All About Japan Autos

Daily Auto News

Earlier this year, Honda decided that it would be a good idea to build a more spacious vehicle on the bones of the Honda Accord. It didn’t go well.

That car, the Honda Accord Crosstour, isn’t for sale yet. But its odd proportions set off a round of web-based criticism. Honda gave U.S. consumers their first look at the car through a Crosstour Facebook page…and within hours of its launch, the page was filled with derisive comments about the odd-looking Crosstour from Facebook users who found its bodystyle repulsive.

Many in the auto industry, however, were just confused about why Honda bothered with the Crosstour. The company already builds a successful Accord wagon, known as the Accord Tourer. It’s just not sold in the U.S. Car nuts and members of the automotive press have never been clear on exactly why Honda doesn’t sell it here – it’s very attractive and extremely practical. But, for whatever reason, it’s never been offered to Americans before.

Next year, it will be. As an Acura.

Autoblog reports, “Acura has announced the addition of a TSX sport wagon to its 2011 lineup,” a car which looks “suspiciously like the Euro-market Accord Touring model that many people have been clamoring for.”

The news, Kicking Tires explains, came only “as a three-sentence announcement from the automaker, but we’d expect it will come equipped with at least the base sedan’s four-cylinder, if not the new V-6, as well.”

Edmunds Inside Line notes, “The 2010 TSX sedan has a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 280 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque, mated to a Sequential SportShift five-speed automatic transmission, along with 18-inch wheels and a revised suspension to target it toward the ‘performance-oriented luxury buyer.’” It seems logical to assume that the same engine will be offered in the wagon edition. “There’s also a 201-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine available.”

Pricing details haven’t been announced – but we’re curious to see how they’ll compare to those of the Crosstour when both vehicles are available. Honda may prove the doubters wrong if it successfully sells both cars…or it may simply cannibalize Crosstour sales by sending buyers running to its Acura dealerships instead.

If you’re in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals.