NEXT time you spot a kestrel hovering keen-eyed over a field, golf course or rubbish tip, think of the Honda Accord Tourer.
Can't work out the connection. No, nor me.
Truth though is that designs can be influenced by some surprising criteria.
Take the Honda Accord. Target reference for the Tourer's stylists was a falcon in flight - "dauntless appearance of the head, wings that evoke power and speed, body with a strong sense of solidity and a smoothly extended rear end."
Conjures up the streamlined vision of the consummate estate, doesn't it?
Well being absolutely honest, the Accord is the closest thing yet to the perfect load-lugger, though not for the above reasons.
To my mind the car's only drawback is its shape - very long with a bluff tailgate, yet high-waisted and hearse-like due to shallow windows and a virtually flat roofline.
Otherwise this a car that, excuse the pun, ticks all the right boxes.
It's not a saloon with an extra bit shoved on the end, nor a so-called lifestyle vehicle with an array of gimmicky twists. Instead it's a car that provides warehouse amounts of space, freed up in a practical manner.
That's down to the 'one-motion' single-action rear seats that come as standard in all Accord Tourers. There's nothing fiddly and the mechanism works a treat.
Just pull the lever on top of the seatback, gently push the chair forward and the headrest tilts away while the cushion hops out to lie flush against the front seats. Simple, effective and the expansion of an already vast boot. And if that's still not enough, well there's also an underfloor storage area with locking lid and a spring hinge.
The tailgate, too, is blessed with one-touch simplicity. It opens and closes automatically at the touch of a key button and if that seems extravagent, it's nonethless very useful - especially if you're loaded with shopping in a wet car park.
At present just two engines are available in the Tourer - 2.0 and 2.4-litre petrol units, though diesel derivatives are due in the spring.
The tested 2.4 version, which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, is a real free-spinner with excellent pulling power at low and medium engine speeds.
It's nicely designed inside, has a slick gearshift while the adoption of an electronically controlled 'drive-by-wire' throttle ensures smooth responses to driver input.
All Accords come with dual zone climate control air-con, while a comprehensive safety package sees the front and side airbags now complemented by curtain bags.
It's shape apart, if there's a criticism of the Accord Tourer then this concerns the comfort for the centre rear passenger. Legroom is fine, but the 'crowned' seating position is hardly ideal.
FAST FACTS
Honda Accord Tourer 2.4 Type S
Price: £20,095 on the road
Mechanical: 190bhp, 2,354cc i-VTEC petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 138mph
0-62mph: 8.4 secs
Combined mpg: 29.1
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 230g/km
BiK rating: 30%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 90,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 6yrs corrosion; 3yrs AA.