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New Honda to be built in Canada
Odyssey production shifting to Alabama this fall
By Tom Mack
Thursday, January 15, 2004
A production version of the Honda SUT Concept that debuted last week at Detroit's 2004 North American International Auto Show will be produced at Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) in Alliston, Ontario, in 2005.
To make room for the new model, all production of Honda's popular Odyssey minivan at the Alliston plant will shift to Lincoln, Alabama with production start-up of the all-new '05 Odyssey in the fall of 2004.
The Honda Canada plant launched the Honda Odyssey, Acura MDX and Honda Pilot into production.
With the move of Odyssey to Alabama, the Canadian plant's No. 2 line will retain its three light truck model responsibility with the addition of the new SUT model.
A new production line in Alabama will start mass production in April with the Honda Pilot. With this start-up, the Honda Pilot will become a dual-sourced model, produced at Alliston and Alabama, providing flexibility for the production model mix at the two plants. The original Alabama assembly line, which opened in November 2001, will begin production of the all-new 2005 Odyssey next fall, the first full model change for the plant. As the sole manufacturing source of the new Odyssey, the Lincoln facility will have the flexible production capability to allow quick response to any changes in customer needs by maintaining a volume mix of two models on two lines.
"We will soon have the capability to produce light trucks flexibly among three production lines at two plants in Alabama and Canada," said Koki Hirashima, president of Honda of America Mfg. (HAM), who is also responsible for Honda's manufacturing operations in North America. This will further enhance our ability to respond more flexibly and quickly to the needs of our customers."
The new SUT model will become the sixth light truck model for Honda and Acura - joining the Honda Odyssey, CR-V, Pilot, Element and Acura MDX.
Envisioned as a next generation truck, the SUT Concept's re-inforced, unibody chassis design allows for new inroads into the light truck market where truck utility is combined with innovative packaging, sporty handling and advanced safety technology.
"The pickup market is evolving to meet the changing tastes of a new generation of truck buyers," said Tom Elliott, executive vice-president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Honda SUT Concept takes this evolution to the next level with higher levels of refinement and sophistication in a sporty and socially responsible package with Honda durability, quality and reliability."
The SUT Concept features a refined and spacious cabin with seating for five adults and a five-foot long cargo bed with reduced intrusion of the real wheel arches for maximized cargo hauling capabilities.
Built around the image of an active, young father, the Honda SUT Concept represents a fusion of this "cool dad's" family life stage and active lifestyle - where everyday work life and family responsibilities are combined with weekend sports, hobbies and family activity in one highly practical, rugged and functional vehicle.
From its wide stance and bold face, down to the smallest interior and exterior details, the SUT Concept's styling conveys a look of strength and agility with a modern, technical appearance.
"People will recognize this as a new kind of truck," said Dave Marek, chief designer of the SUT Concept.
"We wanted to express the unique character of Honda in a vehicle that we think will take all trucks into the next generation, stylistically."
Design details include a roof with a four-panelled skylight; a cargo bed with integrated lights and speakers; seats featuring a roll bar appearance; storage bins made with climbing rope; and front door liners with integrated Mag-Lite brand flashlights.
The SUT Concept is powered by a high performance, high torque, all-aluminum VTEC V6 engine coupled with an advanced, electronically controlled 4-wheel drive system for outstanding all-weather handling performance, medium-duty towing and off-road capabilities, along with ultra-low emissions and class-leading fuel efficiency.
With its wide track and sophisticated 4-wheel fully independent suspension, the SUT Concept also delivers a new level of ride comfort and handling prowess to the light truck segment.
Honda currently has an annual North American production capacity of 1.25 million automobiles and light trucks at its five auto plants in Ohio, Alabama, Canada and El Salto, Mexico - supplying more than 75 per cent of the Honda and Acura vehicles sold annually in North America. The production capacity will grow to 1.4 million units with the second line in Alabama.
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