Honda Stream RSZ Facelift now in Malaysia

I still think this vehicle would do well here in North America....
Honda has brought in the new facelifted version of the Honda Stream RSZ. Of course being facelifted there are changes with the vehicle’s looks.

The front end has a new honeycomb design with a chrome bar going through the middle of it, similiar to the Accord Modulo grille. The bumper design is also new, and there are side skirts for the side profile. Thankfully 17 inch alloys have been provided as when the Stream first came out, the alloys were rather small compared to the rest of the car’s sporty demeanor which looked a little odd.

On the rear, the bumper now has a diffuser insert design, and there is a tailgate spoiler. The tailgate has a black garnish around the individual rear lamps. The wing mirrors now have turn signals.

Personally I feel the best change in the facelift is the addition of VSA stability control to the Stream, which is a definite plus point in raising the safety level of the Stream. A typical Stream driver who only carries full loads of 7 people during the weekends may not be used to the different vehicle dynamics and VSA may be able to catch him out of a tight spot, touch wood. Other than VSA, suspension settings have also been improved for better comfort.

On the interior you get a leather gear knob, and a leather steering wheel, both of which come with leather stitching. The rest of the interior is done up with black and red upholstery. The instrumentation panel, speedometer, air conditioning controls, and cupholders have red illumination instead of the ’standard’ Stream’s blue illumination. The styling seems extremely skewed to a certain type of young 30s buyer who has to get an MPV but still wants to stay true to his ’sporty’ heart. You know, the kind that probably wishes the turbocharged grey import Toyota Caldina GT4 comes with 7 seats instead of 5.

But performance will not match its sporty looks. Under the hood is the R18 engine similiar to the one used in the Civic 1.8 making 140 PS and 174 Nm of torque, mated to Honda’s dual-overdrive 5-speed automatic transmission.

Source (with more pics);
http://paultan.org/2009/11/07/honda-stream-rsz-facelift-now-in-malaysia/

2010 Honda Stream MPV Receives the Mugen Treatment

Here's some more Mugen news for all you Honda fans. Along with the release of the first photos of the European specification Civic Type-R 3-door hatchback, the Honda parts specialist revealed its updated tuning package for the discreetly facelifted Stream MPV. Mugen's aero body kit features all the usual pieces such as a front spoiler, a rear spoiler and a roof-mounted rear wing. Additional exterior modifications include a sport grille, side skirts and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Owners of the 2010 Stream can also order a sports suspension, beefier brake system, a performance muffler with a single exhaust pipe and a sport air filter.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/06/2010-honda-stream-mpv-receives-mugen.html

4 Hybrids and 2 Diesels on the Way for Honda

2009 Honda FIT (2011 FIT Hybrid?!?) Nice.
Honda CRZ.
The Global Honda Hybrid, incorrectly termed 2010 Insight.
2010 Honda Stream/Latitude.

Honda seems to be the only major automaker making it through the tough times of high gasoline prices and for the future the Japanese automaker plans to keep doing what its doing - keeping compact and green. Honda plans to offer more hybrid and diesel technology in its future lineup which will also get smaller.

“A smaller minivan could fit into Honda’s future,” Dan Bonawitz, vice president for corporate planning and logistics at American Honda Motor Co., told Automotive News. ”Ultimately, there will be a lot more smaller cars. The U.S. will look a lot more like Europe.”

So far dealers are waiting on the arrive of the redesigned 2009 Honda Fit. A hybrid version of the Fit will arrive in 2011. Of course let’s the five-door hatchback that’s been keeping Honda in the headlines recently. The dedicated-hybrid model will arrive next year as a 2010 model year and will cost below $20,000.

Both of those hybrids will be followed by the Honda CR-Z hybrid that is due out in late 2011. The CR-Z will be followed by a redesigned Civic and Civic Hybrid along with a diesel powered Accord. The diesel engine will also make its way in the CR-V in 2010.

As for the gas-guzzling and larger models - the S2000 roadster’s future is unclear after sales have fallen off dramatically. The new redesign Pilot just hit the market this year and Honda has already cut production of the new SUV.

The Honda Ridgeline was just refreshed for the 2009 model year - the Element will see a redesign in 2010 along with the Odyssey. Another minivan, the Japanese Honda Stream, is expected to be imported to the U.S. by 2010 as a rival to the Mazda5.

Source; http://www.automotivenews.com/ subscription needed.

2009 or 2010 ?!? Honda Stream/Latitude

I get enough inquiries about this van that is currently not available in North America but has been rumoured to be brought aboard for the 2009 or 2010 model year (2009 seems unlikely, I haven't seen anything in Honda's ordering for the 2009 model matrix, although they could bring this vehicle over in limited supply and just 'drop ship' the vehicles into our inventory).

This is a van that would make a whole lot of sense for North America right now, people are looking for economical people-movers, and it doesn't get much better than the 1995-1998 Honda Odyssey (which is esentially what this van still is-a 4 cylinder, 7 passenger van).

Based on what Honda brought over to the malaysia, here is what I think will be brought over to us in North America;

-1.8 or 2.0 Litre sohc i-vtec engine with 140 - 160 horse power - 5-speed automatic transmission, with 4th and 5th being overdrive gears for better highway gas mileage.

-Front wheel drive

-Electric power steering and drive by wire throttle system

-MacPherson struts with a new side cancellation spring at the front, while the rear uses a compact reactive-link double wishbone.

-15" or 16" tires

-Tilt and telescopic steering wheel

-Air conditioning with micron filter

-Cruise Control

-Anti-lock Brake system with electronic brake distribution

-Front, side, and curtain airbags

-Available DVD and Navigation packages

-Both the second and third row seats can be folded down individually for a flexible seating configuration.

-Traction control with Vehicle stability assist

-Cd player with Mp3 playback and Auxillary input for i-pods etc.

-Keyless remote entry

-I hope they keep the 4-door aspect! (not a huge fan of sliding side doors).

-I'd expect a EX-L (leather package) with heated front seats.

Anyway, I think this van would be a sure winner in our market.

Here's a link to Honda's website on the van;

http://www.honda.net.my/models/stream.cfm

The Honda Stream or Latitude for the North American Markets in 2009?

According to the Temple of Vtec;

"Stream/Latitude (Crossover)
The buzz regarding bringing the Honda Stream into the US has been brewing for years, but we've yet to hear any sort of confirmation. Honda has been contemplating a crossover that would slot in between the CR-V and Pilot, and the Stream would almost be a candidate for that (at least in terms of passenger capacity), but it's based on the Civic architecture and is actually positioned below the CR-V in its home market. Whatever the case, we feel that Honda could capitalize on the US's renewed interest in small vehicles by placing the Stream into showrooms ASAP.

UPDATE: We've received word from a source that a new crossover is a go and it will be using the name 'Latitude'. Consistent with past rumors, it's also supposedly based upon the Accord architecture - so it's sounding less probable that it will simply be a re-badged Stream. It also sounds like that this may be one of the 2 "surprises". We're also thinking this will be positioned directly against the new Toyota Venza. Summary: An Accord-based crossover is supposedly on its way.

Available: 2009"

Here are some of my past articles on this subject;
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2007/09/2007-honda-stream.html

http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2007/10/2010-honda-stream-update.html