Yesterday, KGP spy photos of this vehicle appeared all over the web. Not one to be outdone, Brenda set her team on the task of getting their own shots, and their efforts have paid off.

I've seen a lot of comments questioning how anybody knows it's even a Honda or Acura vehicle. Besides saying "we know it when we see it", the vehicle captured in Brenda's shots clearly has '3421' California number plates on it. In other words, it's DEFINITELY an American Honda/Acura vehicle.

I don't know much about this vehicle, but as you may recall, months nearly a year ago we received a tip concerning a new crossover coming to the Acura lineup. Many folks dismissed these rumors as poppycock, but these photos lend a lot of credence to those whispers. (On a side note, I stand by the comments I made in that news item, and in fact, I would say my feelings are probably even stronger on that topic today) Furthermore, Acura executives have been stating that there will be something new from Acura appearing every 6 months for a long time coming, and there's only so many FMCs and MMCs possible for 5 models. Indeed, dealers have been told that several new nameplates will be added to the lineup in the near future. Just this week, Dan Bonawitz was quoted by Kathy Jackson of Automotive News as stating that a new model is coming in 2010.

UPDATE: According to one of our readers, in a February 2008 story published on WardsAuto.com, John Watts (Acura's head of product planning) was quoted by Christie Schweinsberg as saying that Acura was looking at adding another CUV product. His key quote: “I think there is a need in the market for a (vehicle geared toward the) Baby-Boomer audience that’s moving out of a large SUV and looking for something a little bit more personal,” John Watts, manager-Acura product planning.

Here's text that Brenda sent with the pics:

Caught: 2010 Acura Sport CUV In typical Acura fashion, early prototypes are often tested only after dark, and this crossover was no exception. This still-unnamed prototype was spotted for the first time this week, and witnesses are speculating - contrary to the camouflaged disguise - that this will have so-called coupe-like styling. We believe this CUV may be riding on the same chassis as the freshly-debuted 2009 TL. This would probably mean similar, if not identical, powertrain setups. More details are surely to follow soon, as daytime photos are inevitable.

Last edited by JeffX on August 06, 2008 12:16