2014 Honda Odyssey Makes World Debut in New York with Host of Safety Upgrades and Innovations Including HondaVAC™, the First In-Car Vacuum

The segment's benchmark minivan cleans up with bevy of safety improvements, sleek new styling and intuitive, family-friendly technologies

NEW YORK, March 26, 2013 /CNW/ - The 2014 Honda Odyssey is making its debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), setting the new 'ultimate family vehicle' standard. Thoroughly refreshed for 2014, the Odyssey provides core safety upgrades, sharpened exterior styling and a revised interior with a host of new features and technologies designed to make the segment's benchmark minivan even better.

Demonstrating trademark Honda innovation, the 2014 Odyssey will also mark the debut of HondaVAC^™, the first-ever in-vehicle vacuum system. Available exclusively in the Odyssey Touring trim, the all-new HondaVAC^™ system is part of a thorough refresh of the Honda Odyssey for the 2014 model year, adding to its already impressive fuel economy ratings and unmatched safety ratings. The 2014 Odyssey will go on sale at Honda dealerships in Canada this summer.

"We believe the Odyssey is the benchmark in its segment and the changes incorporated for 2014 further distinguish Odyssey as the "must have vehicle" for modern family transportation." said Dave Gardner vice president of sales and marketing at Honda Canada. "Honda is once again showcasing its reputation for innovation with HondaVAC, and its ability to provide true value to our customers."

The 2014 Honda Odyssey brings an array of improvements to Honda's minivan, including structural upgrades expected to help it achieve top marks in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) stringent new small-overlap frontal crash test, which is part of IIHS's new TOP SAFETY PICK+ protocol. The refreshed Odyssey Touring will also come equipped with advanced Honda driver assistive and visibility technologies such as an Expanded View Driver's Mirror, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

The 2014 Odyssey features sleeker, more sophisticated exterior styling with a new, more deeply sculpted aluminum hood, new aluminum front fenders, a new bolder twin-bar grille, and a revised lower front fascia with integrated chrome-trimmed fog lights. New two-tone mirror housings, darker-finish projector-beam headlight housings, and LED taillight bars add to the 2014 Odyssey's premium look.

Inside the 2014 Odyssey, new finishes brighten the cabin and an all-new center stack showcases a host of new features. Additional standard technology on the Odyssey Touring brings new levels of ease and connectivity to owners, including keyless Smart Entry with Push Button Start, an SMS text messaging function, and HondaLink^™ featuring Aha^™ Mobile interface. HondaLink^™, which debuted on the 2013 Honda Accord, enables Odyssey owners to connect quickly and easily to a wealth of cloud-based content. The free HondaLink^™ smartphone app uses the owner's favorite online content to create live, personalized radio stations, allowing drivers to put away their phones and hear updates and news feeds from Facebook and Twitter, as well as check out restaurant reviews or find the closest coffee shop.

Standard on the 2014 Odyssey Touring the all-new HondaVAC^™ was developed in conjunction with industry-leader Shop-Vac^®, and is composed of a powerful vacuum, replaceable filter and canister bag, with nozzle accessories neatly integrated into a dedicated space on the driver's side bulkhead of the rear cargo area. HondaVAC^™ makes quick cleanups a snap no matter the location, offering powerful cleaning suction and an integrated hose and cleaning attachments that reach into every corner of the Odyssey's cabin. The HondaVAC^™ system's powerful electric motor never needs an outlet or recharging, can operate continuously when the engine is running, and will continue to operate for up to eight minutes when the vehicle is turned off for additional family duties.

Already one of the most lauded vehicles in its segment, the current 2013 Odyssey has earned IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK and NHTSA 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score crash safety ratings. The Honda Odyssey is an ALG Residual Value award winner, recipient of the Best Family Cars of 2012 designation from both Parents Magazine/Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. The Odyssey represents Honda's robust product development capabilities in North America with its design, engineering and assembly all taking place in North America, using domestically and globally sourced parts. In 2012, 96 percent of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada, are built in North America.

Connect with Honda:
Media Newsroom (for journalists) www.hondanews.ca
For consumers: www.honda.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hondacanada

Twitter: @hondacanada

YouTube: www.youtube.com/hondacanada

SOURCE: Honda Canada Inc.

Maki Inoue 905-888-4416
Laura Heasman 905-888-4586