Automotive Design and Production

AUG 2017

Automotive Design & Production is the one media brand invested in delivering your message in print, online, via email, and in-person to the right automotive industry professionals at the right time.

Issue link: https://adp.epubxp.com/i/848620

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 30 of 59

www.ADandP.media This is the fifth generation of the Honda minivan. Stronger, safer and even more clever than its predecessors. The 2018 Honda Odyssey is the result of a U.S.-centered development program. Research, design and development were performed by personnel at Honda R&D; Americas in Torrance, California, and Raymond, Ohio. The vehicle—and its V6 engine—are exclusively produced in Lincoln, Alabama, by Honda Manufacturing Alabama. The available 10-speed is made by Honda Precision Parts Georgia in Tallapoosa, Georgia. The large project leader—or chief engineer—for the 2018 Honda Odyssey, the fifth generation of the vehicle, is Chad Harrison (the first, 1995-'98, was based on the Accord platform, and like an Accord sedan, had four swinging doors). He worked on the refresh for the fourth generation vehicle (2011-'17). "I've been focused on the Odyssey for five-plus years," he says. The new Odyssey is based on the company's light-truck platform that was first deployed for the third generation (the current) Acura MDX. From the MDX it was then used for the Honda Pilot, then the Honda Ridgeline. Harrison explains that the Odyssey isn't simply a minivan shell placed on top of the SUV structure, but that it shares the same ideas and approach used on the SUVs, such as how the loads are transferred for crash energy management. He cites a simple case of where the types of vehicles call for a rather massive modification: "On an SUV the side frame section is continuous, but we have a sliding door with a rail." (Honda switched from those swinging doors on the first generation to dual sliders on the second—1999 to 2004.) SERIOUS STEELS But like the MDX, Pilot and the Ridgeline, there is significant use of steel for the Odyssey body. In all, the body structure consists of 7 percent press-hardened steel, 8 percent ultra- high-strength steel (UHSS), 37 percent advanced-high-strength steel (AHSS), and 6 percent high strength steel (HSS), for a total of 58 percent. In addition to which there is 41 percent mild steel and 1 percent aluminum (the hood structure and skin). A couple of notable applications of these steels: there are 1500-MPa UHSS steel door reinforcement beams and front door outer stiffener rings that are laser welded. There is also the use of a tailgate ring, which is a metal structure that surrounds the 29 AD&P; ∕ AUGUST 2017 ODYSSEY

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Automotive Design and Production - AUG 2017