Honda Car Forum

Torrance, Calif. - Aug 26 —

Versatile and durable worry-free interior combines utility
floor,
vast cargo zone, refined feel and modern trim

Overview

Much of the 2003 Honda Element's functionality comes from an
interior
designed to support a dynamic and active lifestyle by combining
the
best traits of a pickup truck, SUV and cargo van. Its wide-open
interior space, unique door openings and the overall shape fit a
wide
variety of sports equipment and large items. Meanwhile, durable
seat
and floor materials facilitate worry-free operation with no
carpeting
or delicate fabrics to protect from mud or the loading of
equipment.
Plus, the interior cleans up easy and fast.

The interior of the 2003 Honda Element serves four distinct
missions:

• Everyday driving and people hauling comfort



• Cargo hauling that adapts quickly to large, bulky
  items



• Base camp functionality/social atmosphere



• Interior sleep capability

Key Design Features:

• Hard flat utility floor



• Waterproof seating fabric



• Versatile seating arrangements (64+)



• Bold instrument panel styling



• Multiple storage pockets and cargo hooks



• Instrument panel-mounted gear shifter



• Two-tone exterior matched instrument panel trim

Trim Levels

Element is available in two trim levels -the base model DX
designed
for the purchaser to configure the vehicle exactly to their taste
and
the more fully featured EX. On the DX, features such as air
conditioning, audio system, armrests and other amenities can
be added
at the time of purchase. The DX offers an ideal platform for
custom
mobile electronics and other personalization. The EX trim level
provides popular features including a premium audio unit with
subwoofer and inputs for digital audio sources like an external
MP3
player.

Standard Interior Equipment

Power front windows with driver auto up and down Power door locks Tilt steering wheel Manually adjustable front seats with driver's height adjustment "Memory" fold forward feature on passenger seat Removable flip up rear seats Waterproof FXC™* front seat fabric Vinyl rear seat fabric Utility floor Color matched interior/exterior Front 12V accessory outlets Cargo hooks LATCH system and flush mounted tether anchors for child seats

Real Time 4WD™ interior adds: Removable rear skylight with tilt

EX adds: Cruise control Air conditioning Power mirrors 7-speaker 270 Watt AM/FM/CD/AUX audio unit with subwoofer Overhead storage bin Driver armrest Rear 12V accessory outlets metallic trim Seat back bungee loops on driver's seat Water repellant FXC™* rear seat fabric

* Fabric for Extreme Conditions

Modern Instrument Panel with Retro Style Meters

The instrument panel and meters demonstrate a unique styling
direction for Honda with both modern and retro cues integrated
into a
bold exterior color-coordinated two-tone instrument panel.
Inspired
by a 3-D beveled wristwatch design, the speedometer,
tachometer,
engine temperature and fuel meters feature a classic design
that's
easy to read. The 3-D lens design creates an anti-glare surface.

Heating and air conditioning controls feature large knobs
and are
glove friendly. The two-tone instrument panel uses blue, silver or
green accents coordinated appropriately with the interior color.
The
gear shift lever is mounted on the center of the instrument panel
on
both automatic and manual transmission models, saving space
and
creating a sporty feel with quick reaches between the steering
wheel
and gear shifter.

Seating Versatility

Element's four seats fold into a variety of positions ranging from
a
standard upright configuration to completely flat to the rear seats
removed. When the seats are upright, Element carries four
occupants
including the driver. The reclining front seats feature
easy-to-clean
waterproof material (G), and seats slide forward and back by a
whopping 11 inches to accommodate drivers of all sizes. EX
models add
a driver seat armrest, seatback bungee loops on driver's side
front
and rear seats, net pockets on passenger seat and waterproof
rear
seat fabric (instead of vinyl fabric). The removable flip-up rear
seats feature a 50/50 split and recline independently. To
facilitate
cargo, the seats fold up and latch to the side with carabiner
hooks
or can be removed completely. All seats fold down to create a
"lounge," which is just right for snoozing. The space between the
front seats allows for a "walk through" between front and rear
seats
when the vehicle is stationary.

Urethane-Coated Utility Floor

Designed to be "worry-free," the pick-up style floor is constructed
of Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) Topcoat™, a highly scratch
resistant
yet grippy material and is coated with urethane for extra
toughness.
The material performs well against the sharp edges of
snowboards,
bikes and other gear. The utility floor (H) can be swept with a
broom
or wiped out with a wet cloth. The floor is water resistant, making
it easy to clean up spills. Great care has been taken to isolate all
low mounted electronics from moisture. The spare tire is located
underneath the floor behind the rear seats. The square cover for
the
spare tire (41.6 x 29.4 x 26 inches, L x W x H) can be used as a
table when removed by adding Honda Accessory table legs.

Equipment Hauling Targets

Designed to accommodate a wide variety of lifestyle modules
and hold
them firmly in place with a system of six cargo hooks, Element
interior engineers bench-marked the following large sports gear
and
apartment/dorm room items. Some items can fit underneath the
seats
and still carry a full passenger load, while others require
reclining
or re-configuring the seats. If more storage is needed, an
accessory
roof rack is available.

10 ft. Surfboard (120.0 x 24.0 x 2.7 inches) Mountain Bike (70.0 x 24.0 x 39.3 inches) Snowboard (59.0 inches) Skis (74.0 inches) Extra Large Hockey Bag (40.2 x 20.5 x 17.3 inches) 27" TV (24.8 x 31.1 x 27.6 inches) Bookcase (11.8 x 36.2 x 48.0 inches) Computer Desk (19.7 x 40.2 x 59.1 inches) Extra Large Foot Locker (42.9 x 20.9 x 25.2 inches)

Audio System

The high-output audio system in the EX trim level delivers
dynamic,
rich, loud sound and features: AM/FM tuner, CD player, auxiliary
audio input for MP3 or digital devices, seven speakers including
one
Dynamic Linear Phase (DLP) 6.5-inch subwoofer located in the
bottom
center of the instrument panel, all powered by a 270-Watt
amplifier.
The DLP technology allows the 6.5-inch subwoofer to produce
sound
similar to a 10-inch subwoofer. Subwoofer response can be
adjusted.
For comparisons sake, the bass is eight-times louder than a
Civic EX
coupe audio system (which does not have subwoofer).

DX models, which come with no audio unit and no speakers,
provide
a pre-wired 2DIN slot for audio system additions at the
dealership or
through the aftermarket. The audio pre-wiring includes a
standard
wiring harness (powered) that runs to the speaker ports and to a
roof-mounted antenna. An accessory multi-media player is
available
that can play Windows™ format and MP3 music files.

Plenty of Storage

Numerous storage bins and cupholders provide places for cell
phones,
CDs, super-size drinks and wet clothing. Storage areas include:
five
cupholders (A), low-profile floor console tray (B) between the
front
seats in the pass through, a large three-bin tray © above the
glove
box (perfect for cell phones and PDAs), an overhead storage bin
(D)
designed to hold a CD wallet (EX), seat back storage including
bungee
cord (E) on back of the driver's seat (EX accessory), six hooks for
strapping down bikes or other bulky gear, and door storage
pockets
(F) on all four doors and behind the rear seats. The space
occupied
by the instrument panel-mounted subwoofer on EX models is
utilized as
a storage bin on DX models.

Air Conditioning

Element's heating and cooling system features high volume air
output
for quick cool down and large vents that minimize the loud
"rushing
air" noise that some systems create. The large vent design
allows for
high airflow with low wind noise and 360 degrees of flow
direction
control. The air conditioning unit has been optimized for
ultra-quick
interior cool down.

Interior Accessories

AM/FM/CD audio unit (I) with six speakers (DX) Eight-disc CD changer Cassette player All season floor mats Carpet floor mats Rear cargo tray Neoprene seat covers Armrest Interior trim panels (metallic and blue) Steering wheel cover Skylight sunshade Cargo net Cargo cover Tailgate seat back Privacy curtain Interior bike attachment Table leg kit Bungee cord