Honda News - Crosstour; CRV

[jake75]

Columbus Business First 9--10-09Honda’s Ohio operations build Accords and the CR-V crossover vehicle, so it’s only natural that it’d also be the birthplace of the new Accord Crosstour.Honda of America Manufacturing Inc., the automaker’s Marysville-based manufacturing arm, confirmed Thursday the new vehicle, a crossover utility vehicle built on the Accord platform, will be assembled at its East Liberty plant, where the CR-V and Element sport utility vehicle are made.The Accord is manufactured at Honda’s Marysville plant along with the Acura TL and RDX.The automaker, in a release this month, called its 2010 Accord Crosstour a “modern interpretation” of a crossover with the “refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan.” It’s an offshoot of the company’s flagship sedan, which underwent a redesign for its 2008 model.The Crosstour will go on sale later this year. Honda has not released pricing details, but said it will be at the top of the Accord family.The vehicle, Honda said, combines the ride of a sedan with the higher ride height and all-weather handling of a crossover vehicle. Much like the redesigned Accord, Honda designed the vehicle with an “aggressive” design through a roof line that narrows into the rear. The Crosstour also features a cargo area that can handle objects that wouldn’t normally fit in a sedan.“We have continued to advance our products and the flexible and efficient manufacturing capabilities that build them, to create new value for Honda and Acura customers,” said Honda of America CEO Hidenobu Iwata, in a release from the company. “The addition of the Accord Crosstour not only signifies our commitment to the state, but also our trust in the Ohio associates to build this top-of-the-line new Honda vehicle.”The Crosstour’s engine will be made at Honda’s Anna plant, while its transmission will be assembled in Russells Point.Iwata spoke at a ceremony marking Honda’s 30 years in Ohio.Honda also reiterated its plans to convert its motorcycle production facility, the company’s first manufacturing foray into the state, into a parts consolidation center to make production more efficient, and announced updates to the 2010 CR-V, which includes styling changes to the grille and bumpers, upgraded technology options and an improved engine.