Dog-Friendly Honda
16-October-2009
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Who ever said dogs and cars don't mix? Certainly not Honda, who have recently released a dog-friendly pet accommodation system in their new Honda Element (USA car model) designed to improve safety, comfort and convenience.
"The Honda Element has long been recognised as an accommodating vehicle for people with active lifestyles involving sports and hobbies," says assistant vice president of Product Planning for American Honda Vicki Poponi.
Well, the new dog-friendly element certainly takes that concept to a whole new level with specially designed features for the benefit of not only dogs, but their owners.
Engineered to integrate with factory precision into the Honda Element, 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 accoutrements.
Think:
* 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
* '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 US$995.
Will we see the doggy-ramp available in Australia? We sure hope so! Woof!