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13 October 2009
2010 Honda Element is designed specially to improve safety, comfort and convenience for dogs and their owners. The "Dog Friendly" vehicle will be available on November 16.
The special features included in Honda Element are a soft-sided cargo area car kennel made from seat belt-grade netting; a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform; a 12V DC rear ventilation fan; second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design; an extendable ramp; all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern; a spill-resistant water bowl; Dog Friendly exterior emblems.
Probably this is the first car, which take care more about the pets, than the passengers. However, you have to pay additional $995 on top of the base price for the Dog Equipment. Besides that there are three available trim levels for the Element. The base is Element LX, the refined version is Element EX and sport – Element SC. The Dog Friendly equipment is specially for Element EX.
There is only one engine available for 2010 Honda Element – 2.4 litre i-VTEC, 4-cylinder petrol engine with 5 speed automatic gearbox. The power is transmitted to the road by real time four-wheel drive or through the front wheels. Depending on that the fuel consumption varies from 20/25mpg for two wheel drive to 19/24mpg for 4WD.
There are several safety systems included in Honda Element: Vehicle Stability Assist, ; a pedestrian safety design in the front of the vehicle; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; front side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); active front seat head restraints; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and active front seat head restraints.
Dog Friendly Honda Element
2010 Honda Element Goes to the Dogs Much-anticipated "Dog Friendly" equipment adds to diverse Element lineup
The Honda Element lineup expands for the 2010 model year with an all-new "Dog Friendly™" pet accommodation system designed to improve safety, comfort and convenience for dogs and their owners alike, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The 2010 Honda Element arrives at dealerships nationwide by mid-October. The Dog Friendly Element is set to become available on November 16.
"The Honda Element has long been recognized as an accommodating vehicle for people with active lifestyles involving sports and hobbies," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of Product Planning for American Honda. "The new Dog Friendly Element takes that concept to a whole new level with specially designed features for dogs and their owners."
Engineered to integrate with factory precision into the Element EX, the Dog Friendly equipment is intended to accommodate the secure transportation of a dog in the cargo area within a nylon-webbed car kennel. In daily operation the car kennel helps prevent a dog from interfering with the driver in traffic by keeping the pet properly restrained and out of reach of the driver. In the event of a frontal collision, the kennel is intended to help restrain the dog behind the rear seats, reducing the chance for the pet to be injured – or to injure human occupants during a crash.
The Dog Friendly equipment enhances pet comfort by providing a soft floor surface for the dog's legs and paws along with a dedicated fan and a spill resistant water source. Convenience is improved for owners with an integrated ramp, easy to clean surfaces and a full suite of matching Dog Friendly accoutrements.
- a soft-sided cargo area car kennel made from seat belt-grade netting;
- a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform;
- a 12V DC rear ventilation fan;
- second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design (matches the bed fabric);
- an extendable ramp (stores under the pet bed platform);
- all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern;
- a spill-resistant water bowl; and
- Dog Friendly exterior emblems (driver's side and rear).
The ramp stores underneath the bed platform and can be conveniently accessed when the rear tailgate is down. The car kennel was designed and is being constructed by Takata Corporation, one of the world's leading automotive safety systems suppliers. The Dog Friendly equipment group has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $995.
Already designed to be people friendly, the Honda Element received numerous upgrades for the 2009 model year that included a new exterior appearance and a refreshed interior design. Three unique Element models are available that range from the rugged and simple Element LX, to the more refined Element EX, to the sporty Element SC. The Dog Friendly equipment group is designed exclusively for the Element EX trim level.
The Element offers an easy-to-clean urethane floor (carpeted on SC) and an expansive, flat cargo area (up to 74.6 cu-ft. with rear seats removed), wide-opening side cargo doors, low lift-in height, and accommodating dimensions for tall items. The interior provides seating for four people along with a cargo area that quickly adapts to large items with its flip-up rear seats that fold flat, fold up and to the side, or can be removed altogether (64-plus seating arrangements).
The Element LX and EX have a water resistant urethane-coated utility floor that quickly wipes down and seat fabric that resists moisture. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and keyless entry.
All Element models feature a 2.4-liter i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Real Time 4WD™, available on the Element LX and EX, enhances all-weather traction. EPA city/highway fuel economy ratings range from 20/25 mile per gallon for two-wheel-drive models and 19/24 miles per gallon for Real Time 4WD models.
The Element LX comes standard with a 4-speaker AM/FM audio system with a CD player. The Element EX and SC feature a 270-watt high-output audio system, an AM/FM tuner, CD player with MP3/WMA™ capability, auxiliary audio input for MP3 players or other audio devices, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, seven speakers including a 6.5-inch subwoofer. XM® Radio is standard on the Element EX and SC.
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is an available feature on the Element EX and includes a rear backup camera and a USB audio interface . The navigation system features a 6.5-inch motorized display that opens and closes for access to an internal single-disc CD player and a digital audio card reader.
Numerous storage bins and beverage holders provide places for cell phones, CDs and drinks. Available storage areas include: a large three-bin tray above the glove box (ideal for mobile phones and portable music players); a modular 3-compartment overhead storage bin (EX, SC); seat back storage (EX, SC); six hooks for strapping down bikes or other bulky gear; and door storage pockets on all four doors. The Element EX exclusively has a convertible center console with a removable cooler/storage box.
The Element SC provides a unique appearance with street custom-inspired styling, a lowered stance and exclusive premium features. Its exterior styling exhibits a performance-oriented attitude with a monochromatic color scheme and exclusive features that include custom front and rear painted bumpers, large alloy wheels, custom grille, and a lowered stance. The lowered stance is achieved by lowering the ride height and by using uniquely shaped painted side sills and slimmer roof moldings.
Element SC interior appointments include passenger-area carpeting, a fixed center console with storage, piano black trim pieces and unique fabrics and patterns. The exclusive center console integrates the auxiliary audio input jack and two beverage holders. Meter styling color on all Element SC models is copper-hue, replacing the blue backlit illumination on the other models.
The Element's fully independent suspension uses a front MacPherson strut design and a rear compact double wishbone design for responsive handling and a comfortable ride. A 101.4-inch wheelbase contributes to a compact exterior size. An ultra-tight turning diameter of 34.9-feet (36.9-feet, Element SC) provides for excellent maneuverability in tight quarters. Element LX and EX models are equipped with 16-inch wheels (steel on LX, alloy on EX) with all-season P215/70R16 tires. Additional LX and EX standard features include power rack-and-pinion steering and front and rear stabilizer bars (30.0x4.5 mm tubular front / 21.0 mm solid rear).
The Element SC adds 18-inch alloy wheels, P225/55R18 tires, exclusive spring and damper tuning (30 percent firmer), a lowered ride height (approximately 0.7 inches) and increased rear stabilizer bar size (25.0 mm, solid). Compared to Element LX and EX, the solid front stabilizer bar is 25 percent stiffer and the rear stabilizer bar is 30 percent stiffer. The steering gear box also provides a 6 percent faster ratio (2.94:1 compared to 3.26:1).
All Element models have an aluminum Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) engine that produces 166-horsepower at 5800 rpm and 161 lb-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. The Element's i-VTEC variable valve timing system enhances low rpm torque while also delivering high rpm horsepower. The five-speed automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to minimize "gear hunting" on hilly roads.
Available on Element LX and EX, the Real Time 4WD system aids traction in snow, rain and sand by sending power to the rear wheels when the front drive wheels experience a traction loss.
Standard safety equipment includes: Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), commonly referred to as electronic stability control; a pedestrian safety design in the front of the vehicle; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; front side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); active front seat head restraints; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and active front seat head restraints.
The Element is assembled in Ohio at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Материалы: http://www.automobilesreview.com/auto-news/2010-honda-element-a-dog-friendly-vehicle/18810/
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Honda comes up with a Doggone good EX model
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Inc., 39 percent of all households own at least one dog with an estimated total U.S. dog population of 74.8 million, and in a 2008 estimate, all pet purchases and related products and services comprised an estimated total market value of more than $43 billion.
It was in light of these facts that the folks at American Honda Motor Company. Inc. decided to take action. Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of Product Planning for American Honda pointed out that, “The Honda Element has long been recognized as an accommodating vehicle for people with active lifestyles involving sports and hobbies. And our new Dog Friendly Element takes that concept to a whole new level with specially designed features for dogs and their owners.”
Kudos to Honda – finally, an auto manufacturer has seen the light and stepped up to the plate answering the needs of dogs and their loving owners, with an emphasis on safety. The 2010 Honda Element EX model serves as the basis for the “Dog Friendly Package” which was engineered to integrate with factory precision into the Element EX. The Canine Friendly equipment is intended to accommodate the safe and secure transportation of a dog in the cargo area within a specially designed nylon-webbed car kennel. In daily operation the kennel helps keep the pet properly restrained and out of harm’s way. In the event of a frontal collision, the kennel is intended to help restrain the dog behind the rear seats, reducing the chance of the pet being injured – while minimizing injury to human occupants in the event of a crash.
In addition to safety, the Dog Friendly equipment enhances pet comfort by providing a soft floor surface for the dog’s legs and paws along with a dedicated fan and a spill resistant water source. Loading and unloading convenience is improved with an integrated ramp, easy to clean surfaces and a full complement of matching Dog Friendly accoutrements, which include: a soft-sided cargo area car kennel made from seat belt-grade netting, designed and constructed by the Takata Corporation, one of the world’s leading automotive safety systems suppliers; a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area on an elevated platform; the 12V DC rear ventilation fan; Stain and wear resistant, second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design that matches the bed fabric; an extendable ramp (which stores conveniently under the pet bed platform; all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern; the spill-resistant water bowl; and Dog Friendly exterior emblems that appear as a Paw logo driver’s side and a rear Dog Friendly graphic on the left side rear. There’s also a bag with the Dog Friendly logo that contains a log pendant for your dog’s collar, a bone shaped container of “doodie” bags for cleaning up after your dog’s bio-business, a logo collar and restraint straps. The Dog Friendly equipment group is priced at $995.
The Honda Element is people friendly too. Already having received a host of upgrades for the 2009 model year that included a freshened exterior appearance and an enhanced interior design. The Element is actually available in three trim levels ranging from the simple Element LX, to the more refined Element EX, and finally to the sporty Element SC. The Dog Friendly equipment group, however is designed exclusively for the Element EX trim level.
The Element’s urethane floor is easy-to-clean and provides an expansive, flat cargo area (up to 74.6 cu-ft. with rear seats removed), wide-opening side cargo doors, a low lift-in height, and dimensions that accommodate tall items. The interior seats four people comfortably, along with a cargo area that is readily adaptable for hauling large items with its flip-up rear seats that fold flat, up and to the side, or may be removed altogether (64-plus seating arrangements).
Power for the Honda Element comes from a 2.4-liter DOHC, 16-valve i-VTEC 4cylinder engine is positioned up front and delivers 166 horsepower along with 161 pound feet of torque. The engine mates to a five-speed automatic transmission that gears energy to either the front wheels, or all four, with the optionally available four-wheel drive version.
Our “Dog Friendly” Honda Element EX was in the four-wheel drive configuration and came with Honda’s GPS Navigation System. It sported a highly visible Citrus Fire metallic exterior finish with Charcoal cladding and Satin Silver trim. The interior came in a Charcoal and Gray with Silver trim. The base price was set at $25,585, which came to a final total of $27,290 after adding the Destination and Handling charge and the “Dog Friendly” pet accommodation equipment package.
SUMMARY: The Honda Element Ex is a most serviceable vehicle in its own right – it is extremely versatile, not to mention affordable in terms of the initial purchase price – especially for what you get. Certainly, four-wheel drive isn’t a necessary option for everyone, nor is the navigation system, although the latter is a nice feature to have.
The Element performs well in any of its trim levels and either 2 or 4-wheel drive configurations, and it is capable of towing up to 1,500 pounds, when properly equipped. The handling and ride quality both measure up to admirable levels Operational costs are reasonable too, with EPA fuel economy ratings estimated at 19 mpg in the city, and 24 mpg on the highway.
The Dog Friendly equipment package is well thought out, with the kennel and bed platform securing to the vehicle with adjustable anchoring straps, and the soft kennel snapping to the platform – it also fits snugly behind the rear seat and body sides with just enough space for air to circulate. A dedicated fan, operated by a simple toggle switch, is positioned to supply air into the soft kennel, which features a fixed, but removable water bowl. The folding, non-skid surface ramp stows handily beneath the bed platform. A whimsical touch is the toy dog bone pattern integrated into the full surface, rubber floor mats. Everything is easily removable when not transporting pets and when more cargo space is needed.
Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, pointed out that “In-vehicle pet restraints should be part of every dog owner’s safe travel practices,” We agree whole-heartedly and one of our Bearded Collies seemed perfectly at home in the kennel once she got used to the idea of using the ramp. She didn’t seem to understand why she couldn’t just jump in as usual.
Bottom line, the Honda Element EX Dog Friendly Edition is a doggone good idea that other vehicle manufacturers are sure to pick up on.
Материалы: http://ourautoexpert.com/test-drive-2010-honda-element-dog-friendly-edition/
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I’ve been talking about getting a new dog car for what seems like forever (over two years anyways). A few months back I went to the Los Angeles Auto Show and came away with a few new ideas for a dog car, but didn’t actually pull the trigger on purchasing a new car. So I guess I’m going to have to drive around in the 2K Green CRV for another few more months years.
Anyhow here are a few pictures from the show.
It might get a little cramped in this bad boy with three two oversized dogs. Also, the price may be a little steep at $350,000 and Lexus is hand picking the people who will be allowed to purchase one of the only 500 cars going into production. I guess I might have to pass up on the Lexus LFA as my next dog car.
I know what you’re saying…you need a four door car for those dogs of yours. I hear ya, we’ve also been talking about going green and getting an eco-friendly dog car…something that gets good gas mileage and has minimal impact on the environment. I give you the Fiskar Karma…What say you?
The Karma uses plugin technology along with solar panels to power it’s engine. It can go up to 50 miles before burning any fuel…and it has 4 doors…perfect for dogs? no?
Okay, maybe this is a little over the top as well and I’m not even sure how much it would cost for this dog car.
Dog Friendly Honda Element
Yep, we did talk about the dog friendly Honda Element just before we visited the LA Auto Show and much to our excitement Honda impressed us with their new upgrade to the boxy SUV car minivan wagon.
That’s me in the front seat of the Dog Friendly Honda Element. You can kind of see the rubber mat with bone shaped notches. Also, the seat covers had doggy designs as well. You can’t see it in this picture, but there were also climbing latches in the back seat to tether your dog’s leash to the floor.
Me again with baby going up the dog ramp. I’m not sure if it’s a standard sized crate, but it fits nice an snug in the rear storage are of the Honda Element. You can also see the dog ramp in this picture.
Here are a few other accessories included with this Dog Friendly package. There was also a list on display of all the additional upgrades included with the dog friendly model of the Honda Element.
Dog Friendly Honda Element Accessories
- Rear Car Kennel
- Pet Bed
- Stowable Ramp
- Dog Pattern Seat Covers
- All Season Dog Bone Floor Mats
- Spill Resistant Water Bowl
- Electric Fan
- Tote Bag
- Dog Friendly Emblems
- A Leash, Collar, and Dog Tag
- Dispensor Bag
All of this for an additional $995 on top of the regular price for the Honda Element EX. It’s nice to see that Honda is thinking about us dog owners. However, I still have two glaring issues that keep me from purchasing a Honda Element.
- First, the fuel economy is not good on this car. EPA City/Highway driving: 19/24mpg. That’s just not cutting it.
- Second, the clamshell doors. As I’ve mentioned before my RX-8 had the clamshell/suicide doors and they drove me nuts trying to get people and dogs in and out of the back seat. A car as large as the Element could very easily have regular doors.
So now I sit back and wait for Honda to redesign the Honda Element. Hopefully they will bring the fuel economy up or possibly add a hybrid version to the lineup and remove those awful clamshell doors.
I also looked around for the dog friendly Toyota Venza, but Toyota did not bring any of the dog friendly accessories to the LA Auto Show.
What kind of dog car do you own? I’d love to hear about it and perhaps you can convince me to trash the old CRV for a new dog friendly vehicle.
About Colby
Colby Morita has raised guide and service dog puppies for Guide Dogs of America and Canine Support Teams. He’s been writing to the PuppyInTraining.com blog and sharing his puppy training tips from his experiences as a guide dog puppy raiser since 2007.
Comments
Useful, humorous article. What dog wouldn’t love the Lexus LFA or a Fiskar Karma. But, of course, the dog/s would want to drive. This article is timely and will be useful to a friend who is shopping around for a hybrid, dog-friendly car. Good detail. I like that you listed the dog-friendly accessories. You shared the good, bad and the ugly. No holding back.
I would love to have seen dog-friendly hybrids included in your search. Have you found any yet?
@Cheryl, thanks for your comment. We’ve been searching high and low for our next dog car and still haven’t found anything suitable for our needs. A dog-friendly hybrid is exactly what we’re looking for in our next car. Tell your friend to let us know what she finds. So far here’s what we’ve found:
Ford Escape Hybrid MPG 34/31 – this is probably as close as I can find to an ideal car for our situation. One negative is the hybrid version costs almost $9,000 more than the non-hybrid. I’m not sure if I could pay that kind of premium.
Toyota Prius MPG 51/48 – My mother just got one of these and the interior was surprisingly much larger than I thought it would be. The hatchback is nice for getting large dog supplies in and out of the trunk space. However, the slope in the back makes it difficult to get anything more than a small kennel in the back. That just doesn’t work with my two large dogs. The great gas mileage is appealing.
Mini Cooper Clubman 36/31 – not a hybrid, but I like the MPG. The back of the clubman doesn’t slope like the Prius and extends out further than the original Mini (more room than I thought it would have). However, it’s still a bit cramped back there and I’d be driving with the seats down permanently for the dogs. I test drove the Mini S and these things are fun to drive. However, they require premium gas.
I’ve also looked at the Insight which is similar to the Prius, but smaller and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid which is the same as the Ford Escape.
As I’ve mentioned I still haven’t really found exactly what I’m looking for in a dog car. However, I am happy to see that Toyota and Honda are catering to dog/pet owners with their new pet-friendly models.
i love it…it is saying that your dog is as important to you and your little guy…good for you
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Colby Morita raises and trains service dog puppies for individuals with disabilities. He's been sharing his puppy training tips and experiences to the Puppy In Training blog since 2007. Read More…
Материалы: http://puppyintraining.com/my-next-dog-car-the-dog-friendly-honda-element/
