DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Honda unwraps 2018 Odyssey

The wraps have come off the 2018 Honda Odyssey in Detroit, presenting an angular new look, improved interior packaging and a stack of new connectivity technology.

The eight-seat vehicle pictured here is a US-specific model according to Honda Australia's Group Public Relations Manager, Neil McDonald, and won’t be offered in Australia.

He said the US market "is on a different production cycle to us" and although no details on the next Odyssey for markets including Australia have been divulged, it's expected some of the features premiered on the US version will carry through to our next Odyssey.

For instance, the new "magic slide" second-row seats can be configured in various ways, such as removing the central single seat and bringing the outboard seats closer together. This improves entry and exit via the sliding side doors for third-row passengers.

The 2018 Honda Odyssey also marks the debut of CabinWatch, which uses an infrared camera to monitor rear-seat activity. And because it works day or night, front-seat occupants will be able to keep vigil on naughty passengers, and can even zoom and pan to pinpoint the true offenders.

Images from the infra-red camera are displayed on the Odyssey's large central infotainment screen in the cockpit, which looks very futuristic, as does the digital instrument panel with road and engine speed readouts.

Honda also has the CabinTalk system, which allows the driver to speak to (or admonish) rear seat passengers without raising their voice, with communication piped into the cabin via rear speakers.

And if rear-seat occupants are watching the big 10.2-inch rear seat entertainment system – with headphones plugged in – CabinTalk will even cut into their headphones.

All eight occupants can also upload their music to the car's internet-ready infotainment system via the Social Playlist feature while the CabinControl app lets passengers in rear seats adjust climate-control, entertainment and even navigation.

We're hoping the CabinWatch system filters into the next Japanese-made Odyssey that comes to Australia, which currently starts at $37,610 in this country.

The Honda Odyssey was the second-best-selling people-mover in Australia in 2016, with 2712 sales. It was topped only by the Kia Carnival with 4777 sales.

US versions of the Odyssey will be fitted with a 208kW V6 petrol engine displacing 3.5 litres, while Aussie versions are likely to continue with four-cylinder units. They also come with nine- and 10-speed automatic transmissions, which would be a nice upgrade to the current models' seven-speed unit.

One feature the next Australia-bound Odyssey is unlikely to get is the US version's handy-dandy compact vacuum cleaner, dubbed HondaVac.