Honda Odyssey Concept @ 2010 Chicago Auto Show - Car and Driver

The title says it all....

Car and Driver: Honda Odyssey Concept @ 2010 Chicago Auto Show – Video

More 2011 Honda Odyssey Concpet Pic's

This will be a sharp indication of what the production version will be, looks great so far! I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeves for the interior....
These pic's are from the Autoblog, here's a link with more photo's;
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2011-honda-odyssey-concept-in-chicago/#2

Here's the link to Honda's Press Release(s);
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-chicago-auto-show-remarks-by-vicki.html
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2010/02/odyssey-concept-reveals-stylish-dynamic.html

2010 Chicago Auto Show Remarks by Vicki Poponi, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and Catalin Matei, Honda R&D Americas, Inc.

02/10/2010 - CHICAGO -

Vicki Poponi, Assistant Vice President of Product Planning

Good morning and thank you for joining us.

We're thrilled to be here with you in Chicago as we take our first important step toward the introduction of an all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey, the top-to-bottom redesign of America's best-selling minivan, about to enter its 4th generation, and will launch later this year.

The Odyssey is Honda's flagship vehicle for families, and over the years, it has continued to set new industry benchmarks through groundbreaking innovation by focusing on the real world needs of our customers.

If you'll pardon a pun, our Odyssey began with our first offering in the minivan segment in 1995 -- the first generation Odyssey.

Yes, we started out small, with a four-cylinder engine and four swinging doors, built on our mid-size sedan platform.

Odyssey quickly grew up, with its own light truck platform and a focus on American customers, so we added space and family function, V6 power, and new segment-leading innovations like Variable Cylinder Management to deliver better fuel efficiency as well as introducing the world to the 3rd row magic seat now ubiquitous in the minivan segment.

This Odyssey was also the first minivan to earn a government, five-star crash safety rating.
Along the way, Odyssey has earned high marks from our customers for its highly space-efficient and user-friendly design, its sophisticated appearance, inside and out, its class-leading safety and fuel economy, and something really unusual for a minivan, an engaging and fun-to-drive character.

With each new generation of Odyssey, we've built upon this strong foundation... making Odyssey the most popular choice for American families for the past two years, the benchmark of its class.

Importantly, today Odyssey has the youngest and most affluent buyers of any vehicle in the segment.

The premium choice for discerning minivan customers.

Today, we're ready to take the next step forward in the evolution of the Odyssey and the minivan, adding new functionality, greater fuel efficiency, and a dazzling new design for our loyal Odyssey customers and for people considering a change to something more practical, fuel-efficient and stylish for their family-oriented lives.

This new Odyssey is, most assuredly, about more than only delighting existing Odyssey and minivan owners.

With the growth and evolution of the crossover utility market, customers today have more choices than ever for a family vehicle.

Our own products, including the Pilot and new Accord Crosstour, speak to this continued evolution of the market.

Our research found that customers who require the passenger and cargo-carrying capabilities of a larger vehicle fit into three general categories:

Those who embrace the minivan, those who outright reject it, and those who appreciate its practical value but remain somewhat on the fence due mainly to styling and image concerns.

We refer to this last category of customers as HESITATORS...and they're the people we really hope to add to the Honda family.

What you're about to see is the 2011 Odyssey CONCEPT, not the final production vehicle.
But I can tell you that it comes very close to the production vehicle in its shape, style and dimension.

I can also share a few other details about the new production Odyssey that is due to arrive later this year.

Ultimately, the best minivan in the market will get even better, with improved functionality and comfort, more space for people and cargo, advances to safety, even better driving dynamics, and improved aerodynamics for greater fuel efficiency.

But to understand how the Odyssey could even better support their lifestyles, we talked extensively with our customers.

Of course, we always talk to our customers as part of the concept making for new products, and this Odyssey Concept truly reflects their input.

For instance, while they already view Odyssey as the best looking minivan, they challenged us with the question "Can you give Odyssey more personality and make it more stylish?"

We believe the Concept we are debuting here today and the production model to follow delivers in spades on that request.

To tell you more about this new design is the exterior designer for the 2011 Odyssey from the Honda R&D Americas Design Center in Torrance, California... Catalin Matei.

Catalin Matei, Senior Designer of the 2011 Honda Odyssey

Thank you, Vicki.

And thanks to all of you for your time this morning.

It is a rare opportunity in Design to work on a vehicle from the very beginning as both the designer as well as the Exterior Styling Project Leader.

I have followed the new Odyssey all the way through to final styling design -- working closely with our engineers in Ohio, and many other R&D associates -- to complete the development for the production vehicle that will go on sale later this year.

So, I'm truly excited to introduce the concept version of a vehicle I've worked so closely on for the past several years, and as a father of three, and having been an Odyssey owner since 1995, I'm even more excited to introduce something that I can't wait to own myself.

Our objectives can be narrowed down to three basic words: REDEFINE THE MINIVAN.
As Vicki touched on, common feedback that we received from our customers on the current generation Odyssey was that while top in its class, with GREAT FUNCTIONALITY, DRIVEABILITY AND PERFORMANCE it's still a bit too boxy and too generic in appearance - especially from a profile view.

THIS was our biggest challenge with redesigning the Odyssey - to create a new image without sacrificing utility.

And now here is the result of our efforts.

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Our goal as designers and engineers of this all-new Odyssey was to address our customers' desires without sacrificing but rather ENHANCING the qualities that have made Odyssey the benchmark in its class.

With the styling embodied in this Concept we are presenting you a dramatically more distinctive and dynamic Odyssey, separating it from other minivans and giving it more personality.

The overall styling direction is Sporty, Strong, Confident, and Athletic.

The new Odyssey is marked by an aerodynamic cab-forward body with tapered rear cabin, directional character lines and a genuinely athletic stance.

That means: lower height, wider body, better wheel-to-body proportions, strong shoulders and wheel flares.

To create the Odyssey's dynamic mono-volume shape, we moved the windshield touchdown point forward and changed the windshield rake.

Then we angled the "A" and "D" pillars and tapered the rear cabin to give the vehicle a sleeker look, separating it from the boxy image of current vans.

Also, we added rear and side spoilers to enhance the aerodynamics for improved fuel economy and reduced cabin noise.

One very evident design cue is this unique "lightning bolt" Belt-line and sporty side glass graphic that will make the new Odyssey easy to recognize from a distance.

But beyond its striking appearance, one of several examples of "form follows function", this line enables improved outward visibility for third-row passengers.

After all, we want the kids to be happy too!

But as you'll see in the days ahead, with this new Odyssey, kids won't be the only ones willing to jump into the 3rd row seats.

Even the best looking minivan isn't going to sell unless it has an equally stylish and functional interior.

This has always been Odyssey's strong suit and while I can't say too much today, I will promise you that we've seen the competition and this new Odyssey will take functionality to a new level.

What I can tell you is that there will be more interior space.

Here are a couple of our ideation sketches:

We made the interior wider and more spacious, the 2nd row now allows for three child seats.

We also increased headroom and legroom in the 3rd row, yet made the styling sleeker and tighter.

The design aims to be progressive, athletic and distinctive with a simple and clean motif.

All in all, we couldn't be more excited about this new Odyssey and the new value it will deliver to our customers in these challenging times - better functionality, better styling, and better fuel economy.

As the only representative of our U.S. Research and Development team speaking today, I want to say how proud we all are to work on this new American Odyssey.

Now, I'd like to invite Vicki back on stage for some additional details.

Vicki Poponi

Thank you, Catalin.

The new Odyssey will launch later this year as a 2011 model with a full complement of advanced safety, comfort and convenience features and with a V6 to give our customers the power and performance that they need not only for fun, but to feel confident on the road.

And, to improve fuel economy, our Variable Cylinder Management system with 3, 4 and 6-cylinder modes will be standard on all models.

Catalin spoke about achieving a more aerodynamic shape -- another key part of our effort to improve fuel economy.

Our current Odyssey already achieves top-of-class fuel economy of 17 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway.

We expect to reinforce our fuel economy leadership with estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 in the city and 28 on the highway, once again, with a V6.

This new Odyssey is all about giving our customers the style, comfort, convenience, fun AND efficiency they expect from a Honda, with no sacrifices.

As you can see, we are calling this an American Odyssey and we do so for many reasons. Proud to have designed and engineered it entirely in the U.S. with our teams in California and Ohio, with our manufacturing team in Alabama, just as proud to be building it here as well.

But ultimately, it's an American Odyssey because this vehicle was created expressly for our customers in the U.S. by Honda associates like Catalin who understand precisely what American families need and want.

So, we are confident this new Concept will mean Honda's Odyssey will continue for years to come.

Thank you, and now we invite you all to come on up and take a closer look at the 2011 Honda Odyssey Concept.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5377

Odyssey Concept Reveals Stylish, Dynamic Image for All-New Honda Minivan

Finally!
The next-generation Odyssey adds sleek styling, new functionality and higher fuel economy to best-selling minivan

02/10/2010 - CHICAGO -
The Honda Odyssey Concept, on display at the Chicago Auto Show, introduces a sleek and distinctive exterior styling direction for the next generation of the industry's best-selling minivan, set to debut this fall, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The Odyssey Concept dramatically departs from conventional minivan styling with its low and wide stance, highlighted by a "lightning-bolt" beltline that further distinguishes the vehicle's profile. Compared to the current Odyssey, the Concept's slightly lower roofline (-1.0 inch) and wider stance (+1.4 inch) contribute to a sleeker, stronger and more dynamic presence with improved aerodynamics that help increase fuel economy. Forthcoming improvements to the production Odyssey's interior are designed to further enhance the current model's accommodating space for people and cargo.

"The Odyssey established its reputation by providing families with what they most want in a minivan - great functionality, an emphasis on safety and good fuel economy," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of American Honda product planning. "Odyssey then further delighted customers with its surprisingly engaging, fun-to-drive and dynamic nature. The next-generation Odyssey promises to take these strengths to a higher level while adding more style and personality."

The steeply raked front and rear roof pillars, unique side-glass profile, chamfered roof line, and tapered rear cabin shape combine to create a dynamic and distinctive appearance from any perspective. The lightning-bolt beltline dives toward the rear of the vehicle emphasizing the new Odyssey's sporty appearance while enhancing outward visibility for third-row passengers.

Aggressive body-to-wheel proportions reduce the perception of vertical height common to most minivan designs. Fender flares further accent the vehicle's securely planted and stylish persona. The concept vehicle's projector beam headlights, LED taillights and form-fit fog lights further heighten the sophisticated quality of the design.

Enhanced aerodynamics and advanced powertrain technologies will contribute to the next-generation Odyssey's increased fuel efficiency. The all-new 2011 Odyssey is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating1 of 19 city/28 highway miles-per gallon on select models (preliminary estimate determined by Honda).

Currently in its third generation, the Odyssey's unique array of features, including its superior driving dynamics, 3rd-Row Magic Seat® and efficient i-VTEC™ V-6 engine with three-mode Variable Cylinder Management™ (available) all combine to offer a sophisticated environment with room for up to eight people (seven on Odyssey LX). The Odyssey has been America's best-selling minivan since 2008(2) and is produced exclusively in Alabama by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (using domestic and globally sourced parts). Both the concept and production vehicles, along with all development activity for the 2011 Odyssey, are being designed at Honda R&D Americas in Torrance, California, and Raymond, Ohio.

The Odyssey has won numerous awards and critical acclaim. Recent accolades include the Edmunds.com 2010 "Top Recommended" minivan award, U.S. News and World Report 2010 "Best Minivan for the Money" award, Automotive Lease Guide 2010 "Best Minivan for the Money," the Kelley Blue Book award as one of the ten "Best New Family Vehicles of 2009" and "2009 Best Resale Value Award" in the van category, which recognizes vehicles that are expected to have segment-leading resale value after five years of ownership.

Odyssey Concept Basic Dimensions

Length (inches)
202.8

Width (inches)
78.5

Height (inches)
68.3

Wheelbase (inches)
118.1

1Preliminary EPA mileage estimates determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage estimates not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

2Based on Odyssey calendar-year sales of 135,493 for 2008 and 100,133 for 2009.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5375

Honda to Debut Next-generation Odyssey Concept at Chicago Auto Show

Finally, some news on the next gen Honda Odyssey! I would venture to guess that they would have a production ready version sometime in Feb/March....
01/26/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. - American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will debut a concept version of the next-generation Honda Odyssey minivan at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show on February 10, the company announced today.

The next-generation Odyssey will further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character, while increasing its overall efficiency. The Odyssey, currently in its third generation, was the best-selling minivan in the United States in 2008 and 2009. It is produced from domestic and globally sourced parts by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC in Lincoln, Alabama.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5365