Honda Cars : 2013 Honda Crosstour Now Offers Class-Leading Fuel Efficiency, More V-6 Power, Refined Styling, Enhanced Visibility and New Lower Base Price | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Extensive updates, lower MSRP and improved fuel economy provide premium crossover with added value.

11/15/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.

The 2013 Honda Crosstour goes on sale November 20, 2012, with pricing beginning at $27,230 – a starting MSRP $525 lower than in 2012. Receiving extensive updates, the 2013 Honda Crosstour introduces more purposeful exterior styling, significant upgrades to the interior design and materials, and a more powerful, fuel-efficient Earth Dreams™ V-6 engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift control. The rugged new styling, teamed with class-leading fuel-efficiency and a lower MSRP on the base four-cylinder model make the 2013 Honda Crosstour the smartest choice in a premium mid-size crossover.

Standard equipment on all Crosstour models includes a rearview camera with guidelines, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink™, USB/iPod® connection, fog lights, one-touch turn signals and an Expanded View Driver's Mirror. The front-wheel-drive Crosstour offers two trim levels (EX, EX-L) available with four-cylinder or V-6 powertrains, with Real Time™ 4WD available on the EX-L V-6 model. Rich new exterior colors for 2013 include Kona Coffee Metallic and Mountain Air Metallic.

The 2013 Crosstour is one of the first Honda models available with the new keyless Smart Entry with Push Button start. The 2013 Crosstour also features Honda's LaneWatch™ blind-spot display, which uses a camera system mounted on the passenger mirror to provide an enhanced rearward view of the passenger-side roadway. Other standard visibility-enhancing features include the rearview camera and new re-shaped rear headrests.

The 2013 Honda Crosstour also receives enhancements on the safety front including available Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW). Other safety upgrades to the 2013 Crosstour are designed to help it earn top IIHS roof-crush safety scores, as well as a 5-Star NCAP rating.

Summary of Changes

• More rugged and premium exterior styling
• Upgraded interior design and materials
• More powerful available Earth Dreams™ 3.5-liter V-6 engine
• Class-leading EPA-estimated fuel economy – up to an estimated 31 mpg² highway
• Standard visibility enhancements including rearview camera, re-shaped rear headrests and Expanded View Driver's Mirror
• Available 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters (V-6)
• Available Honda LaneWatch™ blind-spot display
• Available HondaLink™ featuring Aha™ compatibility
• Available Smart Entry with Push Button start
• Available Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• New Kona Coffee Metallic and Mountain Air Metallic exterior colors

Powertrain
The two different four-cylinder Crosstour models, the 2-wheel-drive EX and EX-L, are powered by a 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® engine. The four-cylinder models significantly broaden the Crosstour's appeal through a lower price point and EPA-estimated fuel economy rating1 of 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The 4-cylinder engine produces 192 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 162 lb-ft. of torque at 4400 rpm. A technologically advanced 5-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control is standard equipment.

The new available Earth Dreams™ 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine utilizes Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) to maximize efficiency, allowing the engine to run on 3 or 6 cylinders, depending on engine load and speed. For 2013, power output climbs to 278 horsepower at 6200 rpm, a 7-hp gain over the 2012 Crosstour V-6. Peak torque output is now 252 lb-ft. at 4900 rpm with a much wider torque spread. The net result is a more responsive engine across the rev range that drivers use every day, combined with better peak power for quick acceleration, passing, and climbing grades. The Crosstour V-6's new 6-speed automatic transmission also includes new steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Fuel efficiency for the V-6 is also significantly improved, with it now achieving an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined fuel economy rating¹ of 20/29/23 mpg on Crosstour 2WD models and 18/28/22 mpg¹ for the Crosstour EX-L with Real Time™ 4WD. Compared to the 2WD 2012 Crosstour V-6, this represents a 2 mpg improvement in city/highway/combined fuel economy.

Body
Since its debut as a 2010 model, the Honda Crosstour has created its own unique crossover SUV identity with a distinctively sleek, sporty and fuel-efficient style. This continues for 2013 with a newly refreshed exterior that provides a more rugged, active, and premium look, while still concealing an accommodating rear cargo area with a large tailgate. An under-floor storage area in the rear of the vehicle adds even more functionality, while reversible floor panels accommodate messy cargo.

Standard exterior features on Crosstour EX include chrome door handles, 17-inch alloy wheels and P225/65R-17 all-season tires. Additional exterior features on the Crosstour EX include auto-on/off projector-beam headlights, a one-touch power moonroof with tilt, body-colored folding power side mirrors with defrost, auto-up/down driver's and front passenger's windows, and rear privacy glass. The top-of-the-line Crosstour EX-L V-6 model adds 18-inch alloy wheels with P225/60R-18 all-season tires.

Chassis
The Crosstour has inspired handling, thanks to its double-wishbone front and independent multi-link rear suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, and front strut tower bar. All Crosstour models include power-assisted ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes. For true utility-vehicle capability, the Crosstour provides 6.2 inches of maximum ground clearance in addition to the available Real Time™ 4WD system.

Interior
Premium interior styling, appointments and details extend throughout the Crosstour's versatile passenger compartment, which is further improved for 2013 with upgraded interior design and materials. Inside the Crosstour EX are automatic air conditioning with an air-filtration system (dual-zone automatic climate control on EX-L V-6), a 360-watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with seven speakers, Bluetooth™ HandsFreeLink®, a USB audio interface, steering wheel-mounted cruise, audio and phone controls, an auto day/night dimming rearview mirror, an easy fold-down 60-40 split rear seatback, a hidden removable utility box and more.

Crosstour EX-L models add leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats, memory driver's seat and memory side mirrors with reverse tilting capability, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, Kevlar® cone audio speakers, front aluminum dome-type tweeter speakers, HondaLink™ with Aha™ compatibility, Pandora® Internet radio compatibility, XM® Radio, compass and outside temperature indicator (also included on EX V-6), and more. The EX-L V-6 model also adds a HomeLink™ transmitter.

The Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System² is available on Crosstour EX-L models, and all EX-L and above Crosstour models feature an upgraded multi-view rearview camera with guidance lines integrated into the display. Real Time™ 4WD is available on the Crosstour EX-L V-6.

Safety
Crosstour safety technology includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, a Honda-exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional safety equipment on the Crosstour includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, driver's and front passenger's side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, and active front seat head restraints.

Standard on Crosstour EX-L models is Honda's new Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems. FCW can alert the driver when a potential collision with another vehicle ahead is detected, where LDW can alert the driver when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use.

A series of visibility enhancements on the 2013 Crosstour can improve safety by increasing the driver's awareness of other vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles that are around the Crosstour. Standard on all Crosstour models, save the four-cylinder EX, is Honda's exclusive new LaneWatch blind spot camera. Other improvements on all Crosstour models include reshaped rear headrests that enhance rearward visibility, a standard rearview camera, and a new Expanded View Driver's Mirror.

Manufacturing
The Crosstour is produced³ at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant in East Liberty, Ohio. At its introduction, the Crosstour was named one of the "Top 10 Family Cars" by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. Consumer Guide then added "Recommended Buy" honors to the Crosstour.

Warranty
The 2013 Honda Crosstour is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.

Connect with Honda:
Media Newsroom (for journalists): http://www.hondanews.com/channels/honda-automobiles-crosstour
Honda Vehicles (for consumers): http://automobiles.honda.com/crosstour/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hondacrosstour
YouTube: www.youtube.com/honda
Flickr: www.flickr.com/hondanews
Twitter: www.twitter.com/honda
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/honda/
On Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Honda
¹ Based on 2013 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
² Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include but are not limited to automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.
³ Honda products are produced using domestic and globally sourced parts.Third-party trademark: 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.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2013-honda-crosstour-now-offers-class-leading-fuel-efficiency-more-v-6-power-refined-styling-enhanced-visibility-and-new-lower-base-price

Honda Cars : 2013 Honda CrossTour Trims and Colours for Canada | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

2013 Honda CrossTour Concept.

Well, some pretty big changes in the CrossTour of it`s 4th year around, not sure if the 4cylinder is going to make it`s way here or not (my guess not), but here are the trim levels and colours.

2013 Honda CrossTour EX 2WD Automatic
NH-737M Grey Exterior with Black Interior
NH-731P Black Exterior with Black Interior

2013 Honda CrossTour EX-L 2WD Automatic
Same colours as above.

2013 Honda CrossTour EX-L 4WD Automatic
NH-603P White Exterior with Black Interior
NH-737M Grey Exterior with Black Interior
NH-731P Black Exterior with Black Interior
R-548P Red Exterior with Black Interior
YR-600M Dark Brown with Ivory Interior

2013 Honda CrossTour EX-L Navi 4WD Automatic
Same colours as above.

Source;
Honda Canada

Honda Cars : The Future of Honda; CVTs, new engine family will reshape Honda line | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

This is a spyshot of the upcoming 2013 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid.

by  Mark Rechtin of www.autonews.com

Honda's new Earth Dreams engine family will debut in the redesigned Accord this fall and then trickle through the rest of the lineup.

The new engines have direct injection and double-overhead cams. They will produce at least a 10 percent fuel economy advantage over Honda's current four-cylinders.

Earth Dreams engines will be added as each vehicle is redesigned, and in some cases will be available for mid-cycle revisions. Even the base four-cylinder will have a twin-cam profile setup, variable valve timing and direct injection. And there also is talk of bringing a 1.6-liter diesel with 220 pounds-feet of torque to the United States.

Honda also is putting heavy emphasis on continuously variable transmissions. While performance models and off-road vehicles will retain geared transmissions, mainstream cars will have CVTs.

With the introduction of Honda's large-car hybrid powertrain system next year, more vehicles in the lineup will have a hybrid option.

Here's a look at Honda's product plans:

Fit: Europe gets a hybrid version, but Honda has canceled plans for a Fit hybrid in North America.
A redesign of the Fit comes in summer of 2014. Because Honda will have a dedicated plant in Mexico to handle Fit production for the United States, expect some local market design cues and features that won't appear in the Japanese or European models. But Honda might not wait until then to install the Earth Dreams 1.5-liter inline-four with 127 hp and 111 pounds-feet of torque, as well as a CVT.

Fit EV: The electric version of the Fit went on sale this summer with an EPA-rated equivalent of 118 mpg. But its range is just 82 miles. Packaging the battery pack was difficult, so expect the next Fit to have a different suspension module for the hybrid and EV versions.

Insight: No word on whether the nickel-metal hydride battery pack will swap out for lithium ion before the 2015-model redesign.

Civic: Terrible reviews of the Civic's interior plastics have prompted a major freshening for this fall, just 18 months after launch. Expect a big improvement in the tactile feel of the instrument panel. A 1.8-liter inline-four Earth Dreams engine with 148 hp and 133 pounds-feet of torque, mated to a CVT, could be installed in the spring 2014 midcycle change.

CR-Z: A higher-performance CR-Z supposedly was on the way. But with the punishing yen exchange rate jacking up the price, that version may not reach the United States.

S2000: Honda hasn't had a proper sports car since the S2000 went away in 2009. The early success of the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ have American Honda product planners angling for a competitive model. But it is not a priority in Japan.


Accord: A redesign for the sedan and coupe comes this fall. The current Accord was considered too large, so expect a slightly narrower version that's about two or three inches shorter. The wheelbase may stay the same.
This will be the first Honda model with Earth Dreams engines. The base engine is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with 181 hp, 177 pounds-feet of torque and much-improved fuel economy. The Accord will have a CVT as its only four-cylinder automatic offering. The V-6 Accord will have a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.
Honda is placing a major emphasis on crash safety, as well as such devices as a lane-departure warning system. The Accord also will be the first vehicle with Honda's new large-car hybrid system. Engineers say the four-cylinder plug-in hybrid will have a 2.0-liter engine teamed with a lithium ion battery pack and will easily beat the Toyota Camry Hybrid's 41 mpg.

Crosstour: A midcycle change in the 2013 model year will bring a six-speed automatic transmission but not an Earth Dreams engine.

FCX Clarity: Honda's hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle is trickling into Southern California garages as part of a test for an eventual launch in 2018.

CR-V: Redesigned for the 2013 model year.

Fit Crossover: According to Japanese press reports, Honda is studying a compact crossover that would slot below the CR-V. Honda's top U.S. manufacturing executive has said the plant in Mexico that will produce the Fit will have flexibility to build multiple variants for the North American market when it opens in 2014. Given Honda's typical factory ramp-up timing, that probably means a smaller, entry-level crossover will arrive in the United States in the spring of 2015 as a 2016 model.

Pilot: A full redesign on the shared Odyssey platform comes in fall of 2014, and sheet metal will move away from the "angry robot" look. It likely will get a 3.5-liter Earth Dreams V-6 with around 310 hp and 265 pounds-feet of torque. Expect the front-wheel-drive version to have a CVT and the all-wheel-drive version to get a six-speed automatic transmission.

Odyssey: The minivan was redesigned in fall 2010 on a six-year cycle. That means the 3.5-liter Earth Dreams V-6 probably will be incorporated during the 2014 model year.

Ridgeline: Honda's pickup will keep the Ridgeline name but won't look or feel the same when it is redesigned in 2014. Honda wants to keep the handling dynamics and packaging, but the styling, fuel economy and sticker price are weaknesses.

Source;

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120730/OEM04/307309983/1216/cvts-new-engine-family-will-reshape-honda-line

Honda Cars : 2013 Honda Crosstour Concept B-roll | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Honda Cars : Honda to Debut 2013 Honda Crosstour Concept at New York Auto Show | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

A minor model change makes sense, after all the Crosstour is pretty much an Accord, which itself is going under a "full" redesign (I am told that the Accord is just an evolutionary change on the outside, but the tech will be a good jump forward).... I can't see the Crosstour looking like the vehicle below, but I like it Neal....
Photo comes from the creative imagination of Neal McDaniel from www.vtec.net....

By Ben Timmins of www.motortrend.com
The futuristic Honda Crosstour is about to get a refresh, and Honda is readying a concept car previewing the 2013 model for a New York Auto Show debut.

We should clarify a couple of things: the Honda Crosstour will turn four in 2013, which means the new car will be something of a mid-cycle refresh. The second is that Honda’s concept cars are often nearly identical to their successive production cars. When Honda says that it’s making a concept to preview the new Crosstour, it likely means that a production-looking car will be on stage at New York and the official version will hit showrooms shortly thereafter.

The new Honda Crosstour continues to face an uphill battle in the numbers: the crossover has sold just 51,380 copies since it was launched in 2009. Sales peaked in 2010 at 28,851, but dwindled since–Honda has sold just 1991 in the first two months of this year.

In hopes of broadening the car’s appeal, Honda has shifted the trim levels on the Crosstour: base models now come with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (borrowed from the Accord it’s based on) that makes 192 horsepower and delivers 3 more miles to the gallon in mixed driving than the optional 3.5-liter V-6. It also reduces the car’s base price: an I-4-equipped Honda Crosstour (shown) starts at $28,465 with destination to the V-6 model’s $31,150.

The Honda Crosstour won’t be alone in seeing its mid-cycle refresh in New York – Toyota and Subaru will be taking the wraps off the 2013 Venza and 2013 Outback, respectively, in April as well.

Will the new Crosstour make waves in the crossover market or will it sink? We’ll have to wait and see–the concept will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 4.

Source;
http://wot.motortrend.com/2013-honda-crosstour-concept-to-debut-at-new-york-show-181875.html

Official Press Release
03/20/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.A concept vehicle revealing the exterior styling direction of the updated 2013 Honda Crosstour will debut at a catered media reception at the 2012 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) on Wednesday, April 4. The media reception will be held from 3:45 - 4:30 p.m., at Honda's show floor booth on Level 3 of the Javits Center.

First launched in 2009, and now available with both V-6 and four-cylinder engines, the Crosstour remains one of the most versatile choices in the midsize crossover segment, earning 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 produced1 at Honda's East Liberty Plant in East Liberty, Ohio.