It's whoa for Honda's Euro wagon

HONDA may yet introduce a wagon version of its next-generation Accord Euro to Australia.

Although the Japanese car-maker is officially saying no to the 2008 model, hopes are still alive within the organisation that the stylish medium-sized load carrier may eventually be imported.

“There is still an opportunity,” revealed Honda Australia managing director and CEO Yasuhide Mizuno.

Dubbed the Tourer and due to be introduced at next week’s Geneva motor show, the four-door wagon version of the Accord Euro will only be built at Honda’s UK plant in Swindon.

Honda Australia senior director Lindsay Smalley told journalists at the launch of the eighth-generation Accord sedan that there are no plans to introduce the Euro wagon to Australia.

He cited unfavourable exchange rates and a very small market for premium wagons as the chief reasons why Australia will only get the sedan model for the time being.

Mr Mizuno backed this up by saying that Honda’s research has revealed that, at the moment, there is not enough demand to justify the expense of bringing the Euro wagon from England.

“According to our investigations, profit projections would be too small and we couldn’t make money on it,” Mr Mizuno lamented.

“Believe me, we have studied it,” he added.

However, Mr Mizuno will not close the door on the Tourer completely.

“I can see some potential. I can see a small market,” he continued.

Honda Australia may wait and see how sales for the Tourer pan out across Europe over the next 12 months or so, to see how well consumers accept it.

It appears that if there is an excess of supply, Honda in Europe and Honda Australia may then be able to come to some sort of arrangement for the price of the Tourer to be more affordable.

Adding extra sales to the Tourer’s mix should also help Honda of Europe recoup some of the money spent in the development of the wagon.

“The Accord Euro (wagon) needs some right-hand drive friends, for amortisation,” Mr Mizuno revealed.

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