Honda occasionally busts out with a truly crazy concept vehicle worthy of the "concept" moniker. You know, something transparent, powered by rabid squirrels, that also flies.

More often than not, though, Honda uses the "concept" suffix to preview a new production vehicle that will appear at Honda dealers mere months after the auto show. Honda did just that at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show with the Civic Si Concept. Such is the case with the Honda Odyssey Concept, which is — wait for it — a concept for the next-generation Honda Odyssey minivan. And, we must say, it's not a bad-looking thing.

Honda says that it has gone for a lower, more planted stance for this new generation of minivan, the production version of which will go on sale this fall to do battle with the reworked 2011 Toyota Sienna. The concept is a bit lower and 1.4 inches wider than the current production minivan, dimensions that will likely make it to production. It rides on the same 118.1-inch wheelbase as the current Odyssey. Of course, it always helps to make a vehicle look low and sleek on a stand at the auto show if you bolt on ginormous wheels and use manhole covers for brake discs. Those are less likely to make it to your local dealer.

Adding distinction to what is taut-but-spare bodywork is the "lightning bolt" beltline. This feature is intended to provide third-row passengers with a better view out of the vehicle. But it's also intended to be a signature styling feature for Honda's new production minivan.

So what do we know about the 2011 Honda Odyssey, other than that it will look pretty much like this except with smaller wheels and less concept-y headlights? Well, Honda says that it estimates the new model will return 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway. That's a significant improvement from the current Odyssey's 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway, and it also bests the 2011 Toyota Sienna's 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway. Keep in mind, the 2011 Honda figures are estimates and the company hastens to add that it estimates fuel-efficiency for "select models," by way of "enhanced aerodynamics" and "advanced powertrain technologies." Could there be a fuel-economy special model in the future of the 2011 Honda Odyssey?

The concept and the production versions of the 2011 Odyssey have been designed and engineered in the United States (California and Ohio). The production vehicle will be built in Alabama.