Honda's shooting at the Chrysler Pacifica, their most sucessful model since they built the first Caravan (outside of the 300/Magnum/Charger platform) and at the R350/500 of Mercedes, which is a luxo-brand version of the same idea: minivan/SUV crossover. The R-class is M-B's most sucessful launch in a decade.

Lots of folks are beginning to reason their way out of the SUV madness, but most of those same folks do NOT want to go back to a minivan as such. Remember that many people who are driving those lumbering land yacht SUVs today saw them as a blessed relief from the image of faceless suburban sameness and tedium (minivans). So from a marketing perspective, the Odyssey is for people without big egos. This new minivan/SUV crossover is for people with big or easily bruised egos who want and probably need a minivan, but just won't buy one.

 

i like that front
from the JDM Oddessy

 

not bad i think. its a wagon/mini van crossover looks like. nice. it can be same class as the mitsu lancer wagoon thing and mazda 5 and even a few american wagons and im sure itll kick a$$

 

very nice....

 

I Love station wagons

 

Pity its RHD or it might be worth importing one for a kajillion dollars. I personally like the style. That or a Honda That's

 

They're calling it an "MUV":

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_cfbde2a c-cb73c03a-a7573700-ad58bf70

 

It seems to be a nice rival to the N.A. Mazda 5.
The huskier stretched highbeltline hatchback/stationwagon that is not really a mini-van meant for non mini-van drivers.:D

I would be all over it too!