Accord Crosstour Cabriolet - April Fool's Joke?
04-01-11 | 10:18 AM
#1
Accord Crosstour Cabriolet - April Fool's Joke?
They can't be serious...What do you think?
Are unconventional droptops becoming the darling of the automotive industry? Honda is evidently paying close attention to the new Murano CrossCabriolet from Nissan, and apparently it likes what it sees. Historically averse to convertibles (small-volume jobs like the S2000 excluded), the Japanese automaker now plans to offer a soft-top CUV of its own, and the unlikely choice for a roofectomy is the slow-selling Honda Accord Crosstour.
Unimaginatively dubbed the Accord Crosstour Cabriolet, this convertible features a two-plus-two interior seating arrangement and unlimited headroom. Under the hood sits the familiar 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 271 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. Like the fixed-roof Crosstour, the Cabriolet will be offered with front- and all-wheel drive, giving it more configurablility than the AWD-only Murano. Like the Nissan, the cabrio conversion has resulted in two fewer doors and the merciful exclusion of a basket-handle structural support. Oddly, to our eyes, the Crosstour Cabriolet almost looks more attractive than the hunchbacked hardtop – at least with the top down.
When it goes on sale this summer, the Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet will sit atop the Crosstour's pricing structure. The fully-loaded Crosstour we reviewed in 2010 had a sticker price of $36,930, so expect the convertible to come in right at a stitch over the $40K mark. That's a bit less than the $47,190 Nissan wants for its Murano CrossCab.
Unimaginatively dubbed the Accord Crosstour Cabriolet, this convertible features a two-plus-two interior seating arrangement and unlimited headroom. Under the hood sits the familiar 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 271 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. Like the fixed-roof Crosstour, the Cabriolet will be offered with front- and all-wheel drive, giving it more configurablility than the AWD-only Murano. Like the Nissan, the cabrio conversion has resulted in two fewer doors and the merciful exclusion of a basket-handle structural support. Oddly, to our eyes, the Crosstour Cabriolet almost looks more attractive than the hunchbacked hardtop – at least with the top down.
When it goes on sale this summer, the Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet will sit atop the Crosstour's pricing structure. The fully-loaded Crosstour we reviewed in 2010 had a sticker price of $36,930, so expect the convertible to come in right at a stitch over the $40K mark. That's a bit less than the $47,190 Nissan wants for its Murano CrossCab.
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04-01-11 | 11:46 AM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,595
Likes: 88
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Originally Posted by IS-SV
April Fools=potential sales volume to say the least.
I actually don't think it's as awkward-looking as the hatchback. But, I agree that it's probably a April-Fool prank..........I didn't see any references to it on the "Future Vehicles/Concepts on Honda's web-site.
Even if it were genuine, AWD convertibles are comparatively rare. They are not something regularly offered by automakers....the Nissan Murano concept notwithstanding. The last production one I can clearly remember was the two-seater Suzuki XC90, which had a rather primitive part-time 4WD and a removable roof-panel.....kind of like a raised-ground-clearance, off-road Honda-Del-Sol.
(off-topic, but I wonder why Suzuki let Volvo use the same XC90 designation without a legal fuss?)
The general marketing philosophy behind the long-standing AWD restrictions on convertibles (though I don't totally agree with it) is that, since convertibles are designed primarily for sunny, warm weather, one will not need AWD for wet/snow traction. However, at the same time, automakers spend a lot of money on their convertible tops making them seal well, with good insulation from cold weather and the elements. So, to me, why give a convertible good cold-weather and rain/snow insulation if you aren't going to give it the traction capabilities as well?
(perhaps a weight issue, since convertibles are often, with their added hardware and frame/chassis bracing, heavier than their equivalent sedans/coupes to start with...AWD would just add that much more weight and drag)
Last edited by mmarshall; 04-01-11 at 11:53 AM.
04-01-11 | 12:14 PM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
But I was mainly referring to it's lack of potential sales volume that adds to it appeal as April Fools joke.
