October 30, 2003

Associated Press

RAYMOND, Ohio – Honda of America Inc. said Wednesday that its vehicles will be equipped with new features by the end of 2006 as part of a plan to improve safety.

The features include adding protection for side impact collisions, rollovers and crashes in which one vehicle is bigger than another.

Nearly all Honda and Acura vehicles will get front side air bags and side curtain air bags to enhance protection in side impact crashes and antilock brakes as standard equipment, Honda said.

All Honda and Acura light trucks, including sport utility vehicles and minivans, will have new equipment to help in the event of a rollover.

Honda also is developing a new body structure that will be used in the next six or seven years to provide additional protection when vehicles in an accident are different sizes. The 2005 Honda Odyssey minivan and Acura RL sedan will be the first U.S. models to carry that new technology.

The features were announced at Honda's new safety research facility in this city 35 miles northwest of Columbus. The 78,000-square-foot facility is on Honda's research and development campus about five miles from Honda of America's auto plant in Marysville, Ohio.