I don't have a dog, so this doesn't affect me much. But Southern California is full of pooch-owners, so Honda is really on to something.
REDONDO BEACH -- Hercules, a Chihuahua mix, went car shopping recently without the slightest worry of pushy salespeople, high-pressure tactics or getting a loan.
Hercules looked over a new "dog friendly" Honda Element at a dog park here at the invitation of USA TODAY, which got a peek at the vehicle prior to its public debut Thursday at the New York International Auto show.
The new version of the Element is sort of a rolling Ritz-Carlton for the canine set. It features a built-in bed in the cargo area, a private electric cooling fan, a spill-proof water bowl and a mesh net to keep animals separated from people. Rubber floor mats are embellished with a dog-bone design.
Being shown at the show as a concept, a final version of the pooch-coddling 2009 Element will go on sale in late summer, setting up a dogfight of sorts with Toyota.
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