NYIAS: the Honda Element Has Turned "Dog Friendly"

UDMan

Honda has introduced several enhancements to their updated Element small CUV, specifically to make it K9 friendly. They demonstrated these features here at the New York Auto Show, with a very likable duo. This is just another way of marketing a vehicle into another specific segment, and with the growing dog population in the United States, this particular marketing strategy will help Element sales, and may be copied by other manufacturers looking for this slice of the consumer pie. Continue reading after the jump.

This is currently a concept, and is being gauged for possible production. Many of the features include:
– a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform;
– second row and cargo area pet restraint systems;
– an extendable cargo area load-in ramp;
– a 12V DC rear ventilation fan;
– second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design (matches the bed fabric);
– all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern;
– a spill-resistant water bowl;
– Dog Friendly exterior emblems.

This also includes an in-vehicle pet restraint, which should help to keep the dog in place if the owner experiences an accident. The dog friendly aspects of the Element have already well known, including easy to clean interior, wide opening doors, low lift height, and relatively flat floors.

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Posted at 11:36 am in dogs, Element, Honda, NYIAS 2009, udman

Comments

lifeonacloud
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:27 am

hahahahah OMG spill resistant hahaha which pretty much means it dosent do shit.

lifeonacloud
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:26 am

What kind of dog needs a ramp to get into that? I have a husky and he jumps into my 9″ lifted Chevy. There dogs, they jump. What the hell.

DangrRangr
Apr 10, 2009 at 9:35 pm

wth is the ramp for? any dog too small to jump in can easily be picked up. i guess it’s for handicapped dogs? i dunno. That’s what my truck bed’s for. No dog hair on my interior.

That’s just me though. This isn’t a bad idea since there are a bunch of people out there who treat their little dogs better than most kids. But i still can’t see anybody dropping down a ramp in a parking lot and letting the dog walk up it. Then again i have seen weirder things.

retroman
Apr 10, 2009 at 5:50 pm

The reason I don’t have a dog is that it would be cruel and unusual punishment to submit it to my driving. Poor dog wouldn’t be able to handle the lateral G’s and hard acceleration. On top of that, I don’t want him chewing the upolstery and crapping in my car!!! Kudos to Honda for catering to a niche market, but I just don’t understand why you have to take your pet to the grocery store. Besides, isn’t it cruel to let your pet bake in a 105 degree car while you shop for an hour? I’d rather sooner leave the dog home in the A/C. I guess I don’t get it cause I’m a performance-oriented guy.

skiman88
Apr 10, 2009 at 12:42 pm

wow i would never buy a car that takes so much pride in a dog ramp and other features for dogs. Honda why why do you make this thing ?

LunacyGiant
Apr 9, 2009 at 3:56 am

I agree, but I think this is really just a campaign to get people excited about the element again. Its already a “dog friendly” vehicle, those seats fold up and it becomes cavernous! But its been out for a few years and Im guessing sales are slipping.

88eurotrash
Apr 8, 2009 at 2:43 pm

If a “dog” needs a ramp to get into a vehicle they say has “low lift height” then the owner should have no trouble picking up the chihuahua and putting it in the vehicle. My Siberian Husky does not need a ramp to get into my truck bed, hell most the time she does not even need the tailgate down, she’ll jump right over into the truck.

1lowscort
Apr 8, 2009 at 1:34 pm

Does a dog really need a ramp to get into the back of an Element? More gimmicks to sell people crap they don’t need…