Honda On Regent Blog

Next evolution of the crossover offers CUV attributes while maintaining a premium sedan feel and a sporty, bold appearance

“Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Accord line-up by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling, while also adapting to shifts in the Canadian light truck marketplace,” said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president of Honda Canada Inc. “The all-new Accord Crosstour achieves this by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV, while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan.”

Derived from the Accord Sedan, the Accord Crosstour maximizes car-like ride and refinement, yet maintains capabilities consistent with a CUV’s increased ride height and all-weather potential. The Accord Crosstour’s styling builds on the Accord’s familiar character lines and adds a bolder front grille complemented by a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped C-pillars and an aggressive rear stance. The flowing roofline narrows smoothly into the rear of the vehicle to create an aggressive-looking design, which conceals a unique cargo area that can accommodate large objects, exceeding the capacity of a sedan.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

“SUV buyers like the comforts of an SUV and the commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point,” said Chenkin. “The Accord Crosstour meets the needs of Canadian buyers looking for these attributes, while providing an image that is different from a conventional SUV.”

The Accord Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord family when it goes on sale in fall 2009. Additional details and pricing will be announced later in the year.

Honda Canada, now in its 40th year of operation in Canada, manufactures the Honda Civic sedan and coupe, and the Acura CSX, ZDX and MDX at its two plants in Alliston, Ontario, and produces fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines at its engine plant adjacent to the Honda manufacturing facilities.

TORRANCE, California — American Honda confirmed Tuesday that its long-rumored (and much photographed) new midsize crossover vehicle will be called the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour. Essentially an Accord five-door hatchback, the Crosstour will arrive at U.S. dealers this fall as a 2010 model.

Judging from myriad spy photos snapped and posted in recent months, the Accord Crosstour bears a passing resemblance to the Acura ZDX that debuted earlier this year at the 2009 New York Auto Show, but the Temple of VTEC blog claims the two vehicles do not share a common platform.

Instead, as its name implies, the Accord Crosstour almost certainly shares all major underbody components with the Accord sedan. The 2010 Crosstour hatch is aimed at such rivals as the Toyota Venza.

Few powertrain details have emerged, but the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour will likely offer Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 and four-wheel drive. Pricing will be announced later in the year. Paul Lienert, Edmunds Inside Line

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=152086