Emma Watson
Exotic Lingerie Playmates
Exotic Lingerie Playmates
Tea Leoni
Tea Leoni
In February 1995, Tea Leoni played a guest role in an episode of the sitcom Frasier, playing the fiance of Sam Malone, portrayed by guest star Ted Danson, in a crossover from Cheers. That same year, Tea Leoni landed the lead role in the sitcom The Nakd Truth, playing Nora Wilde, a tabloid news journalist. The show ran through 1998.
Honda FCX Clarity 2009
2009 Honda FCX Clarity
For a moment, after pressing the little red "Start" button, it seems like nothing has happened. Suddenly, a kaleidoscope of colors erupts from the multi-level instrument panel, followed by the soft whine of a compressor. Honda's new FCX fuel-cell vehicle has come to life.As regular readers of TheCarConnection.com are well aware, virtually every automaker is tinkering with hydrogen technology, and for good reason. Whether you burn the lightweight gas in an internal combustion engine or feed it into a fuel cell stack, what you get on the "dirty side" is effectively no more than water vapor. In a world worrying about smog and global warming, hydrogen is seen, by many, as the ultimate clean fuel.
In recent months, we've had the opportunity to test a variety of hydrogen-powered prototypes, such as the Chevrolet Equinox fuel-cell vehicle and BMW's Hydrogen-7, which goes the internal combustion route. But Honda's FCX takes the technology to an entirely new level.
First seen at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda plans to begin leasing the FCX for $600 a month, and not just to carefully selected corporate fleets, but to everyday consumers. The costly experiment is also a risky one, exposing the Clarity to all the daily challenges faced by your typical motorist, from bad weather to fussy infants.
"The FCX Clarity is a shining symbol of the progress we've made with fuel cell vehicles and of our belief in the promise of this technology," proclaims American Honda president and CEO Tetsuo Iwamura. "Step by step, with continuous effort, commitment and focus, we are working to overcome obstacles to the mass-market potential of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell automobiles."
While the first retail customers will still have to wait a few months, we were given the chance to take the FCX for a spin around Los Angeles, starting out in Santa Monica, then heading up the coast to fire-ravaged Malibu . During our time behind the wheel, we had the chance to put the fuel-cell vehicle through a variety of different situations, from city streets to open highways, charging up steep inclines and around twisty canyon roads. And our overall impression? Well, we'll get to that, in a moment.
A hydrogen-powered jellybean
Honda has actually applied the FCX badge to several vehicles. The outgoing model is a chunky-looking Japanese hatchback. The new edition is decidedly more stylish - and roomy. Honda has learned a valuable lesson from its Japanese rival, Toyota , whose Prius is a distinctive visual standout. You won't miss the Clarity, either, and during our drive, it seemed like everyone wanted a closer look.
The FCX is a futuristic jellybean, first impressions suggesting a cross between the new Honda Accord and the Prius. Toss in a dash of the Honda CR-Z concept vehicle that debuted in Tokyo, last month - at least the show car's split rear glass, which folds over into the tailgate. If we had any complaint, surprisingly, it was rear visibility, despite the sedan's expanse of glass.
Inside, the compact FCX would likely qualify as a full-size four-door; even with the driver's seat set to handle my 6'2" frame, there was plenty of legroom in the back. The sedan's instrument panel vaguely resembles that of the new Accord, with its stairstep layout. There's a huge, high-res LCD for the built-in navigation system, or to display the complex power system at work underneath. The instrument panel centers around a flashing, multi-color cluster that looks a lot like Tokyo at night, and can be nearly as distracting, as you struggle to understand what the various fluorescent readouts signify.
Our test car had a surprising number of little fit-and-finish problems, but we're willing to give Honda a pass, considering this is a prototype of an extremely low-volume, largely hand-built car. Nonetheless, we're hoping for typically Honda-level refinement when the first cars actually reach customers.
The FCX is extremely well-equipped, overall, with niceties such as dual-zone digital climate control, adaptive (radar) cruise control, voice-activated navigation, and a sweet AM/FM/CD/XM audio system with a jack for your iPod or MP3 player.
Honda Odyssey 2009
2009 Honda OdysseyHonda nailed the minivan formula with the third generation of the Odyssey, which debuted in 2005. The size is in line with the competition from Chrysler and Toyota, there are plenty of interior features, and—our favorite part—the Odyssey can actually be called fun to drive. We’ll qualify that last statement with “for a minivan,” but still, the Odyssey has sharp reflexes and a comfortable, smooth ride.
All four trim levels, LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring, come with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine; the latter two feature a cylinder-deactivation system that shuts off two or three cylinders to save fuel when they’re not needed. Power goes through the front wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. The Odyssey doesn’t have trick folding second-row seats like those in the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, but the third-row seat folds flat into the floor in a 60/40 split.
Verdict
The best minivan to drive, the Odyssey offers a smooth powertrain, handsome styling, and Honda build quality. The cabin is nicely appointed, and the van can be had with just about anything a family could ever want, from decadent stuff like a DVD entertainment system and a leather-lined cabin to minivan-crucial items such as a 115-volt power outlet and a conversation mirror to watch the kids in back.
What’s New for 2009
The exterior was freshened in 2008. For 2009, the cylinder-deactivation engine on the EX-L and Touring model gets a 3-hp increase in its power rating, up to 244—equal to that of the standard engine.
Highlights and Recommendations
As in other minivans, the price goes up according to features. So if you want power doors, rear-seat entertainment, navigation, and leather, you’ll have to pay the price. If you can cope with cloth seats, though, the EX comes with plenty of stuff: three-zone climate control, power doors, alloy wheels, and a power driver’s seat. Leather seats (heated for the front row) and a sunroof come standard on the EX-L, and this trim level is required if you want to option up to a navigation system or rear-seat entertainment. The Touring model is loaded, and priced as such, but the PAX System run-flat option should be avoided, considering the high replacement cost of the special tires.
Safety
Front, front side, and curtain airbags come standard, as do active head restraints in the front seats, stability control, and ABS with panic assist.
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