Honda hounds hot on the trail of dog lovers
By Keith Turner
April 25, 2008
The annual gathering of Western Automotive Journalists and automotive public relations professionals usually stirs up some exciting news about what’s on the horizon for four-wheel enthusiasts.
And this year’s just completed conclave in Monterrey, California, also brought some interesting news for lovers of our four-legged friends when Honda’s West Coast PR guru Chris Martin hinted that the Japanese manufacturers may have more DogCar news in store in the not-so-distant future.
You’ll recall that Honda has already gained DogCar fame by being honored as the first-ever DogCar of the Year “Best In Show” for its wonderfully versatile Honda Element. The squarish cargo space, fold-flat seats and easy-to-clean interior all add up to the perfect combination for owners of multiple big dogs who take their canine traveling very seriously.
After the award was announced, Honda’s marketing department sprung into action by creating an advertising campaign geared specifically for the dog-loving car buyer. They’ve even included the DogCars.com logo on their Element website to power home the point.
During a lunch break in the Carmel Valley, Martin said the powers that be are very excited about the U.S. DogCar market and may be planning some additional enhancements to the Honda lineup that will make canine lovers sit up and take notice.
One wonders if perhaps Honda is considering a U.S. launch of the “Wow” (short for “Wonderful Open-Hearted Wagon”) concept car that was introduced at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Show. Martin said that while the Japanese loved the little car with a small dog crate built into the glove box, the concept never got off the drawing board for U.S. distribution.
“Automakers are always targeting niche markets, like young buyers, sports lovers or even surfers or skiers, where there’s a huge demand for a very specific vehicle,” Martin said. “So creating a vehicle for dog owners only makes sense.”
Like a bloodhound hot on the trail of its target, Honda appears to be zeroing in on the needs, wants and desires of the dog lover. Stay tuned . . .
(Crossposted from the DogCars.com blog.)
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. However, as a writer I contend that just a few words can be worth a million pictures. But I digress. . .
I was recently in a bad accident - and, I believe, saved by my 
Pet Connection Director of Photography Morgan Ong has skills far beyond those with a Nikon. He’s also an incredible cook and a master-packer — and I’ve long benefited from all of his magic ways.
Almost every time I travel, Morgan packs me. Nothing ever gets forgotten that way, and everything fits in the bag. Since I can’t pack like Morgan does for the return trip, I find it’s usually easier to bring Morgan along to pack me to come home, too.
And Heather’s Queenly pillow, of course, given to her years ago by my friend Ginger.
I may have mentioned a couple thousand times before that I (heart) the L.A. Times autowriter, Dan Neil. I (heart) him because he writes about cars in a way that has never before been done, a way a non-gearhead can get into, funny, witty and relevant to the lives of people who don’t go to car shows, as in, um, women. I (heart) Dan Neil because he got a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, previously given only to guys who write about Serious Stuff like Architecture, Ballet and Art, not whether there’s a difference between a “guy car” and a “chick car.” (Yes, and duh, of course there is. Guy car: Mustang. Chick car: VW Beetle.)
