Honda to bring Stream to U.S. in 2009?
08/29/07, 02:34pm, EDT
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It is being reported that Honda plans on brining its next-generation Stream to the U.S. market. Based on the same platform as the Civic and CR-V, the mini-MPV first debuted in Japan in 2000 and has been a sales success for Honda. The Stream was just redesigned last year, meaning it would hit U.S. shores after its 2009 restyle.
The Japanese Stream has seating for up to 8, although it is expected that the U.S. version will only have two rows of seating. In Japan, engine choices include a 1.8 liter i-VTEC, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, and a 2.0 liter i-VTEC, which uses a CVT automatic. Engine choices for the U.S. remain unclear, although sources say the 2.0 liter is the leading candidate.
Honda has seen success with its Odyssey minivan, even amid a segment decline, which may indicate the Stream could thrive in the U.S. market. Dimensionally, the Stream is smaller than Odyssey but slightly larger than other MPVs, such as the Mazda5.
