Hasta La Gadget!

One of the most common situations for drivers to have accidents is in low-speed traffic within a city. Drivers become distracted and before you know it rear end collisions happen. A number of automakers around the world have been introducing systems to improve safety and help prevent rear end collisions. Ford has offered this sort of system on some of its vehicles for a while that activates flashing lights, an audible alarm, and then hits the brakes if needed.

Honda has now announced that it has developed its own accident avoidance support system called the City-Brake Active System. The Honda safety system operates when the vehicle is traveling at speeds under 18 mph. The system relies on a laser radar installed in the upper part of the windscreen to detect when a collision is imminent.

Once the safety system identifies a high risk of collision, it will activate both audio and visual warnings for the driver. If the driver doesn’t take action to avoid the collision the City-Brake Active System automatically applies the vehicle’s brakes. The safety system also has a secondary function designed to prevent accidental acceleration.

At speeds of less than 6 mph, or from a standstill, if the system determines that the driver has pressed too hard on the accelerator when there is another vehicle within 4 m of the front, the system will deliver audio and visual warnings. The system will then restrict engine output to prevent the vehicle from moving forward. The idea is that the system can help prevent rear end collisions in instances where the driver mistakenly steps on the accelerator rather than the brake.

[via Honda]

Honda announces new City-Brake safety system is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you are a soccer mom or want a ride that is more practical for the entire family instead of relying on a nice sports car to get around, then there is nothing quite like a MPV or a minivan as your family’s primary people mover. After all, it is spacious to carry a load of kids as well as your parents-in-law, in addition to having more than ample storage space – useful when you have tons of stuff to lug around on your road trips with the rest of the family. Well, the 2014 Honda Odyssey Minivan has something that all spic and span folks would love – a built-in vacuum to help clean up whatever mess the kids (and pets) leave behind, be it fur, bread crumbs, and other rubbish.

Known as the HondaVAC, it is touted to be the world’s first in-car vacuum, and was developed in conjunction with Shop-Vac. Basically, it is a vacuum hose that is located right behind a side panel in the rear cargo area. The hose itself is long enough to reach all the way to the front driver’s seat, which means it is highly practical and flexible. As long as your ride’s battery has juice, the HondaVAC will suck up all the mess in sight, and it can be used for up to 8 minutes on reserve power when parked.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Freeride E-Speed Electric Motorcycle, Torq Roadster Gains Batman’s Approval,

It’s time again to take a peek at Honda’s futuristic infotainment system “HondaLink” in their next-generation 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite. The 2014 Odyssey is the one you’ll be remembering as the van with the built-in vacuum – that vacuum is also known as the HondaVAC, just so you know. It’s real draw, though, should be the smart implementation of HondaLink, the system that debuted back with the 2013 Honda Accord.

This system is just one of several infotainment systems being shown off this week at the 2013 New York International Auto Show. You’ll find that Honda isn’t the only one to have their eye placed squarely on the future with connectivity and entertainment options – not to mention safety options – through center consoles galore. With HondaLink, you’ll be working with keyless Smart Entry and Push Button Start – and that’s where the fun begins!

Above you’ll be seeing a very brief run-through of the 2014 Odyssey, including a quick suck-up of some Fruit Loops in the back cabin with the HondaVAC system. Just what you want in a family-aimed automobile!

With Honda’s implementation of HondaLink technology here in the 2014 Odyssey, you’ll be working with HD Radio with ease – pick up for your favorite AM, FM, or XM radio stations and place them in your favorites – access whenever you like! You’ll find a free HondaLink smartphone app available to you as well to create and customize your own personal radio stations – these stations can be many different things, including a vocalized reading of your news feed updates from Facebook and Twitter.

HondaLink is able to read out loud many different bits and pieces such as restaurant reviews, coffee shop locations, and turn-by-turn directions. You can learn a bit more about the expanded world of HondaLink in the heart-touching demonstration video below – and don’t forget to stick close to our Honda tag portal for more on Honda through the future, too!

HondaLink infotainment ecosystem stays smart in 2014 Odyssey is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Honda has rolled out its 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, showing off a variety of features that range from safety upgrades over previous models to its HondaVAC in-car vacuum. Perhaps one of the best features that can be included in a family van, where kids will no doubt produce their fair share of crumbs and other debris, the HondaVAC is the first vacuum system to be integrated into a vehicle.

The HondaVAC system – partly developed by Shop-Vac – comes standard in the 2014 Odyssey, and features user-replaceable filters and a canister bag, as well as various nozzles to vacuum the van’s nooks and crannies. The nozzles are stored in the driver’s side bulkhead, while the vacuum itself has a hose that can reach all areas within the van. HondaVAC is completely integrated into the vehicle, and can run for however long necessary as long as the van is turned on. When shut off, HondaVac can be used for 8 minutes.

In addition, the 2014 Odyssey features a variety of design changes and improvements, with Honda calling the exterior styling “more sophisticated”, with a sculpted hood, bolder grille, aluminum front fenders, and integrated chrome-trimmed fog lights located lower in the front fascia than before. There’s Smart Entry, HD Radio, integrated texting functionality, and HondaLink with Aha Mobile Interface.

In addition, the minivan’s structure has been upgraded in hopes of getting high marks on the IIHS popular front-crash test, which could earn it a Top Safety Pick+ award. The van features Expanded View Driver’s Mirror, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Departure Warning, among other safety features. Honda’s Vice President of Marketing Operations Michael Accavitti had this to say: “The Odyssey is already the leader in its segment, and for 2014, Honda has made the modern family hauler even better. Honda is once again showcasing its reputation for innovation with HondaVAC, and its ability to provide true value to our customers.”

[via Honda News]

Honda’s 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite minivan features in-car vacuum system is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Honda has recalled about 93,000 of its Acura TSX vehicles due to a problem with its ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that could set of a series off problems culminating in engine stalling. Depending on when the engine stalls, the driver could potentially be at risk for crashing, resulting in injury. The information comes from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

The process by which the engine may stall is a bit complicated. According to the NHTSA report, the vehicle’s driver could transfer a chemical found in de-icing products to the car’s carpet by walking on it. From there, the de-icing compound could then be transferred to the Electronic Control Unit where its case meets the carpet.

At this point, the chemical could then lead to corrosion, and the corrosion could cause a stall, with the engine stall potentially causing a crash. As a result, Honda elected to recall just under six figures worth of the Acura TSX model years 2004 through 2007. Of this number, approximately 76,000 are located in the United States, and the rest are located in Canada.

As you can imagine, however, those in some states aren’t likely to come in contact with a de-icing chemical, which is why the recall has been limited to certain states (all of which experience icy winters): Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

Owners will be notified next month.

[via Torque News]

Honda recalls 93,000 Acura TSX sedans due to potential engine stalls is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.