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Honda Designs Car Friendly for Dogs
Times Dispatch ^
| 10-5-2005
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.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Japan
KEYWORDS: animals; automakers; doggieping; honda
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Pet dogs sit in special crates for dogs in the glove apartment at the front and bigger crate in the back seat of Honda Motor Corp.'s W.O.W Concept vehicle during a media preview in Wako, north of Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 26, 2005. With wide sliding doors, the concept vehicle that stands for "wonderful openhearted wagon," features special crates for pet dogs. It is an exhibition model with no plans for commercial sale that will be exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show that opens on Nov. 19. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
1
posted on
10/05/2005 8:06:13 AM PDT
by
Cagey
To: Cagey
2
posted on
10/05/2005 8:09:07 AM PDT
by
bluefish
(Holding out for worthy tagline...)
To: Cagey
I love it!! The pooch in the back looks like my Scruffy!
3
posted on
10/05/2005 8:09:21 AM PDT
by
proudofthesouth
(Boycotting movies since 1988)
To: Cagey
I don't want a car with hardwood floors...
4
posted on
10/05/2005 8:10:04 AM PDT
by
lewislynn
(Status quo today is the result of eliminating the previous status quo. Be careful what you wish for)
To: Cagey
And here I've been saying GM has been going to the dogs!
5
posted on
10/05/2005 8:10:10 AM PDT
by
JAWs
To: Cagey
I like to glove compartment idea, if I could get my kittens to stay in it. They'd much rather help me drive.
6
posted on
10/05/2005 8:10:45 AM PDT
by
Not A Snowbird
(Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
To: lewislynn
I'd prefer a nice travertine.
7
posted on
10/05/2005 8:12:08 AM PDT
by
MarkeyD
(Cindy - The new 'C' word! I really, really loathe liberals.)
To: Cagey
If it sells, good for them.
But don't try it here, lawsuit-happy PETA types will sue saying it encourages owners to leave their dogs in the car.
To: lewislynn
The seats appear to have been procured from an old baseball stadium.
9
posted on
10/05/2005 8:13:16 AM PDT
by
Rebelbase
(New Orleans rebuild by Mexican Labor will produce crawfish tacos and menuedo-gumbo.)
To: Cagey
Dogs like window seats with the windows down. Ninnies.
10
posted on
10/05/2005 8:13:53 AM PDT
by
jwh_Denver
(Become a liberal. Try to make everyone's life miserable.)
To: Rebelbase
As a dog my complaint would be that the glove box doesn't have a window to hang my head out.
11
posted on
10/05/2005 8:14:32 AM PDT
by
Rebelbase
(New Orleans rebuild by Mexican Labor will produce crawfish tacos and menuedo-gumbo.)
To: Cagey
The Japanese are a little behind the times...
12
posted on
10/05/2005 8:15:11 AM PDT
by
Hatteras
Comment #13 Removed by Moderator
To: Cagey
Or...
14
posted on
10/05/2005 8:16:29 AM PDT
by
Hatteras
To: Rebelbase
And I'd miss all that slobber on the window. That's the sign of a real dog.
15
posted on
10/05/2005 8:17:00 AM PDT
by
Cagey
To: Cagey
Oh Sorry, you said "friendly" towards dogs.....
To: Cagey
17
posted on
10/05/2005 8:17:22 AM PDT
by
technochick99
(Firearm of choice: Sig Sauer....)
To: Hatteras
18
posted on
10/05/2005 8:17:38 AM PDT
by
SittinYonder
(Flea, feather, bird, egg, nest, twig, branch, limb, tree, and the bog down in the valley - o.)
To: Cagey
"Do you realize that there is increasing evidence that dogs and cats watch television? We should start programming right now so in 20 years, they could become regular viewers."
19
posted on
10/05/2005 8:18:10 AM PDT
by
Starter
(Hey, it's only 3 years off now!)
To: Rebelbase
The Japanese are also crazy about baseball...
20
posted on
10/05/2005 8:18:13 AM PDT
by
Eric in the Ozarks
(Troubled by NOLA looting ? You ain't seen nothing yet.)
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