Back at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show, Honda showed off the six-seat Skydeck Hybrid MPV concept. The mini-minivan featured crazy scissor doors and awesome sliding ones as well as the auto-show-norm shell seats. It also moved Honda's IMA hybrid system from a big chunk of real estate in the back to the central tunnel of the vehicle freeing up much needed-- at least in this category-- cargo space. Neither the Mazda5 nor the upcoming Hyundai HED-5 offer a hybrid powertrain.
At the time of the auto show it was said that Honda was looking to expand the Insight's hybrid power plant to "new areas of the market" and we suspected a minivan.
Skip forward to late August of 2010, nearing the release of the 2011 Honda Odyssey, Honda's been awarded a US patent on a line drawing that looks remarkably like the Skydeck.
It would be irresponsible of us to say something to the tune of, "NEW Honda hyrbid MPV coming to America! OMG It's a four-door CR-Z!" as Honda could just be protecting their intellectual property. Or they're secretly planning a hybrid six-seat MPV. Either way, check the drawings on the next page and let us know what you think.
lexusaddict says:
05:56 PM, 08/27/10
Looks pretty big. Maybe something to rival the Ford Flex?
hybris says:
08:14 PM, 08/27/10
With that sort of front end it looks like the driver and front passenger aren't going to have much in the way of shoulder and hip room.
stpierrewm says:
07:03 AM, 08/28/10
Hey, for the record, the car's name is Odyssey, not Odessey...