|
Now
you see it. Now you don't. At least that's how rumor has
it. Maybe it's elemental whether Honda's punky Element will
remain a big, boxy customizer special, or whether it will
get more mainline trappings during an expected upcoming
design makeover. The point is, however, if you simply adore
this quirky radical's styling, you might consider getting
it sooner -- just in case.
The
car-based Element, which lands in the Crossover category
since it really doesn't fit anyplace else, is one of those
one-of-a-kind experiments that has lured a surprising range
of fans from 16 to ?? (One middle-aged man ran full speed
across a street to keep us from driving off in our road
test model until he could check it over, inside and out.)
It's even spawned something of a visual imitator in the
square-shaped Scion xB (although Toyota execs might argue
that point).
But
Element as a whole remains unique, with its voluminous interior
accessed by center-split, over wide side doors, hose-down
interior (the perfect travel home for a muddy Labrador Retriever),
front or four-wheel-drive, pop-open rear roof (AKA Speedo
"changing room" for males only), available manual
trans for the adventurous and tailgate-party-ready rear
access with a split-rear gate that will keep you dry overhead
if it rains while you swing your feet from the lower half.
Whew.
Honda
has trimmed out the Element nicely for '05, making front
side airbags and XM Satellite radio standard on the higher-end
EX model, while adding tailpipe finishers and two new composite
body panel colors (black and blue) for added two-tone effects.
LX gets power mirrors, cruise control and new wheel covers.
Cargo Khaki, Magnesium Metallic, and Rallye Red join the
exterior color palette. We think those are added primary
reasons for considering the Element, already loaded with
standard equipment, that - tops - still squeaks in under
a 20 'thou base.
|
