Revealed: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

TORRANCE, California — The first images of the all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour have been released, about a month ahead of the car's official launch.

Honda said the new Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord range.

Visually, the crossover bears only a slight resemblance to the Accord sedan and coupe. The Crosstour features a more prominent grille, a sloping X6-like roof line and a substantial rear hatch.

Honda said the Crosstour will have a "car-like ride and refinement" with taller ride height and all-weather tractability, suggesting the vehicle will feature all-wheel drive. Honda said the roomy cargo bay "can adapt to large objects that exceed the capacity of a sedan."

Honda executive Erik Berkman said, "Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Accord lineup by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling while also adapting to dramatic shifts in the light truck marketplace. The Accord Crosstour accomplishes that by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan."

The company says it will release full details in early October.

Inside Line says: It's no beauty, but if the Crosstour proves to be functional and relatively affordable, it could broaden the appeal of the Accord family. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent