Honda introduced the new Elysion today. Here’s the official press release:
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the introduction of its new flagship minivan, the next-generation, premium 8-passenger Elysion, featuring the most advanced Honda technology and the highest levels of comfort and luxury for all passengers. — Honda's Tokyo Auto Show lineup.
The Elysion will be available nationwide through Honda’s automobile dealer networks starting May 13, 2004. Side lift-up seat and passenger lift-up seat-equipped models will be available starting June 10, 2004.
The Elysion’s innovative low-floor platform provides ample cabin space and a lower center of gravity, for enhanced stability, handling and comfort. Wide, dual power-sliding doors1 offer easy access to the second and third row seats, while a tip-up and slide seat mechanism provides one-step third-row accessibility. The three rows of spacious seating can be flexibly configured for maximum passenger space or storage, also thanks to the low-floor platform. A second-row seat rotation mechanism2 pivots second-row seats to face the third row with the pull of a single lever. — Toyota's 2008 Sequoia debut.
The Elysion’s 3.0-liter V6 i-VTEC engine features Honda’s revolutionary variable cylinder management system, which shifts between three- and six-cylinder combustion in response to driving conditions for superior fuel economy at class-leading3 levels of power output and torque. Also available is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine that delivers ample torque at normal cruising speeds. All models4 achieve a level of fuel economy 5% above 2010 standards, and boast 75% cleaner exhaust emissions than required by 2005 emissions standards, qualifying for Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (SU-LEV) certification from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, making them eligible for incentives under the Japanese government’s Green Tax program. — sustainability concepts at Tokyo Show.
The Elysion features Honda’s advanced compatibility engineering body – designed to increase self-protection and reduce aggressivity toward the other vehicles. It is also equipped with Honda’s Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMS) and E-pretensioner, which assess collision risk, alert the driver to take preventative action, and mitigate injury should a collision occur. All three rows of passenger seats are protected by large side curtain airbags whhich provide protection throughout the range of sliding seat positions.
