The design is believed to be a hybrid model, consisting of elements of both the S2000 and the original Honda Beat, a mini-car that was around at the start of the nineties. There have been hints for some time from the company that an alternative to their only current sporty model, the CR-Z are in the pipeline, although it seems unlikely that this particular model will surface any time before 2014. Even the next generation of Toyota sports cars, including a new small coupe are set to beat this new concept to launch, as they are due in early 2013.

Honda are said to have submitted some interesting patent applications, with the use of aluminium likely in upcoming models – a far cry from your used Honda Civic or Jazz. The new model is being referred to as the mini-FT-86 in Japan and is likely to be a mid-engine, rear wheel drive, two-door hatchback.

Honda claim that better fuel efficiency and increased internal space will also become features that will set the new Odyssey apart from used Honda models currently available on the pre-owned market. Many of the changes have been brought about through increased interaction with customers during the development phase. Owners were keen to take away the boxy look and give it better handling and a sportier feel, points that Honda have been quick to act on.

The change in aesthetics has been achieved largely through a more slanted windshield and a slightly tapered rear roof line, while the 2011 Odyssey is made to look more like an SUV as it is wider and lower to the ground. If the changes are implemented well, your used Honda Odyssey could be due for a trade in.

The encouraging news means that Honda sales were up 28% over the period – a sizeable increase. The company’s recovery is largely attributed to a recovery in the major US and Japanese markets, although expansion in developing markets such as China also played a major part.

While used Honda cars still prove popular, there is clearly an increasing demand for the new Accord, Civic and Jazz and this is reflected in Honda’s prediction that annual profits for the year will be up as much as ten percent. This forecast is mirrored by other Japanese car makers, who had also struggled the previous year due to the financial crisis.

The Japanese and German car manufacturers have come out of the latest survey very well, with the Honda Civic coming out with the top honour of being the most reliable car on the market today. There was even more reason for the Japanese car giant to celebrate with two more of their cars featuring heavily inside the top 5 cars with the Honda Jazz in third place and the Honda Accord scooping fourth place.

Maintaining a sense of European pride within the top ten was BMW who managed to take the second and fifth placing with their 3 and 5 series cars respectively. The BMW brand also managed to score another success with the subsidiary brand Mini which managed to come in eighth place.

The remaining places in the survey were filled by the Audi A4, the Mercedes C Class, Toyota Avensis and Volkswagen Golf. The two brands BMW and Honda were tied on reliability statistics but it was the German manufacturer who managed to walk away with the overall prize having taken more votes overall.

Despite financial problems Honda have continued their eco friendly engineering and although early UK sales figures of the Insight aren’t inspiring sales of the Insight, the world’s cheapest hybrid vehicle, have soared in Japan.

In the UK, Honda have set up a roadshow to showcase their new technological advances that have made it into their new models, including the Insight but also the Civic Type R and the ever popular S2000.

Despite having not taken off as well in the UK as in the domestic market, Honda will be hopeful that drivers looking for the greenest motoring alternative of all without compromising on driveability and comfort will look to the Insight first and foremost.

Honda’s should be commended for continuing with their green policies when other underperforming manufacturers may well have taken a back seat and concentrated more on those models that generally are the best sellers.

This is where Honda comes into its own; striving to stretch the boundaries of engineering and continue to raise the bar are seemingly more important for Honda than simply making money.

We all know Honda are advanced but they haven’t yet managed to allow for your pooch to chauffeur you to town and back. They have though developed a cushioned dog seat incorporated in the boot of the Honda Element utility car.

The seat covers are easy wash – something that any dog owner will tell you is a must – and there is a fitted dog bed with restraints in place to keep your dog safe and secure, whilst being comfortable on long journeys. The car will of course hit the US market first at the end of 2009 before it is released in Europe and Honda believe they are onto yet another winner.

Despite receiving negative press, both the motor industry and Honda are still striving to get sales of brand new vehicles shifting, although used Honda sales are standing up well amidst the economical turmoil. With the global credit crunch having hit sales of new cars and Honda, along with many other manufacturers having to close their UK plant for a period, Honda have not slowed down their design processes. Their impressive fleet of hybrid vehicles are innovative in bringing down CO2 emissions – the Insight will become the cheapest hybrid vehicle in the world when it is released this year.

So with Honda doing all they can to revive the car trade – even though some of their new ideas, namely the dog mobile, may be a little off the wall – they will be hoping to get an advantage over their competitors even though sales of brand new vehicles are set to continue to plateau at best.

Many prospective new vehicle buyers are waiting for the budget announcements to see if the UK government are to follow the lead of Germany, France and Slovakia by offering a discount certificate (possibly up to 2,000 pounds) that will enable a discount off the purchase of a brand new car, if you scrap your car of at least 9 years old, or older.

Many tax payers are against this as they would prefer to see their taxes go towards other benefits that would better many peoples’ lives during the current recession as opposed to motorists seeking a new car, yet green activists are for the idea as many see global warming as just as important a socio factor as the poor economy.

One sector that has seemingly managed to ride this out is the used car trade as sales have started to pick up. With many people avoiding the hit on depreciation incurred when purchasing a brand new vehicle, many are looking to the used car market and used Honda sales have increased significantly. Honda dealerships have announced a 22 per cent increase from the last quarter in 2008 as people are looking to buy used cars that are the most reliable.

With Honda having seemingly topped the reliability charts for the past few years, that has attracted the attention of buyers who have seen the value in purchasing a used Honda.

The End of Life Vehicle Recycling Law has been enforced in Japan, home of Honda, since 2005 and to that end Honda now has designated bases where they accept ‘dead’ vehicles that they can then strip down and recycle or dispose of responsibly.

The law requires that CFC’s are collected and disposed of without harm to the environment. CFC’s are used in air conditioning units and are very harmful to the ozone layer.

It also requires that airbags, which are difficult to deal with because of their explosive nature are also collected and that, after recyclable materials are collected from a used car, that any shredder residue is also collected and disposed of appropriately.

Honda have been implementing these laws since their inception and have also taken one step further. They are favouring designs that concentrate on using designs on recyclable materials and their goal is to achieve 95% recycle rate by 2015. That’s dedication for you!