-loaded at 75-80mph through the mountains of NE Pennsylvania and NY. had the road been flatter, or had i been keeping a more moderate pace, i've no doubt i would have seen a real-world 24. rolling around the hills of the Finger Lakes at 50-60 returned just under 23. i was pleasantly surprised, esp when my miata pops in at a constant 25mpg. just don't mention city mileage. ;)

[TinmanMS6]

This all reminds me...we haven't heard anything about the Toyota Venza for quite some time. That thing still interests me.

Just went to Toyota's site and the specs say it'll tow 3500 lbs with a V6...probably just barely enough for a Miata and trailer...

BTW, the RAV4 and Avalon get 19/27 mpg and 19/28 mpg, respectively, with the 3.5L V6, so I'd expect the Venza to get similar. That's doable. Yeah, I was surprised by the RAV4 numbers too.

[Donas64]

TSX xport wagon would be great except..... have you seen the grilles on the new TSX lately?

UG-LY!

[TinmanMS6]

TSX xport wagon would be great except..... have you seen the grilles on the new TSX lately?

UG-LY!

Not too tough to fix. I'd be OK with just throwing the Euro grille on it.