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

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.

[Source: Honda]
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PRESS RELEASE:

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Interior Offers Innovation in Space Utilization
V-6 engine standard, four-wheel drive available

10/06/2009 - TORRANCE, Calif. -

The all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour will feature a versatile, upscale 5-passenger interior with an innovative rear storage area, a standard 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine and available four-wheel drive when it goes on sale in November, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

"Honda has a longstanding reputation for maximizing interior space and utility in its vehicles," said Erik Berkman, vice president of corporate planning and logistics for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Like the award-winning Honda Fit, the Accord Crosstour uses a versatile design to create an interior that functions with the practicality of a larger vehicle."

The rear storage area features an innovative 8-inch deep under-floor Hidden Removable Utility Box with a reversible lid, featuring both plush-carpeted and durable-plastic sides. Levers near the interior fender wells, conveniently accessible from the tailgate opening, allow for one-touch conversion of the seats into the floor for additional cargo space.

The interior design is intended to enhance the feeling of width and space in the passenger cabin while creating a premium and accommodating atmosphere. The inset sculpting of the instrument panel along with a wide center console increases the sense of roominess. Intuitively grouped controls for the audio, climate and available navigation system are designed to operate with solidity and precision.

The exterior styling evolves the Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) concept by integrating a sleek and aerodynamic shape that blends sporty, low-profile contours with versatile CUV functionality.

The Accord Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord family when it goes on sale in November. Additional details will be announced later in the year. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com/future-cars. Additional media information regarding all Honda products is available at www.hondanews.com.