2005 Honda Odyssey Body

Overview

While a casual observer may consider a vehicle's body as the exterior styling and the metal pieces that create the overall shape, the importance of the body goes much further. The body construction - mostly the construction that can't be seen from the surface - is a primary contributor to crash safety while providing the foundation for a vehicle's ride, handling and NVH characteristics. To that end, the 2005 Odyssey's all-new body and frame use Honda's most advanced technology to introduce a new era of safety and performance potential to the minivan segment in regards to collision safety, collision energy management, increased rigidity and comfort.

What's new for 2005

• Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
• Width increased by 1-inch
• Static and dynamic rigidity increased 20 percent
• Aerodynamic coefficient of drag reduced by about 5 percent
• Moonroof
• Optimized high tensile strength metals for relative body weight reduction
• Fuel tank capacity increases to 21.0 gallons (+1.0 gallon)
• Fit and finish increased/body panel gaps reduced
• Power Tailgate available
• Enhanced Power Sliding Door operation
• 2nd Row Power Windows

The Odyssey's body is designed to provide a low floor with a large cabin for the ultimate in minivan functionality. The Odyssey is large and roomy inside, yet can fit in the average garage. Structurally, the body is designed to function as a strong, stable partner for the Odyssey's 4-wheel independent suspension system and V-6 powertrain.

Odyssey Exterior Dimensions Versus the Competition

Note: All specifications subject to change.

Exterior Styling

Reflective of the Odyssey moving to an even higher level of first-class refinement, the exterior styling of the 2005 Odyssey delivers an appearance of sophistication designed to complement the high technology and luxury of the interior and powertrain. The Odyssey's re-designed sheetmetal exhibits a sophisticated styling direction that combines solid and massive accents starting at the front fenders to create an indented beltline around the vehicle. The lines establish a powerful stance and an enveloping feeling of safety.

The ultimate goal of the styling was to wrap the functional aspect of the Odyssey in a shape that is prestigious, advanced and powerful. In other words, the styling says this is a sporty and luxurious vehicle first, a minivan second.

Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure

The Odyssey is the first North American application of Honda's newly developed Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, a system that results in improved compatibility between vehicles of different sizes with significantly enhanced occupant protection and reduced aggressivity toward other vehicles in a collision. This body structure employs an innovative new front-end frame structure that reduces the potential concentrated force of an impact by dispersing and absorbing crash energy over a larger area. The design also helps reduce the potential for misalignment with the frame of the opposing vehicle whether it's small or large. The Odyssey is the perfect platform for Honda to launch its Safety for Everyone commitments (see Overview) as the previous model already earns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) highest ratings of five stars for frontal and side impact crash tests. Honda's internal testing shows that 2005 Odyssey is expected to achieve or exceed the same results.

The Odyssey's ACE body structure is configured for high energy absorption. In the event of a frontal collision, the body structure with its front-mounted polygonal main frame is designed to prevent structural penetration while distributing forces evenly through multiple major load bearing pathways - and away from the passenger compartment. For comparison, a conventional body structure generally concentrates the loads from a collision through two pathways running longitudinally through the lower portion of the frame. In the ACE body structure for example, frontal impact force can be distributed from the front of the vehicle through the side sill, floor frame and A pillar in order to reduce the cabin deformation. Special gussets are used to help direct forces throughout the frame.

The bottom line is that the ACE body structure enhances the maximum potential for energy absorption during a collision because impact forces can be distributed through more vehicle mass and away from the passenger compartment.

Four Ring Shell

The Odyssey's body is further reinforced by a four-ring safety cage. Consisting of a series of hoops formed by the underfloor crossmembers, the A, B, C and D pillars, and crossmembers in the ceiling, the four ring shell encircles the passenger compartment and provides protection in the event of a side impact or rollover.

Further reinforcement against side impacts are provided by the A, B, C and D Pillars. These pillars feature internal plates and gussets that greatly strengthen them against buckling. To better protect the Odyssey against rear impact, the main-frame members extend all the way to the rear of the body and are tied together with a crossmember under the floor. In addition, the rear pillar is internally reinforced and large outrigger pieces further tie the base of the rear pillar to the floor.

Pedestrian Safety

Honda's commitment to safety extends to pedestrians as well as vehicle occupants. To help reduce pedestrian injuries in the event of a collision, the Odyssey's hood and fender areas were designed to deform if contacted by the head of an adult or child pedestrian. Energy-absorbing collapsible hood supports, wiper arms and fender mounts allow substantial deformation in an impact, allowing the engineering team to meet its target for pedestrian safety.

Front Driver's and Passenger's Doors Construction

The Odyssey's front doors use triple-stage stopper construction for ease of ingress/egress in tight parking situations. The doors use a special construction that provides a solid feel and sound when closing. The doors feature side impact protection beams.

Dual Sliding Doors with Power Windows and Available Integrated Sunshades

New for 2005, the Odyssey is equipped with power windows in the second row dual sliding doors. The windows feature auto up and down functions. The second row window switches use the recessed push down/pull up design that further helps to reduce the risk of the window pinching an occupant.

Honda Odyssey EX, EX with Leather and Touring models are equipped with dual power sliding doors. The doors can be opened from the outside, when the handle is pulled, or by the master switch on the instrument panel. A lockout switch, on the instrument panel, can disable the door's automatic operation. The doors can also be independently operated with the keyless entry system. This allows the doors to be opened or closed from a distance of up to 30 feet.

Significant safety features have been built into the Odyssey's power door system. If the door should encounter any resistance while closing, it will immediately reverse direction. New for 2005, a direct detection system uses sensors built into the rubber seal on the leading edge of the door that detects when an object is in the path of the door. The sensors use three closely spaced wires inside the doors' rubber seal that can touch if contact is made to the outer edge of the seal. When the wires touch, that sends a signal to the doors operating system to reverse direction. The system is extremely sensitive and relatively gentle (reduced load for pinch detection).

Additional enhancements to the power door system include a clutch system for reduced load requirements during manual operation. Also, the doors will not completely retract to the fully open position if the rear windows are down. This is a safety feature to prevent a person's head or other body part (sticking out the window) from getting pinched between the front of sliding door and the door frame during automatic open operation.

Integrated sunshades are standard on EX and above models. The retractable shades are integrated into the lower portion of the doorsills and can be easily pulled up and secured via a hook at the top edge of the window sash. The shades cover the vast majority of the glass and do not interfere with power window operation.

As a safety feature, the dual sliding doors on all models each have side impact protection beam.

Power Tailgate

Odyssey Touring models feature a power rear tailgate that can be conveniently controlled from four sources: the key fob, the exterior handle (for manual opening), a switch mounted on the underside of the tailgate (for closing), and from a switch on the instrument panel. The tailgate can be manually closed at any time during open or close operation. As a safety feature, the tailgate has an auto detection system (similar to the power sliding door direct detection system) that will reverse direction in the event that something prevents it from closing or opening.

Refined Fit and Finish

Attention to detail is one trait that helps set the Odyssey apart from the competition. Fit and finish details have been tightened for 2005 with improvements to gaps between body panels and exterior features. The end result is a refined, tight appearance that speaks to the overall quality of the vehicle with the smallest gaps between body panels in the minivan segment.

Body Panel Fit Improvements

Aerodynamics

The 2005 Odyssey manages airflow for an approximate 5 percent gain in coefficient of drag (Cd). Items such as the A pillar, side mirror, wiper layout and the use of underfloor pans have all been designed to minimize air turbulence. These designs result in enhanced fuel economy and less wind noise. Other measures contributing to reduce wind noise levels include dramatically reducing the width of body seams, mounting glass flush with the surrounding body panels, and using double seals around all doors.

NVH Countermeasures

The redesigned Odyssey utilizes a wide variety of technology, construction and space age materials to reduce road noise to the lowest levels available in the minivan segment. The Odyssey has the following features that address NVH:

• Floating front and rear subframes with rubber bushings (new on rear subframe)
• Advanced sound absorbing material lines majority of cabin (new material technology)
• Active Noise Control (exclusive to EX with Leather and Touring models)

To maximize gains derived from the Odyssey's stronger body, both the front and rear subframes of the new Odyssey have structural enhancements to improve ride and handling precision characteristics along with noise reductions. The points where the front and rear subframes attach to the body have rubber bushings, which help to isolate the effects of noise transmitted from road surfaces and bumps through the fully independent suspension.

Lightweight Soundproofing Material

The Honda Odyssey utilizes a new style of lightweight sound proofing material that reduces weight and absorbs more noise than traditional insulation. Traditional soundproofing material works by "insulating" the cabin from noise with a thick, heavy layer of foam padding (like carpet padding) on top of a layer of rubber meltsheet (and then adding an additional thin layer of meltsheet). The 2005 Odyssey still uses meltsheet, but the new soundproofing material is comprised of a much thinner layer of lightweight sound absorbing substrate that "absorbs" sound rather than "insulates" or "reflects" it. This new material can save more than 30 pounds of weight compared traditional soundproofing material while providing higher sound deadening performance. (See the next page for a detailed illustration of soundproofing technology.)

Active Noise Control (ANC)

Additional sound reduction is achieved through the Active Noise Control (ANC) system (on models with Variable Cylinder Management). See the Interior section for more detail on ANC.

Fuel System

The 21-gallon, saddle-shaped fuel tank is molded of high-density polyethylene for low weight, freedom from corrosion and impact resistance. It is positioned immediately ahead of the rear wheels to help guard against collision damage. Corners of the tank are rounded and the inside of the tank is baffled to diminish the likelihood of sloshing-fuel noise. The polyethylene filler pipe and fuel lines are light, not susceptible to corrosion and resistant to fuel vapor losses. A high-efficiency fuel pump is housed inside the fuel tank. The fuel-filter is a lifetime design that never needs replacement.

The Odyssey complies with all evaporative emissions, on-board diagnostics, and refueling vapor recovery requirements. The fuel vapor canister and filter are rubber mounted for noise isolation and protected against rock and debris damage by a deflection shield. The capacity of the tank has increased by 1-gallon for 2005.

Exterior Lighting

The Odyssey headlamp design uses aggressive looking dual projector beam-style halogen lamps for front-of-vehicle illumination. The lamp assemblies feature a clear outer lens that wraps around the vehicle's front corners and the running lamps and turn signals are housed inside. The round inboard lamps are for high-beam illumination and the round outboard lamps are for normal driving.

The halogen headlights offer class-leading performance, casting a beam wider and further than any other minivan currently on the market. Odyssey EX and above models feature an auto off . Odyssey Touring models provide a user-configurable option for auto off for the headlights, configurable through the Multi Information Display. In addition to auto off, the Touring model headlights also turn on automatically by using a sensor. Fog lamps are standard on Touring models and accessories on all other trim levels. The rear taillights feature a reflective inner-cube design as the background for the four lights and a reflector. The lenses are solid red brake and running lights, amber for turn signals. A large, rectangular back-up-lamp reflector provides extra illumination when backing up.