Retrospective Look Of Mazda RX-7 Series

The RX7 model from the house of Mazda was introduced for the first time during the year 1978 and the production of the vehicle was stopped in the year 2002 after a massive production of about 811,634 units in total. The Mazda RX7 falls under the category of midsize sports cars. The vehicle was released as a predecessor to the Mazda RX3.

The base model of the RX7 features the twin rotor 1146cc Wankel rotary engine with front mid ship, providing the rear wheel drive. The base model RX7 was a sports coupe model built with the lightweight body style and compact rotary engine or the Wankel engine mounted behind the front axle.

The vehicle was offered as a two seat coupe in the states of America with optional rear seats in the countries of Australia, Japan and in the other countries of the world. The Mazda RX7 was in a list of ten best lists conducted by the Car and Driver magazine for five times.

The last model produced in the RX7 series was offered in three types of engines - the 1.3 liter 13B REW that produced 188 kilo watts of power, 1.3 liter 13B REW that produced 206 kilo watts of power and the 1.3 liter 13B REW that produced 195 kilo watts of power. The sports variant of RX7 was offered in both the 4-speed automatic and in the 5-speed manual transmissions.

The current generation RX7 models are offered in three different types - R model, the touring and the base model in the North American market. The touring model comes with the leather seats, Bose Acoustic Wave system and sunroof.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi Full Test Review

We spent a week driving a 6-speed manual AWD Kizashi GTS locally and beyond and came away impressed. We have found Suzuki's small cars and SUVs lively in spirit, especially the sporty AWD SX4s, and good in most ways;but we had no idea what to expect from their first foray into midsize sedan territory.

Aggressively styled and pleasingly proportioned, it previewed a semi-upscale "D-segment" sport sedan. In the global auto business, the C-segment is compact cars, and the size-up D class is what we know as midsize-the incredibly competitive field of both family and sporty sedans. And, with a powerful, aero-slick design theme characterized as "a dynamic athlete in motion," this concept clearly showed that Suzuki's coming flagship sedan would be aimed at the emotional end of the scale. Japanese automaker Suzuki chose the mid-2007 Frankfurt (Germany) Motor Show to unveil a most interesting new concept car called Kizashi. They said its name was Japanese for "prelude" or "foretaste" and that it foretold of something coming from a company known better here for its motorcycles, ATVs and outboard motors than for its small cars and SUVs.

An even more aggressive Concept Kizashi 2 followed at the October Tokyo Motor Show then a third variation debuted at the March, 2008 New York Auto Show. This one, Concept Kizashi 3, was much tamer and more production-realistic. It looked, in fact, a lot like the real thing is now hitting the market and demonstrated Suzuki was serious about taking on the well-established entries in the U.S. market's most competitive car class. Inside, the fits and materials are generally good, though not up to typical Euro-sedan standards, and the seats are handsome and nicely supportive with available leather trim. The instrument panel's major gauges have a precision look: Its faux brushed-aluminum-rimmed center stack mirrors the front grille's rounded-V shape, and its controls are intuitively easy to see, reach and operate. We especially appreciated the nicely padded three-spoke steering wheel with handy spoke-mounted audio and other controls.

The only engine residing beneath that power-dome hood for now is a willing 2.4-liter aluminum four good for 185 horses with a standard 6-speed manual transaxle, or five ponies fewer with the available continuously variable transmission (CVT). Rare in this size and price class, the option of Suzuki's latest "intelligent" all-wheel drive (i-AWD) can improve both bad-weather traction and cornering capability. The systems constantly variable front-to-rear torque split is a function of a number of factors, including wheel slippage, throttle and steering input.

Standard on the sub-$20K base Kizashi S are push-button start, steering wheel audio controls, dual-zone climate control and a split-folding rear seat with a pass-through for long objects such as skis. Standard safety features include Electronic Stability Program (ESP), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and a class-leading set of eight airbags.

The next-level SE adds the CVT automatic transmission, 17-inch tires on alloy wheels, a 10-way power driver?s seat with three-position memory, cruise control and leather wrapping on the steering wheel, shifter and parking brake lever. The sport-oriented GTS offers 18-inch wheels and tires, power moonroof, fog lamps, a 425-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system with integrated Bluetooth hands-free phone capability and a choice of manual or CVT transmission, the latter with paddle shifters for manual gear selection. The top-of-the-line SLS features leather seating, three-stage heated seats, a four-way power passenger seat, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors and automatic on/off headlamps.

We spent 7 days driving a 6-speed manual AWD Kizashi GTS locally and beyond and came away impressed. We have found Suzuki's small cars and SUVs lively in spirit, especially the sporty AWD SX4s, and good in most ways-but we had no idea what to expect from their first foray into midsize sedan territory.

We found it less than plush yet surprisingly comfy and quiet, well put together and fun to drive. The manual gearbox shifted surely and crisply, and the 4-cylinder engine performed well at lower RPMs but tended to run out of breath at higher engine speeds. On-road handling was good, steering precise, and braking strong and stable as needed. A bit smaller inside and out than typical midsize sedans, it?s no limo but sufficient in back for full-size adults.

Top Down Fun Of Jaguar XKR Convertible

Jaguar redesigned the XK line recently, to create a high fashion, high speed engineering achievement. Powered by a supercharged 4.2L V8 producing 420 horsepower and mated with a six-speed automatic transmission (with shift paddles), the XKR moves the convertibles rear wheels with precision, relying on stability control and a computer activated suspension system to keep the Jaguar on track. Performance ventilated disc brakes and an anti-lock brake system ensures that the cat stops on a dime, every time.

Though seating is for four, the rear compartment is best occupied by small children or by no one at all. With front seats pushed back, precious little room is left for anyone else, making the rear area much more suitable to use as supplemental storage space to complement the woefully tiny trunk compartment. But, no one buys the XKR for its rear room or storage space, choosing to red-line this baby and enjoy its segment leading ride quality.

Luxury, In And Out

On the outside of the XKR, the oval grille is offset by a pair of bi-xenon headlamps which blend into the sweeping curve of the hood. 19 inch Sabre or optional 20 inch Senta wheels give the XKR a bold appearance, with the lines of the coupe sweeping back to a nicely tapered trunk deck. The Thinsulate roof is power-latching and self-stowing, providing a robust contrast to the rest of the Jaguar's body.

Inside, luxury touches abound from the burl wood or satin American trim to the leather wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob. Soft grain leather appointments can be found on the doors, instrument panel and center console, the leather trimmed seats generously employ the same material on the seating surfaces. As expected, sound quality is class leading with an eight speaker Alpine audio system offering surround sound listening quality along with an audio USB unit.

Accessories For Your Jaguar

What Jaguar isn't best enjoyed when certain accessories are selected? Your Cat can be customized by choosing prime alloy wheel options, integrated noise-reducing wind deflectors and a host of other options, just the sort of distinguishing features to help you personalize your convertible.

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A Few Basic Facts Of Toyota 2010 Sienna

Toyota 2010 is a mini van with up to 8 passenger capacity. It is available in 9 attractive trims. Although, its technical specifications vary from one trim to the other but we can refer to some of standard specification of this car. Regarding its cost, Toyota CE FWD trims can be owned at $22,790 while Toyota XLE trims cost around $34,707. Fuel economy does not vary much from one trim to the other.

All the trims consist of same 3.5L V6, 24 valves standard engine and offers 5 speed automatic transmission and disc brakes. So, as far as technical specifications are concerned, we may not notice much difference among the trims.

Basically all these trims differ when it comes to its features. For safety purpose, all trims offer features of child safety door locks, power door locks, tailgate lock, vehicle anti-lockout device, anti theft lock, and wheel lock. All trims offer ABS brakes, electronic brake assistance, traction control, and stability control as well. All the XLE trims are equipped with power trunk lids, which is, however, not applicable to other trims. Almost every trim offers battery saver, front power outlet, and rear seat power outlet. In case of engine specification too, all trims are equipped with ULEV/SULEV/ZLEV emissions, extended service interval, 6 Cylinder engine.

For entertainment, XLE trims have so much to offer. XLE Limited AWD trim offers CD changer, CD player, radio antenna, standard radio, second row sound control, and sub-woofer. For other trims, most of these features are not applicable except for CD player, radio and radio antenna.

In case of exterior lighting, XLE Limited AWD is far better than other trims. It is equipped with automatic headlights, daytime running lights, fog lights, halogen and parameter lights. Apart from this, it offers automatic climate control feature too which is not available in other trims. So, basically, features like safety, suspension, transmission etc are standard and do not differ from one trim to another.

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The 2010 Toyota Camry

Not only is the Toyota still the best-selling vehicles in America, but the new 2010 Toyota Camry continues to give consumers the best value for their dollar. The 2010 Toyota Camry is still both roomy inside and classy on the outside, and for its driving value and price, this 4-door sedan will stay on top of the American vehicle charts. However, there are several trim options for you to choose from, including Standard, LE, SE, and XLE.

XLE V6 -6Spd AT Trim
XLE V6-6Spd AT is built with a 3.5 liter V6 engine and runs with 268 horsepower. MSRP starts at a little over $29,045 and with this 4-door sedan you can get 19 miles within city limits and 28 mpg out on the highway.

XLE 6-Spd AT Trim
Although the XLE 6-Spd AT uses less horsepower than the XLE V6-6Spd, running at 169HP, it gets more miles per gallon. With 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg in the fast lane, this 2.5 liter 14 gets the job done in style. The XLE 6-Spd At is well worth the MSRP which is around $25,925.

SE V6 6-Spd AT Trim
The SE V6-Spd AT comes in with MSRP at $25,840. Not bad for a 3.5 liter, V6, and 268 horsepower with 28 on the highway and 22 within city streets.

LE V6 6-Spd AT Trim
The LE V6 6-Spd AT also is a 3.5L, V6 engine and gets 268 HP. However, it is priced a little lower at $24,565 MSRP. You can also drive this one through traffic at 19 miles per gallon, and take it out for a joy ride at 28mpg.

SE 6-Spd AT Trim
Coming in with an MSRP of $23,165, the SE 6-Spd AT is a 2.5 liter size 14 engine, and will run smoothly at 179 horsepower. You get 22 miles on the gallon within your drive through the city, and 32 on the highway.

SE 6-Spd MT Trim
With one mile over on the highway than the SE 6-Spd AT, the SE 6-pd MT is worth it for those that want to feel a little more in control. It also gets 22 miles within the city, and has a 2.5L engine and 179HP. However, it comes in a little lower at MSRP at $22,165.

LE 6-Spd AT Trim
At 22/32 mpg, the LE 6-Spd AT stands with a 2.5 liter size 14 engine, and only uses 169 HP. In the city you will use 22 on the gallon, and a good 32 on the fast road. With an MSRP at $21,900, this leaves room for a lot of stylish traveling.

LE 6-Spd MT Trim
At 22/33 mpg, a 2.5 liter size-14 engine capacity, and 169 horse power, the LE 6-Spd MT is also a great value. This classic and lasting vehicle comes in at MSRP at $18,869.

Camry-Grade 6-Spd AT
The Camry-Grade 6-Spd AT only has an MSRP at $20,445. It gets 22/32 mpg with its 169 HP and size 14 engine. Fundamentally, this care is one of the best 4-door options for your bottom line.

Camry-Grade 6-Spd MT
Although the Camry-Grade 6-Spd MT is at the lower end, it still stands at full value, for the control that you get. It embraces a 169 horse power engine at size 14 and 2.5 liters capacity. With this trim there is no better price out there. It comes ready at $19,395 as a standard MSRP.

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Toyota and Subaru As Partners

Just recently General Motors, currently the World's second largest car manufacturer, rejected to take the 8.7% stake of what Fuji Heavy Industries is offering. Instead it was snapped up quickly by the World's largest automobile maker Toyota Motors, making it now having around 16.5% of the overall stake of Fuji Heavy Industries.

Fuji Heavy Industries, better known to be the parent company of the car brand Subaru, will now be putting on their new GM-Subaru design to a halt, and start making cars that Toyota wants. Rumors had that both companies are working on a current coupe model which will see the first product that the new partnership's effort.

Toyota is currently the global leader in automotive industry, with Daihatsu, Lexus, Scion under its belt, Subaru as an addition will strengthen the company's stand in the game. With the outrageous number of cars Toyota sells each year, people can actually see that the numbers of Toyota cars on the road is more than the other marques. Subaru had earned the respect from a long line of Motor Sports heritage. By joining up with Toyota, Subaru may take advantage of the hybrid technology Toyota uses to create their own green cars, and Toyota will be able to develop better handling cars using technologies in the Subaru All Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Many car models are jointly developed by few companies these days. For instance the Toyota Aygo, which is also called the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 107. Apart from that partnership also grants companies to develop better cars for the sake of a better world together. Nissan - Renault, Toyota - Daihatsu, and others are well known. Still, when can we start to see the new brand 'Toyaru' and 'Subota', to appear in a hybrid car, perhaps in the year 2011.

Family Sedan With Spunk Of Subaru WRX STi

A lot of people these days, guys especially, feel that once they begin to start a family, they also have to get rid of their "fun" vehicles and start driving the quintessential minivan/SUV/Etc. This, thankfully, is not entirely the case. While there are certainly situations where only a large vehicle will suffice, there are several sporty, enthusiast models available that actually double as a family transport quite well. One of these vehicles is the Subaru WRX STi.

The STi comes packed with a 2.5 liter turbocharged horizontally-opposed four cylinder motor. Depending on the year, the car produces either 300 or 320 horsepower, and 300 torques. All of this is channeled through Subaru's time-tested asymmetrical all-wheel drive system, which assists in providing solid traction in both cornering and acceleration. The STi also features performance-tuned suspension, and Brembo performance brakes.

For starters, the STi comes equipped with four doors - something rarely seen on any vehicle faster than a golf cart driven by a septuagenarian. When children are involved, four doors is absolutely a necessity, and the Subaru delivers. If you go with an 08+ model, you also get a rear hatch instead of a standard trunk, which makes storing things like strollers, bags, etc. a breeze. The STi rear seats are also "car seat ready," which really just means they have the little plastic clips pre-installed, but is a welcome addition.

On top of this, the STi can be just as economical to drive as the most common child-movers. At 24mpg, the Subaru hangs right in there, and even bests, the commonly chosen Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, and Dodge Durango. You can also enjoy easier parking, and better highway mileage in the smaller, lighter, more aerodynamic sedan. Furthermore, with an outstanding safety rating, and the added security of all-wheel drive, the Subaru STi makes for a very safe, functional, and enjoyable vehicle for not only individuals, but even a family of three or four.

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2011 Category All Its Own Of Acura ZDX

According to Acura, the ZDX features the world's first continuous glass surface, extending from hood to bumper to bracket the panoramic sunroof. When closed, the power roller sunshade allows only three percent of outside light to reach occupants. With the shade open, 20 percent of light reaches the interior. Acura promises two-passenger comfort inside the ZDX, but with seating capacity for up to five occupants.

Beneath the low hood, a 3.7-liter VTEC V-6 engine develops 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, driving a new six-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters are mounted at the steering wheel. In Drive mode, a touch on the paddle provides a gear change. S-range gives the driver full control of shifts. When operating automatically, a double-kickdown can occur when necessary.

Enhanced intake and exhaust sounds yield "a little bit of exciting flavor in the upper rpm areas," said principal engineer Jason Widmer. Otherwise, Active Noise Cancellation and other engineering features help keep the ZDX pleasantly quiet. All models roll on 255/50x19-inch tires, but the ZDX suspension may be set for either Comfort or Sport mode. Fifteen sensors react to road conditions, altering the suspension's effect as needed.

On the whole, the ZDX doesn't yield a truly car-like experience, because its SUV underpinnings are too evident. Handling is a prime enticement, as the ZDX driver enjoys appealing steering feel and fine feedback, along with the bonus of Acura's SH-AWD system, in case the weather turns foul.

Delivering a comparatively firm ride overall, the ZDX hits an occasional bump hard. Such incidents are appropriate for an SUV-based vehicle, but less so for what's deemed a sports coupe. Sufficiently supple in suspension capability, this four-door recovers nicely from any excess reaction. Acceleration qualifies as enthusiastic, if not exactly startling, perhaps not quite as dramatic as some sport-coupe enthusiasts might crave.

Getting inside demands a moderate climb?almost like some actual SUVs. Substantial side bolstering cradles the driver snugly, but these serious yet comfortable seats are abundantly cushioned, augmented by superior thigh support. The rear seat is more comfortable and roomy than anticipated, but substantial head-ducking may be needed to twitch one's body into the back. Cargo space totals 26.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats up; 55.8 with those seats folded.

Gauges are readable but dim in darker light conditions. Over-shoulder views are somewhat impaired. Visibility directly astern is split by a thick horizontal bar; nearly everything is seen through the upper pane, which is adequate but squat. The driver faces Acura's first hand-stitched leather dashboard.

On sale around mid-December, the Canadian-built ZDX will be priced between the MDX sport-utility vehicle and the RL sedan, which puts it in the mid-$40,000 neighborhood. Three versions will be offered, starting with the base model, which includes a standard power tailgate. The Technology Package adds Acura's navigation system, with Real Time Traffic information and a Weather Radar View. Lane Guidance can show which lane to be in, when anticipating a turn. The multi-view backup camera can provide a normal, wide, or top view. In base models, the 8-speaker audio system is rated at 266 watts.

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Luxurious Sports Car Of Acura NSX

The Acura NSX, also called as Honda NSX is a sports car, first released in 1990, manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda. The model is a rear wheel drive car, powered by an aluminum V6 gasoline engine and the engine is featured with lift electronic control and Variable valve timing system.

The Acura NSX is produced at the Takanezawa R&D assembly plant in Japan. The NSX is a two door coupe model with the mid engine layout. The vehicle also offers various engines to the sports car like C30A V6 that produces power up to 201 kilo watts and torque of 280 lb ft, C32B V6 that produces 216 kilo watts of power and torque of 304 lb ft. Both the engines are paired to a standard four-speed automatic transmission. The optional transmissions offered by the engine include five and six-speed manual transmission.

As far as the dimensions and the capacity of the car are concerned, it has the wheel base of 2530 mm, length of 4405 mm, width of 1810 mm and height of 1170 mm. The fuel tank in the car has the capacity to hold up to 18.50 US gallons. The curb weight of the car is 1340 kilo grams.

Though the sports car was introduced in 1990, the vehicle was redesigned and released in various generations, with added and revised features in each generation. There were new standards and features added for every new release and the model was also offered in different body styles and colors. The trim options and the various body styles offered by the car attracted the customers towards the car and it became one of the top selling sports cars in the United States car market.

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The 2010 Acura MDX Engine Improvements

This year, Acura pushes the new 2010 Acura MDX along the design path they have pursued with other models in their line up. Complete with V shaped grill and smoother contours, the vehicle has changed on the inside as well, including some tweaks to the engine and transmission system that Acura hopes will encourage consumers to buy.

The new 3.7 liter V6 engine in the 2010 Acura MDX delivers just as much horsepower as last year's model at 300 horse power, but due to refinements aimed at increased fuel economy, it sacrifices about 5 pounds of torque, settling for 270 pound feet. This doesn't mean the vehicle loses any of its utility, however. The MDX is still rated to tow up to 5000 pounds. What it does accomplish is an overall increase in fuel economy. Last year's model delivered 15 miles to the gallon in the city and 20 miles to the gallon for highway travel, according to EPA ratings, while the 2010 engine offers 16 and 21 miles to the gallon in those situations. Although, that may seem like a fairly small increase, it is likely to make consumers happy, given the probability of higher gas prices in the future.

Integra Again Acura RSX

Back in 1986, when the Acura brand was introduced by the Honda Motor Company, two models started it all: the Legend and the Integra. Since that time several additional models have joined the Acura line up and the two original models were renamed: the Legend became the RL and the Integra was renamed the RSX. Today's RSX - a three door hatchback -- continues to offer pretty much what the original Integra stood for: luxury, engineering, and value. Let's take a closer look at this popular seller and what the car means to both the driver and to the company.

Honda's introduction of Acura was prior to and done slightly different than Toyota's introduction of Lexus and Nissan's roll out of Infiniti. Unlike its Japanese cousins who were introducing pure luxury brands, Honda decided to include "near luxury" as well as luxury cars in the Acura mix. This marketing method was Kind of like selling Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles under one name, but without the creation of a third brand. Honda's strategy has paid off as the Integra/RSX has been a popular seller and a nice bridge for Honda loyalists looking for something a bit more refined than the typical Honda, but without the Acura price. Truly, a star was born with the Integra and continues to shine with the RSX.

For driver's, the RSX offers a gusto not found on the average Honda, giving it plenty of room to be "specially tuned" by the aftermarket crowd. With 17 inch tires, 6 speed transmission, and 7 speaker Bose sound system, the RSX has been designed to provide optimal driving fun at an affordable price. Featuring 2+2 seating, sport styling, and a 201horspower VTEC engine, the four banger RSX effectively combines performance with fuel efficiency.

For the Honda Motor Company, the RSX has helped to keep Acura sales strong. Recently, the company began to market the Acura brand well beyond its North American roots and the RSX [curiously still called the Integra elsewhere] has led the way. Recently, however, the company has decided to discontinue the RSX to concentrate on further separating the Honda and Acura divisions. Thus, the original intent of Honda for Acura has been changed and Acura will now be exclusively marketed as a luxury brand.

For Integra/RSX lovers all is not lost. Honda will likely sell a similarly equipped Accord while Acura will continue to sell the TSX, a four door upscale version of the RSX. Changing consumer tastes have shown that a near luxury coupe doesn't have quite as strong as an appeal as a four door sedan, so the RSX will not be produced after 2006.

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Acura - 20 Years of Honda Luxury

In March 2006, the Honda Motor Company celebrated an important milestone: the 20th anniversary of their luxury brand, Acura. Created to give Honda aficionados an opulent make that they could be proud of, Acura has successfully expanded the company's reach far beyond more prosaic models such as the Civic and the Accord. Today, Acura is a very different brand than the company that was birthed in 1986. Let's take a glimpse at Acura's past, their present line up, and what the next 20 years may bring for this esteemed Japanese automaker.

Back in 1981, Honda saw an opportunity opening up for itself that no one in Honda's headquarters wanted to miss out on: building and selling luxury cars to American consumers. Mercedes and BMW were both gaining traction in the U.S. as American luxury brands Cadillac and Lincoln sputtered and lost market share. Honda was already receiving widespread consumer acceptance and critical acclaim for the three models it was then selling in the U.S., so the decision to market more expensive and upscale cars was viewed as a strong possibility.

When Honda management decided to go with the upscale brand, they did this knowing that the cars would eventually have to stand apart from Honda in order to command the higher prices. Simply selling up market Hondas as Acuras would not work. Instead, each car was outfitted and retuned to compete directly against the leading luxury cars of that time.

The first two models to be sold as Acuras were the Legend, a V6 powered sedan and coupe, and the Integra, which was essentially a three door coupe based on a Honda Civic platform. Later, the NSX two seat roadster was brought out to battle Porsche and the Vigor sedan was introduced to fill the gap between the Integra and the Legend.

Over time, the various model names were dropped and replaced by vehicles with 2 or 3 letter designations. The Vigor became the TL, the Legend became the RL, and the Integra the RSX. Today, the MDX SUV, RSX sport compact, and TSX sedan, join the three other models to comprise the current Acura line up. A slightly smaller SUV, the RDX, will be joining Acura's line up later in 2006.

The future of Acura looks bright despite strong worldwide competition. Although Honda jumped into the market a few years before Nissan rolled out it Infiniti division and Toyota its Lexus line, Acura has trailed its Japanese competitors for over a decade now. Some critics have contended that this misstep has hurt Acura, while others see it as a typical conservative Honda decision to expand the Honda brand instead.

Future changes for Acura are sketchy, but model changes will likely include the introduction of diesel powered vehicles and more hybrid offerings. Some auto critics have suggested that Honda has the capacity of outflanking BMW and Mercedes by producing super luxury sedans and sports cars. Renowned Honda quality combined with European styling, luxury, and engineering have fueled Acura's success so far. An expansion of this theme to even larger and/or sportier models could vault Acura forward.

Truly, Acura has helped reshape the original perception that many motorists had about the Japanese brands, by delivering vehicles that are high in luxury, tops in engineering, and strong in refinement. If the last 20 years have proved anything it is that enthusiasts can expect much more from Acura over the next two decades. Kudos to the Honda Motor Company for developing a brand that has been so well received.

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The New 2010 Honda Crosstour Debuts in Canada

Canada is set to debut the new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour at dealerships across the country on November 24th. The Accord Crosstour comes in several different trim models, including the EX-L which is a four wheel drive, and there is also a EX-L top of the line version with comes with special luxury trim as well as Honda's satellite navigation system. All models of the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour come with a 3.5 litre 271 horsepower V6 engine.

Jerry Chenkin, who is the executive vice president of Honda Canada was recently quoted saying, "With the recent price reduction on our existing Accord sedans and coupes, the pricing for the all-new Accord Crosstour is designed to make this vehicle an attractive option for Canadians wanting car-like handling and performance with the functionality of a sport utility vehicle."

The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour is has the style and finesse of a luxury sedan while have the versatile and mobility characteristics of a sports utility vehicle. It is a completely unique concept within the crossover market segment. The car leverages many different aspects of both the sedan and SUV pros and cons, it remains sleek and stylish, while expanding cargo space.

The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour fulfills many roles, the bold new exterior design conveys a sense of prestige from the outside, and the luxury styling of the interior extends the length of the whole cars interior. The car is extremely functional from a storage standpoint, with built in under-floor storage in the rear, as well as reversible cargo floor panels.

The 271 horsepower V6 VTEC engine features Honda's award winning Variable Cylinder Management system which improves fuel consumption and increases power. The Variable Cylinder Management system allows the car to run on three, four or six cylinders based on the load of the car nad the power required. The car comes packed with a 5 speed automatic transmission as well as a real time 4-wheel drive system for offroad and towing use.

The prices for the three 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour are as follows. The EX-L 2-Wheel Drive Model has a MSRP of $34,900; EX-L 4-Wheel Drive MSRP - $36,900; and the EX-L 4-Wheel Drive with Navigation has a MSRP of $38,900, this model also features a rear view camera and Bluetooth integration.

The Accord Crosstour comes standard with many options that users will love, including dual heated front seats, leather trim pieces, dual climate control, XM Radio with USB Audio input which will make iPod plugin easier. Also too the car features a fold down rear seat, 18″ rims and tires, moon roof and much more.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour First Drive

Honda's new-for-2010 Accord-based crossover, unabashedly named Accord Crosstour. It is essentially an Accord wagon, except its rear roofline is aerodynamically sloped instead of squared off, which sacrifices some cargo room but preserves respectable backseat headroom even for six-footers. But please don't call it that.

Is such a half-breed a car, or is it a truck? While some crossovers, especially the larger ones with three rows of seats, are more SUV-like, this one appears closer to a car. As far as government classification goes, the signals are mixed: for emissions and fuel economy testing, the EPA sees it as a passenger car. For safety certification, NHTSA calls it a truck.

Honda calls it a "five-door, five-passenger premium CUV" and offers it in two models: a well-equipped EX (just over $30,000, including destination) and an upscale EX-L (about $33K). "Real-time" four-wheel drive adds $1,450 and voice-activated navigation with a rear-view camera, another $2,200, but both are offered on the EX-L only.

Standard on the EX are dual-zone automatic air conditioning; 360-watt, 7-speaker audio with a 6-disc CD player; easy fold-down 60/40 split rear seats; 225/65 R17 all-season tires on alloy wheels; a power moonroof; steering-wheel audio controls; auto-off projector beam headlights; fog lights; rear privacy glass; and a hidden removable utility box.

The EX-L adds leather-trimmed seats (heated in front), steering wheel and shift knob; memory mirrors and driver-side seat; 225/60 R18 all-season tires; auto-on/off headlights; a cargo privacy cover; a HomeLink transmitter; premium speakers and a USB audio interface.

How much of this Crosstour is Accord under its skin? Honda says roughly 60 percent of its parts are shared with the sedan, including the chassis and powertrain, the instrument panel and most of the interior. That chassis incorporates fully independent double-wishbone front and rear-multilink rear suspensions, both slightly upgraded for the taller, heavier Crosstour. Notable among those upgrades are rebound springs inside the front shocks to improve handling and reduce body roll, two-piston front brake calipers and bigger rear rotors.

The only available powertrain is the Accord's 271-hp 3.5-liter i-VTEC SOHC V-6 coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission. This award-winning engine uses Honda's exclusive Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) cylinder deactivation system to enhance fuel economy by shutting down two, or at times even three, cylinders when it's lightly loaded. The electronically controlled 5-speed automatic is smooth but slightly less fuel-efficient than the latest 6-speeds offered by GM, Ford and others. The 2WD Crosstour is EPA-rated at a respectable 18 city/27 highway mpg and the 4WD EX-L at 17/25.

The two interior color choices are charcoal black with a black instrument panel or ivory with a two-tone (black upper, tan lower) instrument panel, both with tasteful faux wood accents. To quiet the cabin, a new Active Sound Control (ASC) technology uses the audio system to acoustically minimize engine noise. There is 25.7 cu. ft. of cargo room behind the 60/40 rear seats; and, folding them down increases the area to 54 cu. ft. Access to it is easy thanks to a large tailgate opening and a low lift-over height. Three other handy features are twin levers that quickly fold those seats flat into the floor, carpeted lids that flip over to create easy-to-clean plastic surfaces and a hidden 1.9-liter storage box with handles for easy removal.

If you've driven an Accord sedan, you'll feel comfortable in a Crosstour. Honda engineers have compensated well via specific spring rates, shocks and stabilizer bars; for its modestly increased size and the potential of added cargo weight. Unladen, it rides and handles about as well as the fairly agile yet compliant sedan. Its brakes are suitably strong and fade-free, but its constant-ratio steering is somewhat slower at low speeds compared to the sedan's variable-ratio system.

With six inches of ground clearance, this is no off-road crawler, but the available fully automatic Real Time 4WD system improves its bad-weather and off-pavement capabilities by sending power to the rear wheels when the fronts begin to slip. The 5-speed automatic can be manually shifted, and its new downshift rev-match feature smooths manual downshifts.

Standard safety features include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist. The comprehensive restraint system includes dual-stage, multiple threshold front airbags; driver's and front passenger's side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; and active front seat head restraints.

This new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour slides neatly between Honda's Civic-based CR-V compact crossover and its larger, more truck-like (Accord-based) Pilot CUV and competes directly with Toyota's similar Camry based Venza and Nissan's Altima-based Murano. Call it what you want but consider it a very interesting new entry in the increasingly crowded crossover field.

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