Honda Unveils 2013 Crosstour Concept at New York Auto Show

Next Crosstour to feature more capable-looking styling, more efficient V-6 drivetrain along with host of new safety and visibility features

NEW YORK, April 4, 2012 /CNW/ - Honda unveiled the 2013 Crosstour Concept today at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), providing the first official glimpse of a more capable looking exterior styling direction for the luxurious mid-size CUV. Set to go on sale this fall, the Crosstour's defined lines will resonate more clearly with the active consumers that form the largest portion of the premium crossover segment. The 2013 Crosstour will feature improved fuel economy thanks to its new 6-speed automatic transmission and will benefit from a host of safety and visibility upgrades.

"The Crosstour offers Canadians a modern interpretation of a CUV, while integrating the versatility, luxury, and efficiency of a sedan," said Dave Jamieson, assistant vice president of Auto Sales, Honda Canada. "The 2013 Crosstour Concept shows how Honda will strengthen the styling and add even more content to one of the most efficient offerings in the class."

Concept Design
The Crosstour Concept features a more capable, SUV-like styling direction for Honda's mid-size crossover. A more aggressive and athletic front end, new contrasting moldings on the lower door garnish, and cleaner front and rear fascias anchored by the rugged look of finished sill plates provide more visual strength to the Crosstour Concept. Adding to the SUV-like stance, new rear-fender finish helps give the Concept a more solidly planted appearance.

Up front, the new integrated foglamp treatment is complemented by a slotted finish beneath the headlights, which helps integrate the new, bolder grille. The revised tailgate sports a more horizontal design to add visual width to the sculpted lines at the rear of the Crosstour.

The Crosstour Concept is coated in a fresh hue, enhancing the already striking exterior. Anchoring the Crosstour Concept are unique 5-spoke 19-inch wheels, while the 2013 Honda Crosstour will feature new 18-inch alloy wheels.

Though not on display in the Crosstour Concept, the luxurious interior of the Honda Crosstour will see even further refinement for 2013, including heavily revised trim materials, the addition of an 8-inch, in-dash information display, keyless ignition, and steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters.

Advanced and Efficient Powertrains
The 2013 Crosstour will offer a re-engineered and more powerful 3.5-litre, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine and will feature a 6-speed automatic transmission and utilize Honda Variable Cylinder Management^™ (VCM^®) technology to achieve class-leading V-6 fuel economy¹ along with an overall improvement in fuel economy compared to the outgoing model. Also available is Honda's Real Time 4WD^TM system, which sends power to all four wheels when front-wheel slippage is detected.

Safety and Technology Innovations
The 2013 Crosstour will introduce numerous new safety features, and is targeted to earn top scores in the U.S. federal government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The next Crosstour will be available with Honda's Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) technology. Both systems use a camera mounted behind the windshield to alert drivers if the car is moving out of its lane or to warn drivers of a potential collision in front of them.

The 2013 Crosstour will provide a host of visibility enhancements, and will be one of the first models to receive the Honda-exclusive LaneWatch™ blind-spot display, which uses a camera system mounted on the passenger mirror for an enhanced view of the passenger-side roadway. Standard equipment to further enhance visibility on the 2013 Crosstour will also include re-shaped rear headrests, a rearview camera and an Expanded View Driver's Mirror.

Standard Crosstour convenience features include an automatic dimming rearview mirror, auto-on/off headlights, Bluetooth^® HandsFreeLink^® and USB audio interface. Other available features on the 2013 Crosstour will include a hard-drive based navigation system, XM satellite radio and an SMS text-to-speech function.

Sales, Accolades and Manufacturing History
First launched in 2009, the Crosstour remains one of the most versatile choices in the midsize crossover segment, and earned the distinction of J.D. Power and Associates' "Highest Ranked Midsize Crossover/SUV in Initial Quality" in their 2011 Initial Quality Study ^SM (IQS). The Crosstour is produced² at Honda's East Liberty Plant in East Liberty, Ohio.

For additional information on the Honda lineup, including photos and video, please visit Hondanews.ca.

¹Preliminary mileage estimates determined by Honda. Final mileage estimates not available at the time of printing.
²Honda products are produced using domestic and globally sourced parts.

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license.

Image with caption: "Honda unveiled the 2013 Crosstour Concept at the New York International Auto Show, providing the first glimpse of a more capable looking exterior styling direction for the mid-size CUV. The Crosstour will go on sale in Canada this fall. (CNW Group/Honda Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120404_C3375_PHOTO_EN_11965.jpg

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