Introducing the 2010 Dog Friendly
Honda Element
Much-anticipated
“Dog Friendly” equipment
adds to diverse
Element lineup
The Honda Element lineup expands for
the 2010 model year with an all-new “Dog
Friendly™” pet accommodation system designed to
improve safety, comfort and convenience for dogs and their owners
alike, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The 2010 Honda
Element arrives at dealerships nationwide by mid October. The Dog
Friendly Element is set to become available on November 16.
“The Honda Element has long been recognized as an
accommodating vehicle for people with active lifestyles involving
sports and hobbies,” said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice
president of Product Planning for American Honda. “The new
Dog Friendly Element takes that concept to a whole new level with
specially designed features for dogs and their owners.”
The Dog Friendly equipment group is designed exclusively for
the Element EX trim level and can be adapted to the Element LX trim
level with the addition of a dealer-installed rear accessory power
outlet for the rear ventilation fan. Engineered to integrate with
factory precision into the Element EX, the Dog Friendly equipment is
intended to accommodate the secure transportation of a dog in the cargo
area within a nylon-webbed car kennel. In daily operation the car
kennel helps prevent a dog from interfering with the driver in traffic
by keeping the pet properly restrained and out of reach of the driver.
In the event of a frontal collision, the kennel is intended to help
restrain the dog behind the rear seats, reducing the chance for the pet
to be injured – or to injure human occupants during a crash.
The Dog Friendly equipment enhances pet
comfort by providing a soft floor surface for the dog’s legs
and paws along with a dedicated fan and a spill resistant water source.
Convenience is improved for owners with an integrated ramp, easy to
clean surfaces and a full suite of matching Dog Friendly accoutrements.
Major components include:
- a soft-sided cargo area car kennel made from seat
belt-grade netting;
- a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an
elevated platform;
- a 12V DC rear ventilation fan;
- second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design
(matches the bed fabric);
- an extendable ramp (stores under the pet bed
platform);
- all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern;
- a spill-resistant water bowl; and
- Dog Friendly exterior emblems (driver’s
side and rear).
The ramp stores underneath the bed
platform and can be conveniently accessed when the rear tailgate is
down. The car kennel was designed and is being constructed by Takata
Corporation, one of the world’s leading automotive safety
systems suppliers. The Dog Friendly equipment group has a
manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $995.
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