Dave Funston was just driving home in his S2000 last night when he spotted a Honda Stream in traffic in Santa Monica. Here's the full story and the three pics he submitted:

I was on my way home lastnight in Santa Monica driving up 26th. I glanced in my side mirror and saw a strange looking headlight arrangement and followed it across to a Honda badge! I'm like.. what tha.... it only took about 4 sec. for me to determine it was the Stream. As I scrambled for my camera phone it cruised past and I got a pretty weak 3/4 shot. I then started to follow it up 26th for about 5 blocks until it made a left into a brentwood neighborhood... being in an S2000 and beginning to follow him.. I think he put 2 and 2 together ;0) It was then a game of cat and mouse as I followed him from stop sign to stop sign, only getting a few decent rear view shots. At that point he was just trying to lose me and I don't think I would have gotten any good fronts unless I chased him down and cut him off. But it had no camo or anything, just dealer plates (editor's note: those are actually the same plates that all Honda press cars use)... and it looks like there was a piece of the front bumper missing just below the honda badge/grill... maybe where the license plate holder would go... not sure. Anyway, I hope you think the pics are worthy... and I hope more that this means we're getting the Stream!!!

Thanks to Dave for snagging those pics and for having his (camera) phone ready to go. Note that this appears to be the sportiest Stream model, the RS-Z, which features a 150hp SOHC R20 - the R20 is a 2.0L version of the Civic's R18 motor. For those who are not familiar with the Stream, the all-new Stream launched last July in Japan and left TOV'ers salivating. The Stream is a 7-passenger (2/3/2) crossover based upon the Civic platform which means it also features a flat floor, maximizing passenger space. In Japan it's offered in 2WD and AWD models with 1.8L (140hp) or 2.0L (150hp) SOHC R-series motors. Transmission choices are limited to 5AT or CVT (only available in FWD with the 2.0L motor). We hope Honda decides to bring the Stream over (there's a new crossover rumored to be coming some time next year, and the Stream could be it), but we also hope there's room for Honda to stuff at least a K24 into it (along with a 6MT), because a 7-passenger vehicle with only 128-140lb-ft of torque sounds like a recipe for weak sales. Note that the vehicle in these photos appears to be right-hand drive. We'll feel better when we start seeing shots of LHD versions tooling around So. Cal.






Stream PR Shots

Last edited by JeffX on April 25, 2007 22:59