You might remember a while ago we brought to you some spyshots of a wagon-like Honda which later on turned out to be the Accord Crosstour. And here it is with all of its strangeness! It is actually a new niche in design called CUV which stands for Crossover Utility Vehicle, and is supposed to be sporty, functional and versatile.

“Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Accord line-up by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling while also adapting to dramatic shifts in the light truck marketplace,” said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The Accord Crosstour accomplishes that by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan.”

Derived from the Accord Sedan, the Accord Crosstour maximizes car-like ride and refinement, yet maintains capabilities consistent with a CUV’s increased ride height and all-weather potential. The Accord Crosstour’s styling builds on the Accord’s familiar character lines and adds a bolder front grille complemented by a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped C-pillars and an aggressive rear stance. The flowing roofline narrows smoothly into the rear of the vehicle to create an aggressive-looking design, which conceals a unique cargo area that can adapt to large objects that exceed the capacity of a sedan.

“We know SUV buyers like the commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point and like the comforts of living with an SUV,” said Berkman. “This vehicle meets the needs of buyers looking for those attributes yet at the same time want an image that is different from a conventional SUV.”

The Accord Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord family when it goes on sale in fall 2009.