The Honda Odyssey is a minivan manufactured by Japanese automaker Honda since 1994, marketed worldwide, and now in its fourth & fifth generation in North America and Japan, respectively.
The Odyssey had originally been conceived and engineered in Japan, in the wake of country's economic crisis of the 1990s - which in turn imposed severe constraints on the vehicle's size and overall concept, dictating the minivan's manufacture in an existing facility with minimal modification. The result was a smaller minivan, in the Compact MPV class, that was well received in the Japanese domestic market and less well received in North America. The first generation Odyssey was marketed in Europe as the Honda Shuttle.
Subsequent generations diverged to reflect market variations, and Honda built a plant in Lincoln, Alabama, incorporating the ability to manufacture larger models. Since model year 1999, Honda has marketed a larger (large MPV-class) Odyssey in North America and a smaller Odyssey in Japan and other markets. Honda also offered the larger North American Odyssey in Japan as Honda LaGreat between 1999 and 2004.
Video Honda Odyssey (international)
First generation (RA1-RA5 chassis) (1994-1999)
The Honda Odyssey was a raised wagon from Honda and was launched in Japan and North America in 1994. It was offered with an optional 4WD (with RA2 and RA4 chassis), and 3.0L J30A engine with the RA5 chassis (Prestige version). L and Aero models were equipped with a sunroof. All the JDM Odysseys had the double-air conditioning system, separate for the front and rear seaters. Since the first generation all the models have been six or seven seater versions.
In 1995, it won the Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference Car of the Year award in Japan.
In Japan, the Odyssey competed with Toyota Gaia, Toyota Ipsum and the Nissan Bassara.
Maps Honda Odyssey (international)
Second generation (RA6-RA9 chassis) (1999-2003)
In late 1999, a new, larger "second generation" Odyssey appeared in Japan and Australia and as a Left hand Drive (LHD) in China. However, this new Odyssey was a major upgrade of the first generation Odyssey rather than a completely new model. As a result, its overall shape and appearance were similar to the first generation Odyssey. Still, it was 85 mm (3.3 in) longer and 10 mm (0.4 in) wider than the previous model. While base models had slightly smaller dimensions and a smaller 2.3L engine, models with more options as well those with the 3.0L V6 engine featured slightly larger bumpers and chrome inserts, larger grille as well as a unique chrome number plate surround.
The base model continued to be sold with a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine F23A in RA6 (2WD) & RA7 (4WD) models. The 3.0-liter J30A VTEC V6 engine from the first generation, producing now 210 hp (154.5kW) was available with RA8 (2WD) and RA9 (4WD) Prestige luxury and Absolute sport models. The 2000 Odyssey was the first Honda to receive a five-speed automatic transmission (with the 3.0-liter engine). All the second generation gearboxes also featured another first--a tiptronic-like manual mode, known as "Honda S-matic", in which a gearbox remains to be a classic Honda's hydro-automat, but the driver is able to manage the shifting moment (if electronically allowed) with the selector's "+" and "-" positions. The interior was completely new. The old automatic column shifter was moved to the centre console. A new touchscreen-based digital climate control system replaced the old manual controls, which worked in conjunction with Honda's new navigation system. Woodgrain trim was standard on all models, while in VG/VZ V6 models leather and velour seat and door materials were standard over the basic cloth trims. The interior configuration was also changed (second and third row), and the spare wheel was moved to a new position beneath the third row. With L and Absolute versions, an additional third-row heater was added. The sunroof was no longer available respectively.
A sporty "Absolute" version with all the chassis for the first time has appeared. This co-Mugen tuned version differs by the modified suspension of the European-like car's behavior, 17-inch wheels and some exterior/interior changes.
In 2002, the Odyssey was given a mild restyle. It received new, larger Honda emblems for the front and rear, clear-lens tail lights (replacing amber, darker in Absolute trim), and a larger front grille with four chrome strips instead of three as well as new alloy wheel design options.
In the Australian market, the new Odyssey proved more popular than its predecessor, at least initially. However, in 2002, sales hit an all-time low, and in 2003, sales of only 649 units were almost one-third of the total in 2000.
Third generation (RB1-RB2 chassis) (2003-2008)
The third generation Japanese-built Odyssey was the first full redesign of the Odyssey since its introduction in 1994. Going on sale in Japan in October 2003, and in Australia and many other countries from early 2004, it continued with a 5-door body style, with a much sleeker, lower, and more car-like appearance. For the first time cruise-control appeared on the JDM Odyssey. The 4WD version has received the new DPS system. The seat folding mechanism was changed again. The height of the new Odyssey was lower than ever - designed with multi-level parking in mind, particularly for Japan. The new Odyssey came with the Honda K24A i-VTEC engine, a 2.4 L unit producing 160 PS (118 kW); this was the same engine used in the CR-V and Accord. A 4WD version (RB2) came only with an automatic transmission, while the 2WD version came only with a continuously variable transmission, except Absolute, JDB S/B model as well as export models. The V6 engine was dropped completely. Instead, a 200 PS (147 kW) variant of the K24A engine was adopted for the sporty Absolute version (190 PS (140 kW) with 4WD), which was only equipped with an automatic transmission - both the 2WD & 4WD variants. Moreover, this new engine had the same fuel consumption as the old 2.2 engine. All this resulted in the new Odyssey becoming a sales success. In Australia, the Odyssey achieved its best-ever sales year in 2005, and outsold the Toyota Tarago for the first time.
Fourth generation (RB3-RB4 chassis) (2008-2013)
The sales for the fourth generation of the Odyssey in the Japanese market started October 17, 2008. The engine and transmission set has principally remained to be like with the 3-rd generation, adding more power and fuel economy. It is equipped with a 2.4 L engine and CVT with a torque converter for the FWD, and 5-speed auto transmission for 4WD and high-output 206 hp Absolute trim. Two engines are offered in Japan: one with 173 PS output (i-VTEC is only for intake camshaft) and the other one with 206 PS output in Absolute trim (i-VTEC is for both camshafts).
In many markets outside Japan like in Australia and Indonesia, the Odyssey is equipped with a five-speed auto transmission too.
In Australia, the Odyssey is the best-selling people mover among private buyers.
Fifth generation (RC1-RC2 chassis) (2013-present)
The fifth-generation Odyssey for the International market was launched at the end of October 2013, and went on sale at the start of November 2013. The rear hinged doors were changed to dual power sliding doors, much like most other minivans by Japanese automakers today. It's now bigger than its predecessors and for seven-seater models, premium cradle seats are offered on the second row. The new model is available in either seven-seater or eight-seater. It's powered by Honda's newly developed 2.4L i-VTEC direct injected engine which, in the range-topping Absolute variant, provides class-leading fuel economy of 14.0 km/L (40 mpg-imp; 33 mpg-US) as calculated from Japan's JC08 mode test cycle. In Japan and some Asian markets, the fifth-generation Odyssey replaced the large MPV Honda Elysion which ceased production in 2013 for JDM and some Asian markets but continues to be sold in China. This current model also replaced Elysion to compete against Toyota Alphard and Nissan Elgrand in the full-size luxury MPV category. Plug-in hybrid launched in 2016 in Japan. Honda has given the Sport Hybrid i-MMD name to the new hybrid system. Improvements to the new hybrid system include reduction of the size and weight of key components such as the battery and power control unit from the existing two-motor hybrid system used in the Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-in Hybrid that were introduced in 2013. The power control unit is 23 percent smaller and 27 percent lighter than the one in the Accord Hybrid. The new Odyssey Hybrid went on sale in Japan on February 5, but is unlikely to be exported to the US as the US-market Odyssey utilizes a larger platform than the Japan-market Odyssey.
In Saudi Arabia, the JDM Odyssey was introduced in 2015 as Honda Odyssey J, while Odyssey continues with its original name.
The fifth generation Odyssey is also a basis for the second generation Honda Elysion for the Chinese market, but with a different front mask, and adopts a design resembling the Honda Legend. The Odyssey-based Elysion was launched in China on 9 January 2016.
Reception
At its debut, the Odyssey won the Japan Car of the Year Award (Special Category) and the RJC New Car of the Year Award. By September 1997, the Odyssey had sold more than 300,000 units, becoming Honda's fastest-selling new car and breaking the Civic's record. The Odyssey was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1995. At the Odyssey's European launch, where it was marketed as the Shuttle, British ex-Grand Prix driver Jonathan Palmer described its handling as equal of any "executive saloon".
References
External links
- Honda Odyssey official site (in Japanese)
- Honda Odyssey Repair Manual
- Original design presentation drawings for the first-generation Honda Odyssey
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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