Acura Confirms Acura TSX Sport Wagon for 2011

From the very first picture that Honda Motor Company showed of its 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour, there were many questions as to why it didn’t just bring the European Accord station wagon over. As it turns out, that wagon is being brought over to the United States after all, but like the European Accord sedan, it will be joining Honda’s luxury division as the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon. Going up against vehicles such as the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and the BMW 328i Sports Wagon, the all-new Acura TSX Sport Wagon will join the Acura lineup in the fall of 2010.

Following its complete saturation of the crossover segment, including the Accord Crosstour and the 2010 Acura ZDX, Honda is finally going to offer a station wagon in the U.S. for the first time since 1997. Like the BMW 3 Series wagon and the all-new Cadillac CTS wagon, the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon is designed to deliver superior driving dynamics as well as a sportier styling. With its firmer suspension tuning (compared to the standard North American Honda Accord) and electric power steering system, the TSX wagon should offer nimble handling in tight corners with four-wheel disc brakes for ample stopping force. The weight of the two-box configuration should not add too much more to the 2010 TSX’s 3,680-pound top curb weight.

As shown in the Autotropolis rendering above, other than the addition of Acura signature cues (mainly the identifiable grille), the overall styling of the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon will be almost identical to the European Accord Tourer as will the size. Comparing width, wheelbase and overall length between the current TSX sedan and the 2011 TSX wagon, the only difference is that the wagon is a half longer in overall length. The station wagon design creates a more spacious, versatile cabin, but Acura has to release any interior or cargo volume figures.

Inside, the TSX Sport Wagon will come with a host of high-tech features expected from the luxury division, but expect the wagon to come with a slightly higher MSRP than the TSX sedan which starts at $29,310 for 2010. Similar to the TSX sedan, the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon will most likely come with standard cabin equipment that includes Bluetooth connectivity, XM radio, perforated leather sport seats and a seven-speaker, 360-watt audio system with an iPod-compatible USB port. Rearview camera, navigation and voice recognition will all be optional as part of the Technology Package.

While the powertrain options used in the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon haven’t been released, we expect them to match the current 2010 Acura TSX sedan. The base 2010 TSX uses a 2.4-liter i-VTEC DOHC inline-4 that produces 201 horsepower and is paired up with either a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, while the upgraded TSX engine is the 3.5-liter VTEC SOHC V-6 that produces 280 horsepower and is paired up with only the five-speed automatic.

Before minivans, station wagons were the ideal transportation of families, but like the recent backlash against minivans in recent years, the last 20 years hasn’t been kind to station wagons. With the overwhelming popularity of crossovers, it now seems that station wagons are the becoming the “non-crossover” option (albeit in relatively low volumes) for consumers who are looking to stand out from the crowd. It is no coincidence that Cadillac and Acura first bolstered their mainstream crossover lineup before offering a station wagon nor is it a coincidence that both wagons are derived from successful sport sedans. Many have voiced their desires for European-tuned station wagons here in the U.S. (especially in place of the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour), so it will be interesting to see if the Crosstour critics will actually buy the TSX Sport Wagon. Only time will tell.

Select photos by Jeffrey N. Ross