A WHO TO CALL: Auto Editor A.P, McCredie 985-2131 (113) ESL LAER TN TIS Rig at aci OVERDRIVE HONDA HAS built up quite a reputation as being an innovative company and a . Clever risk-taker. In the last ten years, Honda accom- plished many firsts as a Japanese auto company: the first to build a plant in the United States; the first to introduce a separate luxury franchise; and the first Japanese company to market an exotic sports machine. One of the reasons Honda has been able to operate as a lean-and- smart company is that its workforce consists mostly of young peopic. The average age of the stat? workers at Honda in Japan is in the 30s, while at other companies, like Toyota and Nissan, the average age reaches beyond the 40 mark. This, combined with Honda's unusual hiring policy that strongly favors people with special talent, leadership, and creativity - as opposed to the type of'school or grade point average - have cultivated Honda's dare-to-be-different mental- ity. In the past couple of years, how- ever, Honda has slowed down some- what to better position itself against the profit-ripping recession. If you're a loyal Henda fan (and there are plenty of you out there), not to worry. Honda has some inter- _ esting news in store for the next 12 months. The first product that reflects Honda's aggressive new market plan is the much-talked-about Odyssey minivan. To be available in mid- 1. ee De err ae oa) Rae OO ee Cats eee Teer AA. Qa Wednesday, November 30, 1994 — North Shore News ~— 59 seat aoa un LESIONS SE December, the Odyssey will give family car buyers another choice to consider in the growing minivan market, Unlike some minivans which are hased on a truck chassis, the Odyssey is based on the highly pop- ular Accord sedan, which gives it an edge in handling, performance, and ride quality. In fact, Honda officials say that Odyssey is really aimed at car buyers who are looking for lots of extra space, not van buyers look- ing for a car-like comfort. © The Odyssey promises to deliver a refined ride, quiet cabin. and responsive steering feel, made possi- ble by its Accord-based 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine, double-wish- bone suspension, and electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The Odyssey incorporates some unique ideas, including swing-out type doors (instead of the conven- uonal sliding type), easy-to-enter flat floor design, and a third row seat that can be folded to form a bed or neatly tucked-in underneath the floor. Along with the Odyssey, Honda will introduce a V-6 equipped Honda Accord, giving buyers a tue BREAKS ALL THE RULES. - Camare 228 has challenged all the rules about sports cars. Such as the rule that said horsepower . had to be expensive and V8 power had to be even ‘mores: Z28 rocks tradition with a 275-hp LT1 V8. Injection and a 6-speed manual transmission make it easy to manage that power. Why settle for warm when you can have hot? Put a Camaro Z28 in your comer, and see why other so-called performance-coupes are running "2 ‘Photo submitted THE HONDA Odyssey represents the Japanese automaker's first foray into the booming mini-van market. Built to drive more like a car than a van, the Odyssey is set for release next month. alternative to the V-6 Toyota Camry and Nissan Maxima. The !70-horse- power, 2.7-litre V-6 engine will be available in both the EX and EX-R trim levels. Though the V-6, models fook much like their four-cylinder counterparts, closer evaluation shows that there is a number of sub- tle differences. The V-6 Accord is actually 70 mm longer than the regular version, and boasts a new front design with a more luxurious look — a fa Acura Legend. The V-6 engine, unfortu- nately, will be only available with the four-door model. On the Acura side, a number of interesting models are being slated for introduction during 1995. And looking further down the road in 1996, Acura will introduce yet another mid-level model, to be slotted just below the new Vigor- replacement model. It will be built at Honda’s state-of-the-art plant in Alliston, Ontario, and it will be sold exclusively in Canada. So, while Honda may not be doing anything outrageous over the next several months, it does have plenty of mouth-watering products to keep its fans happy. WE’VE COMBINED THE INVENTORY OF TWO STORES 70 PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST SELECTION AROUND ~ Displacement is 5.7 litres. Sequential-Port Fuel for cover. ‘91 CAMARO 93 228 (RED) RS . © 350 Cl. (275 HP) ° 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION * POWER WINDOWS & * BURGANDY ¢ T-ROOFS LOCKS ¢ AIR CONDITIONING ° 5 SFEED * V8 ENGINE * ABS BRAKES * DUAL AIRBAGS ¢ CASSETTE ° 61,000 KM ¢ PERFORMANCE PKG. 540, 975 NEW MX6 MYSTERE AS MODEL, 8 SP SPORT PACKAGE V6 ALSO AVAILABLE ST# 6R1310 ‘94 228 (TEAL) ° T-ROOFS ° 350 CL (275 HP) * 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION * POWER WINDOWS & LOCKS ¢ AIR CONDITIONING ¢ ABS BRAKES ¢ DUAL AIRBAGS ¢ PERFORMANCE PKG. ¢ TILT STEERING * TILT STEERING GS MODEL V6, ALUMINUM WHEELS, AUTOMATIC ST# 174398 + 350 CE. ENGINE «6 SPEED TRANSMISSION * POWER WINDOWS & LOCKS * ABS BRAKES * AIR CONDITIONING ° DUAL AIRBAGS ¢ TILT STEERING $30,775 NEW 1994 626 PREMIUM PACKAGE POWER SUNROOF, WINDOWS & LOCKS DUAL AIR-BAGS 6 CYL ENGINE ALLOY WHEELS ST# 614154 "Son $22,888 || Prices shown are tiet of ali rebates Ge: REGENCY MAZDA} 359 KINGSWAY AT 12TH, VANCOUVER : PHONE 7 DAYS A WEEK