(April 5, 2012) NEW YORK — Honda unveiled the 2013 Crosstour Concept Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show, providing the first official glimpse of a more capable-looking exterior styling direction for the mid-size CUV. Set to go on sale this fall, the Crosstour's defined lines will resonate more clearly with the active consumers that form the largest portion of the premium crossover segment.

The 2013 Crosstour V-6 will feature improved fuel economy thanks to its new 6-speed automatic transmission, while both four-cylinder and V-6 versions will benefit from a host of safety and visibility upgrades.

"Fueled by a combination of versatility, luxury, and efficiency, owners have demonstrated remarkable devotion to the Honda Crosstour," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. "The 2013 Crosstour Concept shows how Honda will strengthen the styling and add even more content to one of the most efficient offerings in the class."

The Crosstour Concept features a more capable, SUV-like styling direction for Honda's mid-size crossover. A more aggressive and athletic front end, new contrasting moldings on the lower door garnish, and cleaner front and rear fascias anchored by the rugged look of finished sill plates provide more visual strength to the Crosstour Concept. Adding to the SUV-like stance, a new rear-fender finish helps give the Concept a more solidly planted appearance.

Up front, the new integrated foglamp treatment is complemented by a slotted finish beneath the headlights, which helps integrate the new, bolder grille. The revised tailgate sports a more horizontal design to add visual width to the sculpted lines at the rear of the Crosstour.

The Crosstour will offer two powertrains for the 2013 model year: a re-engineered and more powerful 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine, or a  2.4-liter i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine. The 2013 Crosstour V-6 models will feature a 6-speed automatic transmission and utilize Honda Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology to achieve class-leading V-6 fuel economy1 along with an overall improvement in fuel economy compared to the outgoing model. Also available on Crosstour EX-L V-6 models is Honda's Real Time 4WDTM system, which sends power to all four wheels when front-wheel slippage is detected.

The four-cylinder Crosstour models are powered by a 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC   i-VTEC engine producing 192 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 162 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. To maximize efficiency, a 5-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control is standard equipment.