Autoblog

Edmunds data suggests Honda Crosstour buyers don't know what it competes against either

Dan Roth — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda, Design/Style

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour hasn't won too many fans amongst the automotive press, and while we're sure it fills the Accord Wagon space in Honda's lineup, the way the Crosstour has a foot both in the wagon and CUV realms still has us scratching our heads. Taking a peek at what's being cross-shopped against Honda's latest offering proves potential customers are in the same boat.

Fitting every car into a neat categorical box is a fool's errand, but the Crosstour is apparently making everyone wonder just where it belongs. According to early Edmunds' data, buyers seem to think the Crosstour competes most closely with the Toyota Venza, with ToMoCo's wagon-on-stilts being cross-shopping against the Crosstour more than any other vehicle. Other Honda models are also heavily considered against the Crosstour, according to Edmunds Auto Observer, as are a panoply of other cars. Luxury rides like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series wind up in the comparison column, as do more traditional crossovers like the Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV-4.

While the Crosstour has been called lots of unflattering things, it's clear that figuring out whether it's neatly described as fish or fowl is more of a thorny chestnut. That said, none of this is exactly important if the car is generating showroom traffic and moving units.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Photos copyright (C)2009 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Edmunds Auto Observer]

Edmunds data suggests Honda Crosstour buyers don't know what it competes against either originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: The answer to how Honda will market the Accord Crosstour? Animated jazz

Chris Shunk — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda

Click above to watch the video after the jump

We're not so sure about the Honda Accord Crosstour. It's definitely a Honda, so at least from a marketer's perspective, that''s a big plus, but the big crossover/hatchback//wagon/thing isn't exactly what we'd call pretty, and worse, it isn't even as functional as its competitors. We're not alone in our criticism of Honda's latest, as the Japanese automaker has heard more than its fair share of Crosstour complaints on the Internets. Like it or loathe it, though, the Crosstour is upon us, and Honda dealers need to sell it. We were curious as to how Honda might try to ply such an odd duck, and we have at least a preliminary answer waiting for you after the jump.

The commercial starts off with about 15 seconds of oddly animated polygon characters playing some smooth, Cosby Show-style jazz. Between 15 and 20 seconds we see the band's instruments fitting in the Crosstour's hatch (though oddly, they don't play up the car's chief storage trick, its hidden storage box). At the 20 second mark, we finally see the Crosstour in the flesh, and the spot wraps up with a few words from actor Kevin Spacey as always. We're far from convinced, but you'll want to hit the jump to judge the 30 second spot for yourself.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Photos copyright (C)2009 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Honda]

Continue reading VIDEO: The answer to how Honda will market the Accord Crosstour? Animated jazz

VIDEO: The answer to how Honda will market the Accord Crosstour? Animated jazz originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Honda Accord Crosstour straps on some factory accessories

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Wagon, Crossover, Honda, Design/Style

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour factory accessories -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda's 2010 Accord Crosstour doesn't yet appear on the Japanese automaker's accessories site, but a few images of aftermarket bits have been shared with an Element owner's forum (viewable below), and we now have some live shots straight from the show floor at SEMA.

On top are a rack and window deflectors and down below is a set of skirting that completely encircles the car. The effect, especially from the side, imbues the car with the kind of chunky brawn we used to associate with Subaru, before Subaru decided to dip its design pen into the inkwell of elegance. From the stock shots, the mods might even help, but our man Lavrinc on the show floor who took these live shots seems to indicate otherwise. In any case, as our first drive reviewer asked, is it enough? Thanks for the tip, Jubby!

Gallery: Honda Crosstour Accessories

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Honda Accord Crosstour with Honda accessories

[Source: H&A Accessories via Element Owners Club]

SEMA 2009: Honda Accord Crosstour straps on some factory accessories originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Honda Accord Crosstour to start at $29,670

Dan Roth — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Videos, Honda

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour - Click above for high-res image gallery

UPDATE: Video of Accord Crosstour running footage added after the jump.

It's fair to say that the 2010 Accord Crosstour has caused Honda some heartburn in the U.S. already, but Japanese brand's new CUV has taken another step toward the showroom regardless. Honda has already given us some wheel time with the Crosstour, so keep your eyes peeled for our review at noon Eastern today. If that's not enough to keep you occupied, pricing for the 2010 Crosstour has just been released, and the new model starts just slightly under $30,000, running up to about $37,000. Honda has also released tons of new Accord Crosstour glamor shots (check 'em out in the gallery below).

EPA efficiency numbers are also included with the pricing, helping buyers understand what the care and feeding of an Accord Crosstour will do to their wallets. An EX-L loaded up with all-wheel drive ("4WD" in Hondaspeak), all the luxury goodies, and navigation earns an EPA estimated 20 mpg combined. Honda's 3.5-liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management earns 25 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg city. Front-drive ("2WD) Crosstours muster 18/27, which are competitive figures for its class. Speaking of classes, don't forget to check out our First Drive at noon to see if the Crosstour is the Valedictorian or in need of remedial instruction.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour to start at $29,670

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour to start at $29,670 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Acura TSX Sport Wagon not motivated by Honda Crosstour feedback

Chris Paukert — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:26:00 EST

2009 European Honda Accord Tourer - click above image for hi-res gallery

If you've been following the dust-up surrounding Honda's 2010 Accord Crosstour, you might therefore assume that Wednesday's announcement that the company plans to bring over its European-market Accord Tourer may have been motivated in part by early online reaction to the forthcoming five-door crossover. But as we suspected, t'aint necessarily so.

The Accord Tourer will hit U.S. shores later next year branded as the Acura TSX Sport Wagon, and as just about anyone in automotive product planning will tell you, new models aren't conceived that quickly - even if the vehicle in question is just a simple porting-over job from another market. There are emissions and crash-test certification hoops to jump through, suppliers that need to be contracted, dealers that need to be trained and marketing strategies that need to be built.

As spokesman Chuck Schifsky tells Autoblog, "Honda, as you know, is about as fast a reacting a product planning company as there is, but we don't react that quickly!... If our past is any indication, then us announcing the TSX wagon at this point shouldn't have been a surprise - we're notoriously known for bringing out a car and having it arrive in showrooms not long afterwards." Indeed, Schifsky is right - vehicles like the third-generation CR-V were seemingly in dealers within weeks of the public announcement and press launch. That said, Schifsky did admit that the timing of the announcement was moved up slightly for "strategic reasons," but he also said that those reasons had nothing to do with the Crosstour.

We asked Schifsky what the TSX Sport Wagon will look like when it arrives, and he told us that the car will not simply be the same as the European car. He admits he hasn't seen the finished product for himself yet, but he acknowledges that changes will be made to bring the design in-line with Acura's current styling language (read: it will receive a variation of the love/loath shield grille), and equipment levels will change to meet U.S. expectations. Given how much effort and money has been expended developing Acura's new corporate face, he believes it would be "foolish" to bring the Accord Tourer as-is, simply swapping the Honda badge for its Acura counterpart. Says Schifsky, "I would look to the U.S. TSX as an indicator as to what kind of equipment the car will have." Further, he advised us to examine the differences between the European-market Accord sedan and the Tourer bodystyle to look for indicators of what sort of changes the American market wagon will likely receive.

It's too early for Honda to reveal pricing for the 2011 model, but as the current TSX sedan starts at $29,310 and the 2010 Crosstour's price figures to be above a Accord V6 sedan (base price: $26,805), it's likely that there will be significant pricing overlap between the two models. Will there be any cannibalization? The Crosstour should lay claim to superior space and foul-weather capability thanks to its all-wheel drive model, but if the TSX sedan is anything to go on, the Acura will have superior driving dynamics, closer-to mainstream looks and a more desirable badge.

Either way, this one will be fun to watch play out...

Gallery: Honda Accord Tourer

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

U.S. Acura TSX Sport Wagon not motivated by Honda Crosstour feedback originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Acura confirms Euro Honda Accord Tourer coming as TSX sport wagon!

Chris Paukert — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Europe, Acura, Honda

2009 Honda Accord Tourer - Click above for high-res image gallery

When we polled you yesterday afternoon about whether Honda was right in choosing to build the insurrectionary 2010 Accord Crosstour instead of picking the Accord Touring from its overseas showrooms, we didn't know that Acura was going to announce that it was doing just that today. Honest. In fact, as far as we're concerned, you guys made it happen. Well, 47.7% of you (at last count), anyway, as bringing over the Accord Tourer was your number one suggestion for a Honda/Acura load-lugger.

In any case, in a (very) brief press release available after the jump, Acura has announced the addition of a TSX sport wagon to its 2011 lineup, and it will likely look suspiciously like the Euro-market Accord Touring model that many people have been clamoring for. Acura confirms that the model will be based on the TSX sedan, which is itself basically a Euro Accord. It is unclear which powertrains we'll get, or if styling will be tweaked from its European counterpart, but it is expected to arrive next fall. Color us excited.

Now, about that JDM Odyssey...

Gallery: Honda Accord Tourer

[Source: Acura]

Continue reading BREAKING: Acura confirms Euro Honda Accord Tourer coming as TSX sport wagon!

BREAKING: Acura confirms Euro Honda Accord Tourer coming as TSX sport wagon! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Honda Crosstour interior images released, V6 power to be standard [w/VIDEO]

Chris Paukert — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Videos, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda, Design/Style

2010 Honda Crosstour interior - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's been no shortage of digital egg-throwing and epithet uttering when it comes to Honda's 2010 Crosstour - this, despite the fact that essentially nobody has seen it in the metal. Thankfully, judging by these first interior shots furnished by Honda, the cabin's design will likely prove to be much less divisive.

Packing an instrument panel that looks like a straight port over from the Accord (albeit one with a different steering wheel), the Crosstour appears to inherit the sedan's lilting dashboard graphic, simple analog gauges, and available navigation system. From where we sit, for such an unconventional vehicle, the interior seems oddly anticlimactic, but at least it figures to be easy-to-use.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the interior that we can see here is the Crosstour's cargo hold, which has a substantial-looking removable sub-floor storage box. We note that there seems to be a significant amount of wheel well intrusion into the cargo area, although we'll have to wait until EPA volume figures are released to see how this has impacted the Crosstour's utility.

In other news, the Crosstour will come standard with Honda's 3.5-liter V6 - no four-cylinder version will be available when the car rolls into dealerships. For reference, the six-cylinder in the Accord sedan nets 268 horsepower (@ 6200 RPM) and 248 pound-feet of torque (@ 5000 RPM) and routes its power through a five-speed automatic transmission. Honda has declined to give official word on power figures for the Crosstour thus far, however. As expected, all-wheel drive will be optional.

Be sure to check out the high-res gallery below and the video and press release after the jump, then leave your fellow readers a comment.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour interior

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading 2010 Honda Crosstour interior images released, V6 power to be standard [w/VIDEO]

2010 Honda Crosstour interior images released, V6 power to be standard [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reader Spy: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour caught out again

Alex Nunez — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour spy photos - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Reader Jackson De Oliviera dropped us a line this weekend to let us know he caught the highly-controversial Honda Accord Crosstour out in the wild and had posted the shots he took on his blog, DriveToEscape.com. Jackson was kind enough to allow us to reprint those photos in our gallery below. In short, Jackson's pics probably aren't about to change any minds regarding the Crosstour's looks.

In its coverage of the ongoing Crosstour Facebook debacle, Automotive News (posting to CNET's CarTech blog) notes the open revulsion the car has been met with on Honda's dedicated Facebook page, as well as in the comment sections of blogs like the one you're reading right now. AN also repeats the hastily-assembled Honda PR narrative that the negative reaction of "enthusiasts" is to be expected, and that market research indicates that the Crosstour will fare well with the "crossover intenders" that Honda views as the image buyers for the car.

This may well turn out to be true, but it wasn't so long ago that Honda's styling once had an inherent, universal appeal - to enthusiasts and casual observers alike. That, however, has given way to a stream of increasingly polarizing designs culminating with the Accord Crosstour. Polarizing can sell; just ask BMW. But judging by the peanut gallery's comments and many of our staffers murmurings over here, we'll take Honda's old-style elegance and understatement over seemingly forced weirdness any day. Designing the Crosstour specifically for "crossover intenders" may deliver a vehicle that niche buyer will happily pay for, but it all remains to be seen.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Spy Photos

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Jackson De Oliviera/DriveTo Escape.com. Used with permission.
[Source: CNET.com | Images: Drive To Escape]

Reader Spy: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour caught out again originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda releases more pics of Accord Crosstour in red. Does it help? [w/POLL]

Alex Nunez — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Honda, Design/Style

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour - Click above for image gallery

Honda is now in full-on damage control mode over the Accord Crosstour Facebook fiasco, a PR catastrophe that will likely be discussed in college marketing courses for years to come. As you probably know by now, the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour quickly became a bubble-butted piñata after its global unveiling via Facebook, where social media users get to vent their spleens have their say, and what they had to say, in a nutshell, was "Ugly!"

The situation became more embarrassing when Honda got snagged deleting select comments from the stream, including one from a pro-Crosstour individual who wound up actually being a Honda product planner. Unfortunately, he neglected to identify himself as such before posting. Honda finally saw fit to respond to the awkwardness with several paragraphs of PR boilerplate that included, among other things, an explanation that the car's really not all that ugly, you see. It simply doesn't look good in the pictures that were posted initially, and new shots would be forthcoming to "clear things up" on the matter of the car's apparently regrettable styling.

Well, those new Honda Accord Crosstour shots are up on Facebook now. Do they help? Frankly, we don't think so. Sure, the car's more red, but it's no less the homely hatchwagon. We've added a new poll after the jump, so let us know if your minds have changed as a result of the new images.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

[Source: Facebook]

Continue reading Honda releases more pics of Accord Crosstour in red. Does it help? [w/POLL]

Honda releases more pics of Accord Crosstour in red. Does it help? [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda updates Crosstour Facebook page with official response

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda

Honda Crosstour - click image above for high-res gallery

Whoo boy! We would not want to be on the business end of the Honda whip this week. In case your head has been in the sand, Honda put up a Facebook page showing off their new Crosstour. General reaction was, to put it Orwellian terms, ungood. What's the problem with social media marketing if you're a corporation? You give up control of your message. As it turns out, sometimes you even give up internal control, too. Which is exactly what happened when Honda's light truck product planning manager Eddie Okubo posted a defense (or is that a defenestration?) of the much maligned new CUV without divulging the company he works for. Well, he got caught.

In a novel/strange/unprecedented move, Honda has gone and posted a clarification on its Crosstour page - about everything. Here's the short version, all bullet pointy like:

The images that everyone thinks are the second coming of the Aztek are actually akin to bad yearbook photos. Put another way, the Crosstour is better looking that it looks.New photos will set you all straight.
This isn't the European Accord wagon (as cool as Honda knows the Euro wagon to be) because it's an Americanized version of an American Accord wagon. i.e. bigger.
This next part bears copying and pasting, "Many of you don't like the styling: It may not be for everyone." Though, Honda thinks among CUV buyers, the Crosstour will do well.
Honda can't give out any more specs - sorry
Finally, Eddie's comment wasn't removed because Honda was embarrassed by it. His comment was removed because he violated a policy concerning personal opinions on Facebook.

And there you have it -- the odd state of PR in the Facebook/Twitter age. Our thoughts? Defending a vehicle's design on Facebook isn't smart chess. Meaning that unless the comments are turned all the way off, you're just inviting buckets full of further negative comments. Don't say you know how "cool" a car that you don't sell here is and then not sell it here. If it's so cool, why can't we buy one? It's probably best to provide more than two photographs, especially two that you admit are ungood. Assuming a Crosstour Facebook page could be a good idea, people need more to chew on. Finally, poor Eddie. Full response from Honda after the jump. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda updates Crosstour Facebook page with official response

Honda updates Crosstour Facebook page with official response originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda purges select comments from Crosstour Facebook page

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Honda

Many moons ago, when the internet was newish and Netscape ruled the land, we took a class called, "Anatomy of a Virtual Community." The idea was to explore and study how online communities functioned, if they were good or bad and if you really could achieve something akin to the mid-Nineties liberal arts school conception of "community." You have to understand this was back when chat rooms were as exotic as Tahiti and there wasn't anything on the internet but porn. The class itself didn't go so well, because most of the students wouldn't participate in the group chat the way the professor envisioned. Point being, it's quite difficult to control behavior in an online environment.

Honda just got hit upside the head with this particular lesson. Yesterday, we posted that the Crosstour Facebook page was overflowing with negative comments regarding the look of Honda's new CUV. Seems that the public at large isn't too thrilled with the design. We went ahead and ran our own poll and looks as if Autoblog readers agree with the Facebookians - 81.7% of you feel the Crosstour should be killed with fire, and just 3.1% of you think it is good looking. And we'd guesstimate that well over 81.7% of the ensuing comments are negative. Many rabidly so. Difference is, we left the comments alone, while Honda was purging 'em on Facebook. To be fair to Honda, they say they have removed a total 28 comments (out of thousands) because of "profanity or inappropriate content." Further, they note that they "...did not remove any comments that simply expressed a negative opinion about the Crosstour." They did, however, remove one that expressed a positive opinion.

Our pal Alex had the presence of mind to grab a screen shot of the above exchange which has since been removed from the Crosstour page. Obviously, this type of thing is embarrassing for Honda. And it illustrates what a sticky pickle modern day PR folks find themselves in. Regarding Eddie Okubo's comments, here's what Honda has to say:

Eddie Okubo is a manager in Honda Product Planning. His post was removed for two reasons: 1) He did not first state that he is a Honda employee and that his posting is his personal -- not Honda's -- opinion. 2) He is not a spokesperson for Honda.

Did Eddie really do anything wrong? He's an employee defending not only his company and that company's product, but his livelihood. Yet his comments and other similar non-sanctioned corporate communique will one day wind up in business textbooks as examples of how social media marketing can go very, very wrong. Also, isn't every employee with a Facebook/Twitter account suddenly a spokesperson if their company decides to use social media? It could be that multinational corporations just aren't ready for Facebook and it's ilk. It's definitely an issue that deserves further study.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Honda purges select comments from Crosstour Facebook page originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Honda Crosstour Facebook page all lit up with early negativity [w/POLL]

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Etc., Crossover, Hatchback, Honda

2010 Honda Crosstour - click above image for hi-res gallery

Ruh roh. Looks like Honda's "friends" aren't so happy about the upcoming Crosstour. And rather than us tell you why that might be, we'll let the people speak for themselves. And we'll let Honda's marketing types speak back to the people. Here's the first three comments on the page, warts and all:

Was really hoping this car was going to look like the JDM or the Tourer...but we got neither. Very dissapointed!!! -- Ciamaris R.

The bad move here was teasing a wagon and delivering this Aztec/Venza, why? They don't appeal to the same people (wagons appeal to existing Honda, Subaru & VW owners and CUV's to people who buy cars solely for their street presence (it... helps if they aren't ugly btw)). Through inept PR you've set yourselves up for an instant backlash that is going to dominate the press narrative for this car's launch...and you deserve it. Were you trying to keep a lid on the new Venza competitor? To what purpose? Did you really think that Toyota didn't know this was coming down the pipe? You've dissapointed and angered existing, money in hand customers by raising their expectations and then showing them a product you must know they would consider a betrayal of your brand heritage. If you had announced the CUV aspect of this ahead of time all those buyers would have tuned out this release and just kept on waiting for the wagon, faith in brand intact... -- Ted G.

Excellent another hideous car from Honda. This should be a real sales leader in the Early 40's Soccer Mom demographic. How about a legitimate replacement for the S2000 or NSX instead more garbage like this? -- Andrew C.

Ouch! But Honda's not going to take this kinda smack talk lying down, no sir. Read the official defense and vote in our poll after the jump.

Continue reading Official Honda Crosstour Facebook page all lit up with early negativity [w/POLL]

Official Honda Crosstour Facebook page all lit up with early negativity [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: This is your 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Honda

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda has released two highly brushed up photos of the Accord Crosstour, and we can finally see its snout in full view. As the test car spy shots have migrated from altered Accord wagon to final Crosstour, the car has gotten ever funkier. This picture, though, is the funkiest of all.

We have a feeling it is down to the excess effects, but the Crosstour looks a tad bit ungainly. It's almost as if the front and rear of the car are in a different scale - the grille and front wheel look exceedingly large compared to the tail. Since we've already seen the car in the flesh, except for its nose, we're pretty sure it'll be another mellow piece of Honda kit when it's revealed in 35 days. Until then, feel free to check out the official shots we have in the high-res gallery below. Hat tip to Sean!

Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

[Source: Honda]

Officially Official: This is your 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda teases new Crosstour on Facebook

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour -- Click above for image gallery

The Honda Accord Crosstour has been essentially seen in several spy shots, but its front end remains something of a mystery. Honda has dispelled a bit of that with the release of two frontal pics, and it looks like the front could match the back for curves versus its Accord sedan stablemate.

The grille takes an Accord shape, albeit with a different application pattern for the chrome trim. Although having a slightly different layout, the headlights look to have the sleekness of the Accord Coupe's lamps matched to a more stylized version of the Accord sedan's fog lamps. If you want more of the piecemeal reveal routine, you could always join Honda's Facebook page... or you could just wait for the full reveal, happening in a couple of days.

The Accord Crosstour goes on sale later this year as a 2010 model.

Gallery: Honda Crosstour teaser crops

[Source: Honda]

Honda teases new Crosstour on Facebook originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda Accord Crosstour officially confirmed for Fall 2009 as 2010 model

Chris Paukert — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda

Honda Accord Crosstour spy shots - Click above for image gallery

In what is doubtlessly the briefest press release we'll read today, Honda has finally officially confirmed what we've known for some time now - the Japanese automaker will gain a new genre-crossing model called Accord Crosstour, with sales earmarked to begin this fall as a 2010 model.

Presumably, by calling it an "Accord Crosstour," Honda will also be able to neatly fold in the rakish new crossover/wagon/hatchback model's sales figures into that of the Accord upon which it is based - all the better to take on Toyota's Camry at the top of the sales charts. Check out Honda's official press release after the jump.

[Source: Honda | Images: M. Balisky]

Continue reading Honda Accord Crosstour officially confirmed for Fall 2009 as 2010 model

Honda Accord Crosstour officially confirmed for Fall 2009 as 2010 model originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Honda CrossTour caught in the Smokies

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda

VWVortex forum member GoVdubSPEEDGo (presumably"M. Balisky") was vacationing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park when he came across a duo of Honda wagon/crossover mules. The crew over at Temple of VTEC have dubbed it the upcoming CrossTour, and tapped one of their sources to confirm the new CUV won't share the forthcoming Acura ZDX's platform.

Coupled with the spy shots that surfaced last October, these newest images prove that Honda is well on its way to creating some kind of crossover that could slot in near the CR-V, although drivetrain details and a fall 2009 on-sale date are still speculative. As for the pseudo-wagon's styling, it's essentially your standard four-door Accord equipped with an elongated hatch and a sloping roofline. We'll leave it to you to pass judgment in the comments below.

[Source: VWVortex via TOV]

Spy Shots: Honda CrossTour caught in the Smokies originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 May 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda Crosstour to arrive in late October?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Honda, Rumormill

There has been all manner of speculation leading to this point, but the Temple of VTEC says it has heard from a source who claims the Honda Crosstour will be arrive in the U.S. in late October.

Mules of the Toyota Venza competitor from Honda have been seen testing in the U.S. on an jerry-rigged European Accord Tourer setup, an in fact, it's not likely to vary a great deal from it visually.

Since a different rear differential has been spotted on some prototypes, all-wheel drive is reportedly on the menu. Temple of VTEC's source says it will be based on the Accord platform, tow 3,500 pounds, be 2.5 inches taller than the Accord and stretch a ginormous 7 inches further than the Venza, which would seem to make third row seating a fait accompli, but as far as we know, the Accord Tourer is strictly a two-row deal.

Based on the fact that dealers have reportedly received their accessory pre-order packs, Honda protocol indicates appearances on dealer lots six months later. And if they keep the finished product sharp and edgy like the Euro Tourer, there's a good chance we'll like it when it comes. Hat tip to Edison!

[Source: Temple of VTEC]

Honda Crosstour to arrive in late October? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 May 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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