The heavily taped-up car you see here is reportedly the next-generation Acura TSX, which, like its predecessor, will also be sold in Europe as the Honda Accord. It features a much more rounded rear end than the current TSX, possibly inspired by the new U.S. Accord.



The front end has been redesigned to comply with new pedestrian impact standards. The heavily camouflaged car also looks to be sporting a completely redesigned grille, with the badge and chrome strip now running across the top instead of down the middle.

The current 2.4-liter four will continue to soldier on, though Honda reportedly will give mill a good massaging to the tune of an additional 20-30 horsepower, up from the present car's 205 horses. A six-speed manual and five-speed auto will likely remain as the two gearbox choices. A spicier Type S variant -- powered by a 260 horsepower version of the RDX crossover's 2.3-liter turbo four -- is expected as well. There's also an outside chance that the TSX will receive the Honda's new clean diesel engine at some point.



A pre-production concept of the European Accord's wagon variant -- which probably won't be seen on this side of the Atlantic -- was unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show and is shown here. The European Accord sedan is scheduled to be unveiled in March at the Geneva Motor Show, with production expected to begin toward the end of next year. Look for the next-gen TSXs to begin arriving in Acura's U.S. showrooms in the spring or early summer of 2009.