November 18, 2024
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A few recent patent applications reveal that the Honda Element may be making its return to the automotive industry:
The first patent application is a “camper for a vehicle”.
The second patent application is for an “adjustable cargo area partition for a vehicle”. Images filed alongside the patent applications showcase a large box-styled vehicle with “a smaller rear door that appears to be rear-hinged”.
These distinctive features are marks of the former Honda Element, which was discontinued in 2011. However, the boxy design was one of the primary reasons the original vehicle was discontinued – it did not appeal to car owners who were used to curvy designs at the time. Recent shifts in consumer desires, with an increasing number of boxy SUVs being launched by several automakers, could explain Honda's willingness to explore bringing the Element back to the market.
While the filing of these patent applications does not necessarily imply that the Honda Element is coming back, it does suggest a similarly-styled vehicle could be in the works.
Authors: Adam Dickinson and Kasia Donovan