Monday, Jun 21, 2010
Gulf News
Dubai Honda yesterday launched a new category model in the crossover utility vehicle (CUV), a fusion of a sedan and a sports utility vehicle (SUV).
The Honda Accord Crosstour is based on the original Accord but has the clearance and boot capacity of the small SUV.
A distinct concept, the Accord is expected to win an average of 1,000 sales in its first year.
Retailing for Dh140,000 to Dh145,000, the vehicle comes with a standard 271 horsepower, 3.5 litre V6 engine.
Bringing more adventure to the sedan it is based on, its spare tyre is placed under the chassis, while the extra boot space is devoted to a "hidden removable utility box" to keep dirty objects separate.
"The potential for future growth in the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] and GCC is tremendous.
"We have no doubt about the GCC market," Manabu Nishimae, operations officer for Honda Motors, said at the event.
Sales plan
The manufacturer has a plan to sell 1,000 of the new model annually in the Gulf countries.
"The GCC is one of the most important markets for the Accord," Shunichi Uchida, director for Honda Motors, Middle East said, adding that sales in this region were in the top five globally.
Meanwhile, programme chief engineer Osamu Takezawa said that demand for the CUV is growing faster than for SUVs.
Sales slump
Honda, which has been losing sales in the UAE amid the industry-wide drop in demand, is hoping to regain some ground with its new launches.
It is assembled in the state of Ohio at Honda's American base, at the East Liberty Auto Plant with domestic and globally sourced parts.
The car was launched yesterday in Dubai along with the Japanese manufacturer's motorbikes VFR 1200 F and VT 1300 CX.
A V4 motorbike based on the previous VFRs, the sport touring trailblazer produces 129 neuton metre of torque at 8,750 rpm.
The frame is a diamond, aluminium twin-spar. Meanwhile, the new VT 1300 is a chopper with maximum torque of 107 neuton metre at 2,2500 rpm. It has a fuel capacity of 12.8 litres and a double-cradle, steel frame. Last year, Honda's Middle East sales hit 40,000, the company said.
The company saw its regional sales increase by 18 per cent in 2008 to 58,640. Its sales were 3.78 million worldwide, a slight increase from 3.76 million in 2007.
By Nadia Saleem
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
