Honda is expected to debut its six-generation Odyssey at the upcoming Detroit Motor Show in January 2017, and is due to go on sale as a 2018 model year car when it hits showrooms.
A singular teaser sketch was released by the Japanese automaker, which to our eyes calls back some of the design cues of the third and fourth generation model with its stretched body and lower height looking more wagon-like than the current version.
We doubt it will end up looking this slick in the flesh though, but we can expect an all-round good looking people mover. Honda’s most recent attempts at prettying up their cars, such as the Civic and upcoming CR-V has proven to be successful, and there’s little reason to doubt that the Odyssey will be any different.
Of particular note is the C-pillar that’s shown in the teaser image here which seems to float above the car’s centreline, creating the illusion a uniform panel which runs around the car. Structurally and practically, this can’t really be the case but its a nice illusion that Honda might have figured out.
"We wanted to have a bit of fun by sharing some of the drawings from children of the Odyssey team members, since they were inspirational in shaping the family-friendly direction of the all-new Odyssey," said Chad Harrison, chief engineer at Honda R&D America and the development leader of the new Odyssey.
Currently, Honda has two versions of the Odyssey available for sale: a larger MPV primarily sold in North America and the other, the more compact version we’re used to seeing everywhere else in the world. It’s unclear whether the Odyssey being prepped for unveil in Detroit is one or the other, but it would be prudent for Honda to unify its models globally, and now would be a good time for Honda to launch a single version of the minivan.
Either way, the new model will feature a lower, wider, and more sophisticated exterior design, matched to new powertrains and “a suite of innovative features”, say Honda.
For more on Honda vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
