By Bruce Hubbard
Bonnie Lynch
Brad Hubbard
Auto Advisor Group
Honda Unveils 2013 Accord Coupe Concept
All-new Accord will feature next-generation powertrain
technologies,
class-leading fuel economy plus innovative safety and
technology features
The 2013 Accord will feature
three all-new powertrains, including the first U.S. application of both a
2.4-liter direct-injected engine and two-motor plug-in hybrid system from Honda’s
suite of next-generation Earth Dreams™ powertrain technologies. In addition,
the V-6 Accord will be the first Honda sedan to feature a new 6-speed automatic
transmission. Both the Accord Sedan and the Accord Coupe models are expected to
achieve class-leading fuel economy ratings and will be available with a number
of innovative new safety and technological features.
“Marking the 30th
anniversary of U.S. production, this new ninth-generation Accord will raise the
bar again through a tour de force of new Honda powertrain and safety
technologies, geared to ensure that Honda and the Accord continue to lead in
fuel economy, safety and fun-to-drive performance,” said John Mendel, executive
vice president of sales for American Honda.
The Accord Coupe Concept
features an athletic styling direction for Honda’s best-selling model. The
front bumper’s dynamic lines are highlighted by a revised four-sided honeycomb
grille and deeply set multi-reflector headlights. Lower fog-light spoilers are
accented by crystallized chrome inlays.
The Accord Coupe Concept’s
20-inch, machine-finished, 5-spoke wheels contribute to its solid stance. The
rear taillights aggressively sweep into the body, while a trunk -lid spoiler
and large exhaust finishers integrated into the bumper underscore the Accord
Coupe Concept’s muscular exterior.
While the Accord Coupe
will remain similarly sized, the Accord Sedan will feature a more compact
exterior footprint, adding to its sportier appearance. A shortened length and
reduced weight will also give the 2013 Accord Sedan more responsive handling
and improved driving dynamics. Both the 2013 Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe will
retain the current model’s generous cabin space.
The
Accord will offer three all-new powertrains for the 2013 model year. The Accord
Sedan and Accord Coupe will be the first models in the U.S. to receive the new Earth
Dreams 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® four-cylinder engine
featuring direct- injection (DI). The engine will be paired to a 6-speed manual
transmission or a new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which utilizes
an innovative cooperative control system for excellent acceleration and
responsive shifting. The all-new 2.4-liter DI engine generates significant
performance improvements compared to the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine it
replaces, producing more than 181 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. In
addition to an overall improvement in fuel economy compared to the 2012 model,
the new four-cylinder-equipped 2013 Accord models are targeted to deliver
class-leading fuel economy.
The
2013 Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe will also be offered with a re-engineered 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC,
i-VTEC V-6 engine, paired to a new
6-speed automatic transmission or an available 6-speed manual transmission. The
new V-6 engine generates an increase in horsepower and torque over the current
model. The 2013 Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe models equipped with the 6-speed
automatic transmission will utilize Honda Variable Cylinder Management ™
(VCM™) technology and are targeted to achieve class-leading fuel
economy1 along with an overall improvement in fuel economy compared
to the outgoing model.
The
2013 Accord lineup will also feature the first application of a new two-motor
plug-in hybrid system to the Accord Sedan. The Honda two-motor hybrid system
moves continuously through three modes - all-electric, gasoline-electric and
direct-drive - to maximize driving efficiency and fuel economy.
In
all-electric mode, the 2013 Accord Plug-In Hybrid will use a 6 kilowatt-hour
lithium-ion battery and a powerful 120 kW electric motor to achieve an
all-electric range of approximately 10-15 miles in city driving scenarios and a
top speed of 62 mph. Fully recharging the battery will take less than four hours
using a 120-volt, outlet and less than 1.5 hours using a 240-volt charger.
In
the gasoline-electric hybrid mode, the Accord is powered by its fuel-efficient
2.0-liter, i-VTEC inline four-cylinder, Atkinson cycle engine, paired with an
electric Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT). For more efficient
high-speed cruising, the Accord Plug-In Hybrid can engage in a direct-drive
mode, in which only the engine drives the front wheels. The Accord Plug-In
Hybrid will launch next winter.
All 2013 Accord models
will incorporate the Honda ECO Assist™ system, an innovative
technology that can enhance efficient vehicle operation at the touch of a
button, while also providing visual feedback to the driver to promote and
confirm a more efficient driving style.
Honda states that the 2013 Accord will
introduce numerous new features for enhanced driver safety, visibility and
security. The new Accord will be available with Honda’s first application of
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward Crash Warning (FCW) technology. Both
systems use a camera mounted behind the windshield to alert drivers if the car
is moving out of its lane or to warn drivers of a potential collision in front
of them. The 2013 Accord will be
the first Honda model to apply a side curtain airbag with a wider deployment profile
to enhance ejection mitigation. This application is two years in advance of new
safety regulations going into effect in 2015.
The 2013 Accord is
targeted to earn top scores in both the federal government’s New Car Assessment
Program (NCAP) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety2 (IIHS) vehicle evaluations.
Additionally, the Accord
will be equipped with several new technologies to help improve the driver’s visibility
around the vehicle. The Accord will be the first model to receive the
Honda-exclusive LaneWatch™ blind-spot display, which uses a camera
system mounted on the passenger mirror for an enhanced view of the passenger-side
roadway. The Accord will also receive a rearview back-up camera and an Expanded
View Driver’s Mirror as standard equipment.
The Accord has always been
an exceptional value and the 2013 model will offer more standard equipment compared
to the current model, including new advanced technology features. High-tech
features that will be found on all 2013 Accord models include Bluetooth
HandsFreeLink phone interface, a full-color intelligent Multi-Information
Display (i-MID) and an SMS text messaging function, which can read received texts
from compatible cell phones aloud over the audio system. Another standard
feature and first for the Accord is the introduction of a Pandora
Internet Radio interface, compatible with the Apple
iPhone, which works with the vehicle's audio controls and i-MID.
The Honda Accord,
currently in its eighth generation, is one of Honda's best-selling vehicles
worldwide and remains one of the top-selling automobiles in the U.S. The Accord
was launched in 1976 with subsequent major re-designs in 1982, 1986, 1990,
1994, 1998, 2003 and 2008. More than 11 million Accords have been sold in the
U.S. since 1976.
Since
its introduction nearly 36 years ago, the Accord has been honored for its
quality, reliability and superior drivability. Car and Driver magazine has awarded the Honda
Accord its prestigious and highly competitive annual ‘10Best Cars’ award a
record 26 times. No other vehicle in the award’s history has been honored as frequently
as the Accord. The Accord was also recognized for the highest initial quality
in the mid-size sedan segment in the 2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey.
In 2012, Honda will
celebrate 30 years of Accord production in the U.S. The first Accord Sedan rolled
off the Marysville, Ohio assembly line on November 1, 1982 and was the first
Japanese-nameplate car assembled in the U.S. Honda stated to us that more than eight
million Accords have been produced at Honda’s first U.S. auto plant
in Marysville, Ohio.
Cannot wait to test a production version.
Bruce Hubbard
Brad Hubbard
Bonnie Lynch
Auto Advisor Group
bh.autoadvisorgroup@gmail.com
brucehubbard@earthlink.net
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