Honda Accord Interior Images for Controversial Crosstour Released

More photos and details on the upcoming Honda Accord Crosstour have been released, this time with images of the interior cabin.
Following a largely negative reaction to the Crosstour's design by car enthusiasts and critics alike, who have plainly called it ugly, Honda is trying to mitigate the damage by promoting the practicality of the vehicle. It refers to the Crosstour's design as a "sleek and aerodynamic shape that blends sporty, low-profile contours with versatile [crossover] functionality." But it's consumers who will have the ultimate say about its looks and what their judgement will be remains to be seen.

The Crosstour is the crossover variant of the Honda Accord and features a spacious cabin that seat 5 and also comes with what Honda calls a Hidden Removable Utility Box in the trunk - a storage box that fits 8-inches into the floor of the vehicle.
Powering the range-topping Accord variant will be Honda's 3.5 liter i-VTEC V-6 engine. The Crosstour will also be available as an all-wheel drive.

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My Two Cents on the Honda Accord Crosstour and the Public Outcry on its Styling

First of all, allow me to say that in all honestly, I'm completely dumbstruck from the amount of attention that the Accord Crosstour received considering the fact that it's just a crossover version of an existing model - nothing more, nothing less. I know Honda maintains a strong fan base which is very active on the net and that these things tend to go 'viral' very quickly on the web today, but still...

I expected more people to be interested, for example, in the new Ford C-MAX, also revealed this week, which is a far more important model (from a global perspective) as it previews the next generation Focus on both sides of the pond.

I'll agree with most of you that the Accord Crosstour is no beauty and style-wise, I'd classify it in the same category with the 'Bayerischideous' X6 and 5-Series GT.

Was I expecting something better? Sure. Am I surprised? Hell no and I can't understand why many are acting as if Honda is some sort of a Japanese version of Alfa Romeo that all of a sudden lost its design touch.

If you want my personal opinion, from a styling point of view, I find a couple of current day Hondas interesting e.g. Euro Civic hatch, the outgoing S2000; some all right but nothing to get excited about like the Accord and the rest, including the Insight, FCX Clarity, Odyssey and Pilot -you get the picture- bland to the point of near invisibility.

Ok, so Honda mucked up in a sub-category that's aimed at more adventurous Camry owners - big deal... Just my two cents.

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Honda Addresses Critics by Releasing New Photos of Accord Crosstour

Unless your head was buried in a sandy beach the past few days, you probably heard and/or read the negative internet chatter about the new Accord Crosstour on forums, blogs including this one (see what Carscoop readers said here) and even Honda's own Facebook page. Well, time has come for Honda to react, but not the way you think, meaning the company is not firing the designers nor is it sending the Accord Crosstour back to the drawing board. No siree...

Honda claims that the two initial press shots are to blame for the public outcry as they weren't the best to show off the vehicle. Having said that, the company decided to address the critics and prove that they are wrong about the crossover's design by releasing a new set of pics which showcase an Accord Crosstour finished in a dark cherry color.

Furthermore, this time we get to see the five-door crossover pictured from different angles and even on the road with a natural background.

We'll let you be the judge if these new photos make the Accord Crosstour look better or not, so just head over to our comment section below and shoot your negative or positive thoughts on the car.

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New Honda Accord Crosstour Unveiled, gets All-Wheel Drive System

The wait is finally over for the newest member of the Honda Accord family as the Japanese automaker today released an official set of photos of the Crosstour that will go on sale in the States as a 2010 model year sometime this fall. Honda skimped on the details but a close inspection of the photos reveals a "4WD" badge meaning that the Accord Crosstour will either be offered with all-wheel drive as standard or as an option.

The five-door Crosstour is based on the North American market Accord sedan with Honda claiming that it combines car-like ride and refinement with a Crossover Utility Vehicle's (CUV for short) increased ride height and all-weather potential.

"We know SUV buyers like the commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point and like the comforts of living with an SUV," said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor Co. "This vehicle meets the needs of buyers looking for those attributes yet at the same time want an image that is different from a conventional SUV."

Maybe we're wrong, but we can't help thinking that the Crosstour looks like the weird offspring of an illicit three-way love affair between a BMW 5-Series GT, a X6, and a Honda Accord...

[Thanks for the nod Mircea!]

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Honda Accord Crosstour Starts Taking Shape with 4th Teaser Shot

Our calendar says August 31, meaning that in less than 24 hours from now, Honda will (supposedly) reveal the all-new 2010 Accord Crosstour to the world. We found the fourth and apparently last photo of the teaser set that shows the vehicle's front alloy wheel. The four shots combined give us the result you see above. Other than it is based on the U.S. market Accord sedan, details remain scarce on Honda's crossoverish liftback model that is pegged to go on sale in the States this fall.

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2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Teaser Released

Honda has released a teaser image of the upcoming Accord Crosstour. The vehicle was announced over a month ago and is positioned between the CR-V and the Pilot. Rivals include the Toyota Venza crossover. Although it is expected to take some design elements from the Acura ZDX Concept on which the new ZDX is based, the two are not going to share the same platform.

The Crosstour's engine line-up has not been confirmed but it could have the same firepower as the Accord. That means the 2.4-litre making 130kW (177hp), the 3.5-litre V6 worth 199kW (271hp) and the 2.3-litre turbo from the Acura RDX.

We should establish more details in just over a week's time when Honda releases them. US sales will begin this autumn.

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Honda Drops Accord Crosstour Teaser Shot, Begins Countdown

Having already confirmed the name of its new Accord-based crossover, Honda is now starting the promotional campaign for the Crosstour with the release of the first teaser shot. It will be followed by more cryptic photographs over the next 11 days as the Japanese automaker wants to build some hype around the crossover prior to the vehicle's official unveiling on September 1st. The first image shows the Crosstour's front grille which is different than the one found on the Accord Coupe and Sedan models - if you just whispered 'big deal' no worries, we agree with you 100 per cent...

Previous spy shots suggest that the Accord Crosstour looks like something that we'd feel comfortable describing as a "poor man's" BMW 5-Series GT featuring an elongated hatch and a sleek roofline.

We're still in the dark when it comes to powertrain options but Honda recently announced that the Accord Crosstour will go on sale in the U.S. this fall. More to come shortly.

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2010MY Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe receive New Features

Being that time of the year where most automakers in the United States release their updated models, Honda decided to launch its 2010MY Accord line-up that receives a small number of new features. To be honest, they're so insignificant that we'd advise you to totally skip this post if you don't want to waste your time, but if you insist to find out, well just follow the jump.

Changes for the 2010MY Accord include the expanded application of Bluetooth HandsFreeLink to vehicles equipped with leather seating surfaces that was previously exclusive to navigation-equipped models, new rear seat ventilation ducts on Accord Sedan EX and EX-L models and a more-contrasting "lighter" gray color theme for the climate control buttons on all models.

Also, on models equipped with the available dual-zone automatic climate control, the manual fan control override button now includes on/off functionality with corresponding changes to the button graphic while the dual-zone activation button name changes to "SYNC" from "DUAL" - supposedly for additional simplicity.

Currently available as a four-door sedan and a two-door coupe (the five-door Crosstour will enhance the rang this fall), the Accord is offered with a 2।4-liter four-cylinder engine and a 3.5-liter V6. Prices start from $21,055 for the sedan and from $22,555 for the Coupe. For detailed pricing on all 2010MY Accord models, click the picture on the right.

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Honda Adds Petrol Engine Option to Accord Type S Line-up

Honda is expanding its European market Accord Type-S line-up with the addition of a petrol-engine model powered by the same 2.4-liter four-banger with 201 HP that we find in the other versions of the Accord, which by the way, is sold in the States as the Acura TSX. Up until now, the Accord Type S, which made its official debut at the Geneva Show earlier this year, was offered exclusively with Honda's 180-horsepower 2.2-liter turbo diesel.

Despite the promising logo, the Accord Type S does not feature any mechanical upgrades as changes are limited to a new aero kit with front and rear aprons, side skirts, smoke chrome finished grille and clear indicator covers along with newly styled 18-inch alloy wheels.

Complementing the suite of exterior changes, are aluminum sport pedals and footrest, sport seats in a combination of fabric and leather plus a aluminum and leather shift knob for the 6-speed manual gearbox (buyers can also opt for an automatic transmission).

In Germany, the Accord Type S 2.4 will be offered in a limited run of 900 units with prices starting from €32,000 (about $46,100 US at today's exchange rates).

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Honda Accord CrossTour Spied: BMW 5-Series GT Meets its Japanese Match?

The camouflaged prototype you're looking at the picture above is none other than Honda's forthcoming crossover-liftback thingy, often called "CrossTour". The car was scooped by forum member GoVdubSPEEDGo aka "M. Balinsky" who came upon two prototype models while vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains. Not to be mistaken for Acura's upcoming ZDX model that follows in the lines of BMW's X6 SAV, the so-called CrossTour appears to be a fastback variation of the U.S. market Honda Accord with a slightly higher but more sloped roofline.

And yes, the first thing that came to mind upon viewing the photos of the CrossTour was that the new Honda appears to be surprisingly close in philosophy (but far apart in price) to the BMW 5-Series GT. Hopefully next time the Japanese carmaker decides to take an "adventurous" lesson from the Bavarian firm it will be for something more in the likes of the M3 or M5...

[Source: VWvortex , Via: Autoblog.com]

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