Acura will join the fight on the market with wagon version of the TSX sedan
By Steph, 28 Dec, 2010. 0 Comments
2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon
Acura is offering a wagon version of the TSX sedan for 2011. Wagons actually have a very small share of the near-luxury segment in the U.S. and not many automakers produce them. According to Steve Center, American Honda Motor Co.'s chief marketing officer, the wagon is an alternative to SUVs but “without the girth or the stigma and with all the utility.”
Basically, the wagon is a sheet metal extension of the sedan. It has the same hard points as the sedan and even the seating locations are identical. Because of this, the extension goes entirely into the cargo area. Notably, the TSX gives up four inches of wheelbase to the Audi A4 Avant wagon, but the Acura is four inches longer overall.
As a result, the TSX has a slightly hobby-horse appearance when compared to the wheels-in-the-corners design of its German counterpart. In addition, the cargo-carrying capacity of the TSX Sport Wagon is nearly identical to its RDX crossover cousin, with rear seats up or down. With seats down, the TSX's flat floor is longer than that of the RDX, making a mountain bike fit easily. The model also has several hidden cubbyholes where the owner can hide valuable items.
The TSX wagon is 130 pounds heavier than its sedan cousin but it does well at maintaining road stability even if it had to compromise its torsional rigidity compared to that of an open cargo area. Acura engineers were also able to isolate the road noise that is often heard in the cabin from the cargo area. The TSX wagon offers the following features as standard: moonroof, roof rails, high-intensity headlights, Bluetooth, satellite radio, USB jack and heated leather seats with memory. [via autonews - sub. required]
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