China-Only Honda Crider Sedan Debuts

Honda Motor Co. has begun selling the Crider family sedan, its first model designed specifically for the Chinese market.

The heavily sculpted car is virtually identical to the concept version Honda unveiled in April at the Shanghai auto show. The car fits into the company's lineup between the smaller Civic and larger Accord sedan.

Honda says it developed the Crider (rhymes with "rider") to appeal to customers born in the 1980s. The company describes the exterior as "inspired by an image of a dragon."

Honda said previously it intends to introduce five China-specific models over the next three years in a bid to double annual sales in that country to 1.3 million vehicles by 2015.