Honda Minivan’s Built-In Vacuum Cleaner: Best of Show in New York?

11 years, 7 months ago - 9 April 2013, Wall Street Journal

There are many new vehicles and bits of cutting-edge technology vying for attention at the New York International Auto Show that began this week. From Chevrolet’s 500-horsepower Camaro Z/28 and Subaru’s speedy WRX concept to BMW’s plug-in hybrid Active Tourer, the latest automotive hardware and software are impressive.

Still, a vacuum cleaner stole the show.

Honda Motor Co. revealed an updated version of its Odyssey minivan that seemed at first to be a barely warmed-over version of last year’s model. So why were so many people gathered around its open rear hatch? They were captivated by the feature many family-taxi drivers dream about — a vacuum cleaner built into the trunk.

The appliance works like the central vacuum systems in many modern homes. You plug the hose onto the wall and start cleaning. Honda spokesman Chris Martin demonstrated the machine’s speed at picking up Fruit Loops and fragments of Goldfish crackers. The hose is long enough to reach every corner of the interior and can also be used to clean another car parked nearby.

Engines with 500, 600 and 700 horsepower are neat, and so are eight- and nine-speed transmissions that were the talk of this year’s New York show. But a vacuum in the car is something we could really use.