Honda Goes Mondo Bizarro
When Honda premiered its Model X concept vehicle at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show, it seemed hard to believe that the company was serious about putting it into production. Well, at the 2002 New York Auto Show it showed the production version of the Model X, which will be known as the 2003 Honda Element when it goes on sale this fall.
As far as specifications, the Element is almost a clone of the CR-V. Like the CR-V, it's based on Honda's Global Small Car Platform (from which also springs the Civic and RSX) and is powered by the same 160-hp, 2.4-liter version of the K-Series dohc i-VTEC four supported by either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. It will be available, like the CR-V, with either front drive or Honda's Real-Time four-wheel drive. Unlike the CR-V, however, which has its production split between Japan and Great Britain, the Element's element is East Liberty, Ohio, in the same plant from which most U.S.-consumed Civics are birthed.
Obviously Honda is really reaching with the Element's styling, but there are innovations on this machine that are more than skin deep. Most obvious is the door layout, which is similar to that on extended-cab pickups. The front doors upon conventionally, while smaller rear doors are rear-hinged and can only be opened after the fronts. That leaves almost the whole side of the vehicle opened up for loading with no B-pillar in the way.
Prices for the Element ought to start at bout $16,000 and top out at about $21,000. Whether there's any way to make its desperately, wholly, irretrievably boxy look cool after it hits the street is open to speculation.
Nissan Succumbs To Crossover Mania
In the "crossover" SUV business, Nissan is eons behind the competition. Now following in the so-so tradition of the Lexus RX300, Toyota Highlander, Acura MD-X and Honda Pilot, Nissan has announced a car-based SUV of its own for sale this fall as a 2003 model.
Called the Murano (Murano is a type of glass blown in Venice, Italy, even though the Nissan Murano isn't blown at all), it's based on the same FF-L platform as the Altima sedan. And, no surprise, it features many of the same mechanical components including the 240-hp, 3.5-liter, dohc, 24-valve V6. However the Murano is not a strict mechanical clone of the Altima, and features Nissan's first North American use of its Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) which can be shifted manually as a virtual seven-speed. Both front- and all-wheel drive models will be offered in trim levels ranging from cloth-covered "OK" to leather-lined dominatrix "splendiferous."
For an SUV, the Murano is pretty dang attractive, at least in show car form. When it gets here we'll figure out if it is in fact worth the sheet metal is was bent from.
She Can Lie Where She Wants
The Ford Ka is a small coupe or roadster sold only in Europe, and to promote it, Ford has announced it will sponsor the European tour of diminutive Australian singer Kyle Minogue, who's known as much for her ability to wear skimpy outfits as actually belt out a song.We don't care about the car. Don't care abut the tour. And don't care about the music. We just like the photo.