What is it?
2003 Honda Element
What's special about it?
There are the baby boomers, there are the much-maligned Gen Xers, then there's the under-age-25 crowd, representing a quarter of the population of the United States, full of cash-rich consumers wasting away for a lack of a vehicle that can accommodate them, their friends and a truck-full of their sporting equipment.
With that in mind, Honda adds another car-based truck to its lineup. The Model X has been shown numerous times in various auto shows, most notably at the 2001 North American International Auto Show, but the Element is the final given name. The most notable design feature is the lack of a B-pillar, which allows the doors to swing open wide, much like a stagecoach's. The reconfigurable seats allow for four passengers or a cargo area full of mountain bikes, skis and kayaks, with an easy-to-clean interior to handily wipe up any mess.
Built on Honda's global compact platform, which forms the basis of all of Honda/Acura's small cars, such as the Civic and RSX, the Element is powered by the CR-V's 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 160 horsepower. Power can be delivered to the front wheels or all four by a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Such options as an entertainment center with a high-powered stereo with an MP3 player and video game capability will be available. The Element goes on sale in December 2002.
What's special about it?
This is exactly the same demographic targeted by Toyota's new Scion line of vehicles. By pricing the Element from $16,000 to $21,000, Honda figures that it can catch customers early with affordable, hip vehicles. Somehow automakers, especially the Japanese ones, have the idea that youths love to participate in extreme sports. OK, Generation Y, we expect you to live up to this expectation and lower the national average weight with your firm, exercise-toned bodies. Now turn off the Xbox, wipe the Cheetos dust from your fingers, get off that couch and go mountain biking! -- Liz Kim
2003 Honda Element
What's special about it?
There are the baby boomers, there are the much-maligned Gen Xers, then there's the under-age-25 crowd, representing a quarter of the population of the United States, full of cash-rich consumers wasting away for a lack of a vehicle that can accommodate them, their friends and a truck-full of their sporting equipment.
With that in mind, Honda adds another car-based truck to its lineup. The Model X has been shown numerous times in various auto shows, most notably at the 2001 North American International Auto Show, but the Element is the final given name. The most notable design feature is the lack of a B-pillar, which allows the doors to swing open wide, much like a stagecoach's. The reconfigurable seats allow for four passengers or a cargo area full of mountain bikes, skis and kayaks, with an easy-to-clean interior to handily wipe up any mess.
Built on Honda's global compact platform, which forms the basis of all of Honda/Acura's small cars, such as the Civic and RSX, the Element is powered by the CR-V's 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 160 horsepower. Power can be delivered to the front wheels or all four by a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Such options as an entertainment center with a high-powered stereo with an MP3 player and video game capability will be available. The Element goes on sale in December 2002.
What's special about it?
This is exactly the same demographic targeted by Toyota's new Scion line of vehicles. By pricing the Element from $16,000 to $21,000, Honda figures that it can catch customers early with affordable, hip vehicles. Somehow automakers, especially the Japanese ones, have the idea that youths love to participate in extreme sports. OK, Generation Y, we expect you to live up to this expectation and lower the national average weight with your firm, exercise-toned bodies. Now turn off the Xbox, wipe the Cheetos dust from your fingers, get off that couch and go mountain biking! -- Liz Kim
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