The electrified minivan could borrow the Acura MDX' hybrid powertrain.
Honda is considering a hybrid version of its Odyssey minivan, recently redesigned for the 2018 model year. An electrified Odyssey might borrow some components from the Acura MDX, which rides on the same platform, according to a WardsAuto interview with Honda R&D Americas principal engineer Tom Sladek.
"We just released the hybrid MDX so that powertrain could be considered in the future, although we can't comment on particular plans," he cautioned.
A hybrid Odyssey would be positioned as a premium rival to the Chrysler Pacifica, currently the only hybrid minivan available in the US market.
It is unclear if Honda is considering using Acura's Sport Hybrid all-wheel-drive system for the Odyssey hybrid. In the MDX, the Sport Hybrid system integrates a 47-horsepower electric motor in the transmission housing and dual 36-horsepower to motivate the rear wheels. Under full power, the electric motors and 3.0-liter V6 provide a combined output of 321 ponies.
Sladek suggests Honda has not yet finalized which models will be included in its push to electrify two-thirds of its global sales by 2030.
