Posted on 10/05/2005 8:06:11 AM PDT by Cagey
WAKO, Japan (AP) -- Honda Motor Co. has designed a car that's friendly for dogs - part of the Japanese automaker's ongoing effort to create vehicles that are easy to use and comfortable to ride in.
The W.O.W. Concept, which stands for "wonderful openhearted wagon," shown to reporters recently, is an exhibition model with no plans for commercial sale that will be exhibited at the Tokyo auto show later this month.
A special crate for dogs in the glove apartment allows owners to interact with their pets while driving. A bigger crate pops up from the floor in the back seat area and can be folded back into the floor when it's not needed. For even bigger dogs, just buckle them up with a special seat belt to the floor.
The big danger for pets riding along in cars is that they get thrown out during a crash. About a fifth of Japanese households have a dog, and demand is growing for cars that cater to man's best friend, according to Honda.
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The W.O.W comes with removable, washable, rollout flooring and has wide sliding doors to keep dogs happy.
"We created this vehicle from the point of view of a dog, but it turned out to be a gentler vehicle for the elderly, children and other family members," said Honda designer Katsuhito Nakamura.
I got into the Z, and turned out onto a local one-way residential street. I barely pushed the accelerator, and screeched. I shifted to second, and pressed. Whoooooossssshhhhhhhhhhhhh. I didn't buy the car. I figured there would be too many pink pieces of paper in my future. I ended up selling the Porsche, and bought a 73 Olds Custom Cruiser (Speaking of boats). (It was my first wife's favorite car... She failed to watch a thermostat, and cracked the block...)
On behalf of all the cat people--we DEMAND a kitty cat friendly vehicle!!! Where are the lawyers--we have all the makings of a cat-action suit against Honda!!!!!
Im thinking No!
LOL
MM
As noted in your post, if he'd been on the other side he would have fractured my neck. . .
too smart
The dog I grew up with had to have plenty of air time and she got it. We took her everywhere with us. She also came to understand the laws of physics and would start to lean as we headed into a curve. Sometimes though she would be leaning so far that her feet would lose traction and onto the floor she'd go. 45 mph was the time she would bring her head inside as her lips would be flapping and her eyelids flared out too much. What a dog. She's always alive in my mind.
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Kitty Ping List alert!
[Freepmail me to get on or off the Kitty Ping List.]
Those two are possibly the cutest things I've ever seen.
That's what I thought too.
"As a dog my complaint would be that the glove box doesn't have a window to hang my head out."
..or it should at least look like Post 12, and be full of hot dogs.
ping to 106 if you aren't already on slings and arrows ping list. Your heart will melt.
***- the cat got up on the TV top and looked at it upside-down, then pawed desparately at the cars going by! LOL!***
My first kitty did the same thing from on top of the TV trying to catch the fast-moving hockey players.
LOL!!!!!
Great Pics.
My Irish setter used to sleep in our bed when I left the house. People thought I was crazy when I'd go to a pay phone and connect with the speaker phone at home, and yell, "Copper! Get off that bed, NOW! After a couple of tries, I found the bed was not slept in when I got home. Poor dog, she must have thought I could see through walls. LOL!
Me going to the quaint little beer, bait and beach umbrella rental shop to see if I can rent one of those cars in 4x4, loaded.....with hot dogs.
Oh, those two pix of the Basset Hound and the kitty are beyond cute. And their colors match perfectly.
Muttly, my FAVORITE dog. I'd let you ride in my car any time. Even with your coonskin cap on.
I'd need a moose crate.
Nose prints.
"even with your coonskin cap on."
Safety first.
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