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It seems that the movie monster Godzilla is not only a threat on the silver screen, but in real life too. And if you’re wondering, no, it hasn’t actually come out of the ocean to wreak havoc on the Japanese shoreline. However, Honda could end up paying a...sea of money to Toho Co., the Japanese film studio that owns the rights to the Godzilla trademark, due to the allegedly unauthorized use of the sea monster’s likeness in an Odyssey minivan commercial.
The dispute concerns the part of the commercial showing off the MPV’s split screen entertainment system, which features a barely visible head shot of the mythological creature -no, really.
According to Toho Co. spokesman Junichi Tamaki, the studio filed a law suit on February 2 in Los Angeles and wants to ban Honda from further using Godzilla’s image.
“We took a legal action because Godzilla was used without authorization in the Odyssey commercial,” Tamaki said. “It is an infringement of copyright.”
Toho Co. has a long history of suing everyone suspected of benefiting from the Godzilla trademark, including fast-food restaurants, various publishers or even rock bands.
Contacted by Autoweek, a Honda spokesman declined to comment on the matter, but added that the automaker is still running the Odyssey commercial, which is available below.
Minivans aren't the most exciting-looking vehicles on the road, and the new Odyssey won't change that notion. Nevertheless, the new styling and the 1.6-inches lower roofline give Honda's minivan more character and presence over the current model.
Compared to the outgoing 2010 Odyssey, the 2011 model is said to be wider (Honda hasn't yet released full details) and promises to be more functional and roomy with better interior lighting.
The Japanese automaker said that it had received a number of customer complaints of brake pedals that feel "soft" or that gradually needed more pressure to work. Honda added that the in the affected vehicles, this condition tends to "very slowly increase over time".
Just don't expect the shaved door handles, funky exterior mirrors, large alloy wheels, the futuristic light inserts and every other detail that makes the concept stand out to be present on the series production 2011 Odyseey that will debut this fall.
Compared to the current Odyssey, the concept has a slightly lower roofline (-1.0 inch) and wider stance (+1.4 inch), both contributing to a somewhat sleeker shape and a more dynamic stance. The wheelbase length remains the same at 118.1 inches.
The Japanese company said that the production version of the next generation Odyssey will boast enhanced aerodynamic properties and new powertrain technologies resulting to an increased fuel efficiency.
In particular, Honda anticipates that the 2011 Odyssey minivan will achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway on select models.
The expanded recall is concentrated mainly in the United States, where nearly 378,758 vehicles are affected, but the latest announcement also covers Japan, Mexico, Taiwan and Australia.
The models added to the list concern certain 2001 and 2002 Honda Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V, 2002 Pilot, 2002 Acura CL and selected 2002 Acura TL vehicles.
According to the automaker, the driver's airbag inflators in these vehicles may deploy with too much pressure causing the inflator casing to rupture and send metal fragments through the airbag cushion material possibly resulting in injury or even fatality to vehicle occupants.
Honda first issued a recall on the matter on less than 4,000 model year 2001 Accord and Civic back in November 2008. After the original recall, the Japanese automaker said that two additional incidents were reported, including one fatality from a vehicle not included in that recall.
That led Honda to expand the recall in July 2009 to include approximately 440,000 model year 2001 and 2002 Accord, Civic and certain 2002 Acura TL vehicles.
In typical Honda style, the automaker did not release any teaser photos - the picture above is a Carscoop sketch based on an older concept.
However, the company did note that the next-generation Odyssey will "further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character (yes, Honda actually put 'fun to drive' and 'Odyssey' in the same sentence..), while increasing its overall efficiency."
Current Generation 2010 Honda Odyssey
