Early look: Honda Pilot prototype

December12

Honda has released a sketch of its Pilot prototype ahead of the SUV's debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Like the automaker did last year with the Accord Coupe Concept, look for the Pilot prototype to be very close to the production model.

No details were released with the sketch, but next-generation Pilot will take on a more rugged SUV look. Honda says the Pilot "will emphasize authentic SUV styling, clever interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience."
The Pilot's eight-passenger seating is expected to be retained in the next iteration.
Spy photographers spotted a Pilot prototype out testing earlier this year.


Source: http://www.leftlanenews.com/honda-pilot-future.html

Honda Accord Review

I remember sitting in a park with my father a quarter-century ago, pointing at a nearby car. "What do you think that is?" "A BMW?" Nope, but his guess was not without reason. The second-generation Accord lifted more than a few design cues from the storied German marque. The 1982 sedan was also notable for its astounding attention to detail, compactness and efficiency. For those "in the know," the Accord revealed Detroit's sedans as over-sized, over-powered and indelicate. Now that Honda's eighth-generation Accord faces a supposedly chastened Detroit, does the new model maintain the mechanical high ground?

The new Honda Accord is 20 inches longer, eight inches wider, four inches taller and 1,000 pounds heavier than the motor my father misidentified. In other words, it's larger and heavier than the '80's Detroit iron reviled by Honda's early fans. And yet the Accord has come full circle. After years of increasingly bland styling, the ubiquitous sedan once again begs to be mistaken for a BMW.

Looking at the new Accord from the rear three-quarter perspective, clocking the C-pillar kink and the wrap-around taillights (that continue to the roofline's down-sweep), it's a dead ringer for the current BMW 5-Series. From other perspectives, the Honda's design is less derivative– and less eye-catching. This despite a swage line slicing downwards from the rear and a bit of Bimmeresque flame surfacing. A distinctly un-Honda abundance of front overhang does nothing for the proportions.

Still, overall, mission accomplished. The new Honda Accord looks much more expensive than both its predecessor and its classmates.

Inside, the Accord's instrument panel sweeps across the cabin like a 5-Series' dash. Unfortunately, this aesthetic "homage" extends to the Accord's ergonomics. The new controls are just as complex as any Bimmer's, with more buttons than a professional seamstress AND a large iDrive-inspired eight-way knob. So much for "We make it simple."  The Accord's front seats are well shaped for both comfort and [a modicum of] lateral support, especially when clad with grippy cloth. Thanks to the supersized external dimensions, the enlarged cabin is roomy enough for four Big and Tall preferred customers. The Accord's rear seat folds in a single section to expand a class-trailing trunk; unusually intrusive rear strut towers defeat the purpose of a 60/40 split.

The 1982 Accord was motivated by a mere 75 horsepower. For years Honda refused to offer a V6 as a matter of principle. Gen 8 Accord buyers can still opt for a four-cylinder engine, with either 177 horses ( LX) or 190hp (EX). That's plenty of poke for a family runabout, right? Wrong. Pitted against the upsized Accord's 3,433-pound curb weight (EX-L with autobox), the four pot must rev its little 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC® heart out to get the job done. The resulting 21/31 EPA ratings aren't class-leading.

Enter the new 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6. Hello cubes, goodbye revs. Needless to say, the extra displacement works wonders in the oomph department, with minimal torque steer. The six may not deliver neck-snapping thrills or sing a lusty long, but it's a refined piece that engenders mindless merging and perspiration-free passing.

These powerplants deserve better partners. When hooked up to either engine, the still-five-speed automatic didn't behave well. It occasionally held a gear too long, or refused to downshift, or bumped when going from gear to gear. Maybe the transmissions needed more miles to adapt to my driving style. Maybe not. Fancy manually shifting the recalcitrant slushbox instead? Buy an Acura.

Though the Accord's steering feels nicely weighted and precise, the suspension is tuned for touring, not sport. Going around curves, the double wishbones deliver most of the solid, tightly damped and thoroughly composed feel of a BMW– without the Bavarian's sporting edge. Many competitors offer the option of firmer suspension tuning, but Honda doesn't believe in options. The Accord's suspension settings are a deft compromise between comfort and control. It is, nevertheless, a compromise. Enthusiasts will not be well satisfied; everyone else will be.

The Accord's soft-core suspension settings does have its advantages: banishing the bump-thump busyness that sometimes afflicted the previous Accord on patchy pavement. There's still more road noise than you'll find in some Accord alteratives, but it's much less pronounced than in many past Hondas.

The new Honda Accord is an impressive piece of automotive artistry. It's well-built, roomy, properly-priced and (with the V6) powerful. It raises Honda's trademark refinement to a new level, with much of the look and some of the feel of a base BMW 5-Series.

But part of the Accord's appeal used to lie in Honda's idiosyncratic insistence on engineering cars that followed the "man maximum, machine minimum" philosophy. The new Accord is large and in charge, but in seeking to provide a 5er for the masses Honda has forsaken much of the formula that earned the model its place in American automotive history.

Source: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=5455

2009 Nissan Murano SUV Sucking The World

As a lot of Nissan cars lover come to my site from the google keywords "2009 Nissan Murano" search, I noticed that the 2009 Nissan Murano SUV is hot all over the world.

But 2009 Nissan Murano SUV is really to go out? No one can say "yes", as nothing leak from the Nissan Corp. official. Batch rumor of 2009 Nissan Murano SUV is spreading around the world. Even the Renault Koleos Concept is taken as the 2009 Nissan Murano SUV, Lol...

On Yahoo Answers, some said that, the Nissan Murano will be replaced by the Nissan Rogue in 2008, which is another Nissan's Crossover SUV, competing against with the Nissan Murano.

The All-New Nissan Rogue crossover had been released before, having intuitive all-wheel drive, smart storage, and a steet savvy 27mpg, with starting price at $19,250.

Source: http://horisly.blogspot.com/2007/09/2009-nissan-murano-suv-sucking-world.html

How the public, not SUVs, screwed up the idea of hybrids

The public is right to be upset to find that hybrids don't automatically improve mileage by 20 MPG. Most hybrids now, compared with the market just a few years ago, are a bunch of SUVs with only slight improvements in mileage and very high annual fuel costs. The SUV fad began dying, so SUV makers looked to cost cuts, switched to crossovers, and added hybrid systems to hang on for dear life. We'll see how much they tarnish the public's perception of hybrids in the future.

The excerpt above pretty much summarizes this recent post from AutoblogGreen. They were covering an ABC News story which notes that the annual cost of hybrids (i.e. fuel cost) is rising. Both ABC News and ABG take it upon themselves to blame SUVs.

I have no love for SUVs, which is a whole other topic, but to condemn auto manufacturers for introducing "hybrids" which don't get as high gas mileage as the Prius et al? That's downright ludicrous.

They note that since 2000, the annual fuel costs of hybrids have gone up. This is due to the use of hybrid technology in pre-existing cars, resulting in a product that wasn't fuel efficiency-designed from the ground up and generally just has an electric motor slapped into the mix. While in examples like GM full-size trucks this is just a bid to get a few points higher MPG, in others like the Saturn Aura it is an attempt to introduce hybrid technology to a new low in starting price. Regardless of the product, the bottom line is that hybrid technology increases fuel efficiency and that despite whatever motivation the manufacturer might have had, it is a step in the right direction.

Instead of blaming auto companies for introducing "hybrids" that don't get elevnty-billion MPG like the Toyota Prius or Honda Insight, and thus "tarnish the public's perception of hybrids in the future," the public needs to take responsibility for knowing products before they buy. The public needs to know that the Honda Accord Hybrid, while not selling well and being discontinued after 2007, gave you the fuel economy of a compact four-cylinder car in a mid-size sedan with 255HP. The Ford Escape Hybrid gives you a mid-size SUV with gas mileage better than most sedans. GM is showing huge commitment to many forms of green auto technology, from offering the first semi-hybrid system on a full-size pickup truck to making strong pushes for E85 to offering hybrid technology (albeit not as efficient as Toyota's more expensive systems) at a new low price point.

If the public knew that and realized that today's hybrids are just a stepping stone to more efficient transportation, they might get off their keisters and pay more attention to something other than a keyword about the product they may buy - "hybrid."

Source: http://supplespub.com/rants/2007-09-26/how-the-public-not-suvs-screwed-up-the-idea-of-hybrids/

Rube Goldberg Lives

Actually, he doesn't. But his Spirit Lives On.

He would have loved this video.Wikipedia

Reuben Garret L. Goldberg (July 4, 1883 - December 7, 1970) was an American cartoonist. He earned lasting fame for his Rube Goldberg machines (complex devices that perform simple tasks in indirect and convoluted ways.)

Goldberg went to Lowell High School in San Francisco in 1900 and earned a degree in engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1904. After college, Goldberg was hired by the city of San Francisco as an engineer. However, his fondness for drawing cartoons prevailed, and after just a few months he quit the city job for a job with the San Francisco Chronicle as a sports cartoonist. The following year, he took a job with the San Francisco Bulletin, where he remained until he moved to New York City in 1907.

He drew cartoons for several newspapers, including the New York Evening Journal and the New York Evening Mail. His work entered syndication in 1915, beginning his nationwide popularity. A prolific artist, Goldberg produced several cartoon series simultaneously; titles included Mike and Ike, Boob McNutt, Foolish Questions, Lala Palooza, and The Weekly Meeting of the Tuesday Women's Club.

While these series were quite popular, the one leading to his lasting fame involved a character named Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts. In this series, Goldberg would draw labeled schematics of comical "inventions" which would later bear his name. In 1995, "Rube Goldberg's Inventions", depicting Professor Butts' Self-Operating Napkin, was one of 20 strips included in the Comic Strip Classics series of commemorative U.S. postage stamps. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his political cartooning in 1948.This... massively expensive commercial which took something like 600+ takes...

Is the epitome of a Rube Goldberg Machine. Enjoy.

Updated:

YouTube - World's Costliest Ad... after 606 takes

When the ad was pitched to senior executives, they signed off on it immediately without any hesitation - including the costs. There are six, and only six, hand-made Honda Accords in the world. To the horror of Honda engineers, the filmmakers disassembled two of them to make this film.

There are no computer graphics or digital tricks in the film. Everything you see really happened in real time, exactly as you see it. The film took 606 takes. On the first 605 takes, something, usually very minor, didn't work. They would then have to set the whole thing up again.

The crew spent weeks shooting night and day. By the time it was over, they were ready to change professions. The film cost six million dollars and took three months to complete including full engineering of the sequence.

In addition, it is two minutes long so every time Honda airs the film on British television, they're shelling out enough dough to keep any one of us in clover for a lifetime. However, it is fast becoming the most downloaded advertisement in Internet history. Honda executives figure the ad will soon pay for itself simply in "free viewings" (Honda isn't paying a dime to have you watch this commercial!).

Everything you see in the film (aside from the walls, floor, ramp and complete Honda Accord) is parts from those two cars. The voice-over is Garrison Keillor. When the ad was shown to Honda executives, they liked it and commented on how amazing computer graphics have gotten.

They fell off their chairs when they found out it was for real... oh no J. And how about those funky windshield wipers...?? On the new Accords, the windshield wipers have water sensors and are designed to start doing their thing automatically... as soon as they become wet. It looks a bit weird in the commercial.

At cost of $6.2 million for 90-sec commercial, this is world's costliest ad and hands down winner in the world of ads.


Source: http://www.groupnewsblog.net/2007/09/rube-goldberg-lives.html

Honda 2008 Accord

But only a concept. However, the problem is not in Europe-new Accord will be on sale as early as the middle of next year, and addressed to the Frankfurt prototype (by the way, with the body Wagon) will be different from the serial version is likely only minor details.

True, the image of the Japanese cable car and yet no one gives. But, as you can guess, "our" Accord will be similar to that of American shildikami. It will lower wider and shorter, and design will become more aggressive.

Moreover, it is possible that the new generation Accord will be "intelligent" peeping transmission SH-AWD as the Legend sedan. And his design at the time we reminded shown in Tokyo Sports4 concept.
gmc chicago dealer
Honda Blog


Source: http://hondacar-x.blogspot.com/2007/09/honda-2008-accord.html

Frankfurt Preview: Mazda keeps the focus on low weight with new 6

The new generation Mazda6 will be debuting next week in Frankfurt and the Japanese brand wants to keep their "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" strategy going. Like the subcompact Mazda2 that came out Geneva, Mazda has made weight reduction a major part of their design vision for the new car. Taking the opposite tack of the new Honda Accord, the Mazda6 will be lighter than the current model and have lower fuel consumption. All car companies need to putting effort into weight reduction since that is one of the reasons for ever more powerful engines. Keep the mass down and performance and handling both improve without sacrificing efficiency.

[Source: Mazda]
Mazda continues Lightweight Strategy
with All-New Mazda6

Leverkusen, 6th September 2007. At this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, Mazda Motor Corporation will underscore its "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" vision for developing technologies that have less impact on the environment. Taking centre stage is the world premiere of the all-new Mazda6, which continues Mazda's lightweight strategy. It is slightly lighter, uses less fuel and produces less CO2 than its predecessor.

The all-new Mazda2 – the first model to break the upward spiral of ever-heavier cars – is also lighter, more frugal and produces far lower CO2 emissions than the previous model. In Frankfurt, Mazda introduces the diesel version of the all-new Mazda2.

The best proof of Mazda's daring, innovative spirit is the rotary engine. Mazda will celebrate the 40th anniversary of this unique technology in Frankfurt with the presentation of a Special Edition RX-8.

The Frankfurt Motor Show press days are on the 11th and 12th September. The public days are the 15th – 23rd September. Mazda will unveil the all–new Mazda6 during its press conference on Tuesday, 11th September, at 13:45, at the Mazda stand, which is No. 3.1 A08 in Hall 3.1.


Source: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/06/frankfurt-preview-mazda-keeps-the-focus-on-low-weight-with-new/

New Honda Accord hoping to sell over 400000 of these flagship cars

Japanese automaker Honda are hoping that their new flagship 2008 Honda Accord will help them achieve a milestone which is to sell over 400,000 a year of their luxury sedan and coupe cars something which they have not be able to do since the 2001 model. Honda are hoping that the bigger will be better with the new 2008 Honda Accord, the car has more horsepower, a larger interior and Accord designers have giving the vehicle a more aggressive look.

Since 2004 the sales of the Honda Accord have slumped, in that year sales feel by at least 3.1 percent, in 2005 the sales dropped to 4.2 percent, and then last year in 2006 the sales of the Honda Accord fell 3.7 percent so the automaker really need the 2008 Honda Accord to revive this once great model.

Honda only managed to sell 354,441 units last year, but last year's car was a designed way back in 2003 so the 2008 Accord has been a long time coming for Honda.

Source: http://www.product-reviews.net/2007/08/27/new-honda-accord-hoping-to-sell-over-400000-of-these-flagship-cars/

2008 Accord only in 6 states

On a recent run from Boston to Cape Cod, I test drove the 2008 Honda Accord, the latest version of this family favorite. The new Accord boasts an environmental first: a six-cylinder gasoline engine that's cleaner than many hybrid systems.
There's only one catch: You can't actually buy this ultra-green Accord, or the four-cylinder version that also produces near-zero pollution. That is, unless you live in California, New York or six other northeast states that follow California's tougher pollution rules. Only there can you buy this Accord, or the roughly two dozen other models that meet so-called Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle standards, PZEV for short.

Not only can't you buy one, but the government says it's currently illegal for automakers to sell these green cars outside of the special states. Under terms of the Clean Air Act—in the kind of delicious irony only our government can pull off—anyone (dealer, consumer, automaker) involved in an out-of-bounds PZEV sale could be subject to civil fines of up to $27,500. Volvo sent its dealers a memo alerting them to this fact, noting that its greenest S40 and V50 models were only for the special states.
So, just how green is a PZEV machine? Well, if you just cut your lawn with a gas mower, congratulations, you just put out more pollution in one hour than these cars do in 2,000 miles of driving. Grill a single juicy burger, and you've cooked up the same hydrocarbon emissions as a three-hour drive in a Ford Focus PZEV. As the California Air Resources Board has noted, the tailpipe emissions of these cars can be cleaner than the outside air in smoggy cities.
That's amazing stuff. But what's more amazing is how few people have a clue that the gas-powered, internal combustion engine could ever be this clean.
Naturally, no company wants to bring too much attention to a car that most people can't buy, unless it's Ferrari. And there's the catch. PZEV models are already available from Toyota, Ford, Honda, GM, Subaru, Volvo and VW. They're scrubbed-up versions of familiar models, from the VW Jetta to the Subaru Outback. But chances are, you've never heard of them.
These cars aren't the only green leaf that's being dangled over our heads. The sweet-looking, sporty-handling Nissan Altima Hybrid borrows its hybrid system from the Toyota Camry, and sipped fuel at 32 mpg during my week-long test drive here in New York. But once again, if you'd love to buy the Nissan and burn less fuel, you're out of luck—unless you live in California or the Northeast.
Read more about "green" gasoline-powered vehicles
It's not all the fault of the car companies. The crazy quilt of environmental regulations is forcing carmakers to design and build two versions of the same cars. And it costs real money to make a car this green. So in states where there are no regulations to force their hand,automakers don't want to have to boost their prices for the green versions—or to simply eat the extra cost and make less profit.
Honda appears to be doing just that. It currently charges Californians and other green-staters about $150 extra for these solid-citizen models. But experts suggest that it costs carmakers closer to $400 a pop to install the gear.
Another issue: The PZEV cars don't get any better mileage than conventional versions. Would most self-interested Americans even pay a lousy 100 bucks for cleaner air that doesn't put fuel savings back in their pocket? "With hybrids, the selling point is fuel economy, so there's a dollar amount on that," said William Walton, Honda's product planning chief for U.S. cars. "We want to give people the cleanest vehicles we can produce, but how much are people willing to pay for clean air?"
Message Board: Would you pay more for clean air? Voice your opinion!
Then again, so what if Honda or others lose a few million at first? Toyota clearly went into the red on every Prius it sold in the early years, but shrewdly viewed that cash as an investment to create buzz and build a loyal following. Today, Toyota dealers can barely keep the Prius in stock—and the company has surrounded itself with a green halo that's priceless.
As often as automakers express envy and resentment over Toyota's image, you might think Honda would be filming TV ads, erecting billboards, shouting from rooftops that the Accord is the world's cleanest six-cylinder car. In the green game that Toyota has played like a chess master, it seems like this is a lost opportunity for Honda, Nissan and the rest to siphon off some of Toyota's goodwill.
So give Honda's talented engineers credit for this clean-burning Accord. But give its marketing department a big, smoggy raspberry for keeping it a virtual secret—and keeping it off-limits to buyers in 42 states.

Source: http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2087444

Road & Track Picks Its Five Best 2008 Cars (Part 1)

The editors and test drivers for Road & Track have hundred of new vehicles pass through their assessment radar each year. The publication's staff knows what it's doing and it's been doing it for a long time.

I don't always with the publication — its places a large importance on speed. But the clout the publication has, and it recently picked its top-five 2008 cars — gee, about four months before the year starts.

Road  & Track's top-five cars for 2008 and a brief capsule of Road & Track assessment of each car: Audi R8, BMW 1 Series, Dodge Viper SRT 10, Honda Accord, Volvo C30

Audi R8

" . . . With its light aluminum space frame and the aid of four driven wheels, the R8 makes the most of its 4.2-liter aluminum-block V-8, delivering its 420 bhp through either a conventional gated 6-speed manual transmission or Audi's 6-speed R tronic, a paddle-shifted automated manual gearbox. With the manual, the R8 is capable of a 4.0-second blast to 60 mph.

Visually, the R8 is a stunner. Low-slung and curvaceous, the R8 shows off its engine through the rear glass, à la Ferrari F430, and sets off the air intakes aft of the doors with what Audi calls "sideblades," panels that can be finished in either body color or a contrasting hue.

Honda Accord

" . . . Although they share the same name, the coupe version of the Accord is a much sportier animal than its sedan counterpart. Part of the 2-door's unique spirit comes from its styling — it has a more powerful grille, sleeker nose and more menacing slit-like headlamps.

Engines are shared; the base model uses a 2.4-liter four making 200 bhp and is available with a choice of 5-speed manual or automatic, while the high-performance version boasts a 3.5-liter V-6 with 273 bhp on tap. Unlike in the sedan, this engine is available with an optional 6-speed manual as well as the standard 5-speed automatic. With the manual, the V-6 dispenses with cylinder deactivation, fattening up the torque curve on its way to the 250 lb.-ft. peak at 5000 rpm. When coupled with the 18-in. wheel and tire package, the V-6 Coupe raises the fun-to-drive quotient of Accord to new levels . . . "

Source: http://www.automill.com/2007/09/road_track_picks_its_five_best.html

2008 Honda Accord Coupe Details and Photos

The design language of the Honda Accord sedan and Honda Accord Coupe did not surprise us that much as we've already seen a close-to-production concept version sometime back in January this year.

The Honda Accord Coupe Concept was exhibited at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show and now the final production 2008 Accord Coupe is a close production representation of that concept. You can already expect aftermarket parts that mimic the clear smoked tail lamps on the concept coupe to be used on the production coupe.

The 2008 Honda Accord Coupe, like the sedan has been completely redesigned for the 2008 model year. The Accord Coupe is available in either a 190 horsepower 2.4 liter inline-4 i-VTEC DOHC form or a 268 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 i-VTEC SOHC form.

The V6 engine in the coupe differs from the one in the sedan as it's valvetrain does not have the Variable Cylinder Management feature, thus reducing valvetrain inertia thanks to the reduced weight. This means the non-VCM V6 engine has a better torque curve at low to medium engine speeds compared to the VCM-equipped V6 engine. The Accord Coupe V6 can also be specified with a 6-speed manual transmission while the V6 sedan is only available in automatic.

Now that we have a new USDM market Honda Accord sedan and coupe, what remains to be updated is the European market Honda Accord which has generally been different from the USDM market Accord, but is sold in the US as the Acura TSX. Honda has previously displayed another sedan called the Honda Sports 4 Concept. That might give us an idea how the next generation Euro Accord will look like.

Source: http://paultan.org/archives/2007/08/23/2008-honda-accord-coupe-details-and-photos/#comment-107767

Smaller Engines [The Frontal Cortex]

The new Honda Accord comes out next month and, like virtually every new car, it boasts a bigger frame and bigger engine than last year's model. So I thought it might be worth revisiting some of the earlier generation Accords. It turns out that they were signifcantly more fuel efficient. For example, the 1982-1985 model got an extremely respectable 29/40 mpg. (In contrast, the four-cylinder engine in the new Accord comes in at 21 city, 31 hwy. The 6 cylinder gets 19/29.) The bad news is that the 1982 Accord only had 86 horsepower.
Here's my question: do consumers really want/need such big engines? Or are we simply swayed by the fact the engine output is so easily quantifiable? I think horsepower creep is analagous to the ever expanding number of megapixels in digital cameras, which are not only useless but actually waste valuable hard drive space. Likewise, I'm not sure we really need our midsize sedans to generate 260 hp, especially when such a power boost detracts from its fuel efficiency. That said, 86 hp is really pretty paltry.


Source: http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2007/08/smaller_engines.php

2008 Honda Accord

This eighth-generation Accord four-door is big, just 2.5 inches shy of the lunker Chrysler 300's length, almost five inches longer than a Camry. It's wide, too, one more inch than the Camry, and the front buckets are spread 1.5 inches farther apart than in the previous Accord, so the '08 feels wide as well. Officially, its 120 cubic feet of interior and cargo volume push it, barely, over the bar into the EPA Large Car class.

The Accord has been feeling a draft in the past few years, caught between the Camry's blue-chip credibility and the Altima's sporty swagger. While those two flourish, Accord sales have sagged. So, for this new model, Honda has been reaching to the top shelves of its Good Stuff locker. The Accord is the company's rice bowl; if this new one draws tepid responses from middle-market America, there will be hunger pangs from Ohio (about 80 percent of Accords sold in the U.S. are built in Marysville) all the way to Honda's Tokyo headquarters.

Imagine a new Accord that's actually a half-inch longer than Acura's big RL sedan, on an identical wheelbase, equal in beam, too. That's how much car Honda has loaded into this gotta-win model, offered in four-door-sedan and two-door-coupe versions


Source: http://theautoworld.blogspot.com/2007/09/2008-honda-accord.html

Honda Accord To Hit Indian Streets Soon

Yes, 2007 means the Frankfurt Motor Show. And Honda thought it
would be a good opportunity to unveil the new Accord sedan and
coupe at the show this September.

But not before they ended a run of spy photographs popping out
on the web and released these first pictures and info on the
car that is headed for Indian shores next year.

The Accord has been Honda's money-spinner for the last 25 years
in markets like the US. It's so good that it has been a top two
best-seller for the last 15 years — now that's a record. Unlike
the new Civic that was launched internationally in 2005, the
new Accord is not very bold. Instead it appears as traditional
from all angles, the interiors included. Rather, they've put
enough kit and technology in the car that it feels like it
belongs to a segment above.

With the Accord, Honda have dumped the concept of different
versions either side of the Atlantic and have opted for a
single design theme, for both the sedan and coupe.

But Honda have done a Hyundai on themselves, borrowing some
cues from the current Hyundai Sonata and even the kinked
C-pillar design from the BMW 3
Series. Inspiration or not, the new Accord is a well thought
out design that won't age too soon, just like the outgoing
seventh generation car.

On the inside, Honda have opted for a traditional dashboard,
but with some hints of the Civic, such as the steering wheel or
even the centre console design


Source: http://www.indianpad.com/story/92476

Frankfurt Preview: Honda's booth run-through, including Accord

What will Honda bring to the IAA? Wouldn't you like to know ... and wouldn't Honda like to tell you. Yesterday, Honda released a bit of information on what the company is bringing to Frankfurt and AutoblogGreen readers have a lot to look forward to, but not too much new stuff.

Honda has set up its display with two overall themes: sports and environment. If you take the time to read the release after the jump, you'll see that even the sports zone is pretty environmentally-conscious. The vehicle that is being kept under wraps until press day on September 11th, the Accord Tourer Concept, should "give a strong indication of the design direction of the all-new generation Accord Tourer set to debut in mid-2008 and its wider, lower look signals a more sporty, more emotional styling approach. This will be matched by a range of advanced, low emissions engines and innovative new chassis technology that will deliver exceptional handling without compromising ride comfort." We'll see exactly what the green stuff is by the 11th.

Over in the environment zone, visitors will be able to check out the Small Hybrid Sports Concept from Geneva as well as a Civic Hybrid and a FCX Concept. While you're there, keep an eye out for other Honda items like solar panels and the ASIMO robot.

[Source: Honda]
HONDA AT THE FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW

Honda will be presenting the world debut of an exciting Accord Tourer Concept at the forthcoming 2007 Frankfurt motor show. A press conference will be held on the Honda stand in Hall 5 on the first Press Day, 11th September, between 13.15 and 13.45.

The Accord Tourer Concept will give a strong indication of the design direction of the all-new generation Accord Tourer set to debut in mid-2008 and its wider, lower look signals a more sporty, more emotional styling approach. This will be matched by a range of advanced, low emissions engines and innovative new chassis technology that will deliver exceptional handling without compromising ride comfort.

As well as an extensive selection of models from the passenger car range, the Honda stand will also feature a comprehensive line-up of motorcycles and power equipment products. The stand will focus around the twin themes of "Sports" and "Environment".

The "Environment" area will centre upon Honda's ground-breaking environmental technologies, such as petrol-electrical vehicles. This includes the Small Hybrid Sports Concept first revealed at the Geneva Show which demonstrates a unique fusion of advanced hybrid technology and fun-to-drive sports car characteristics. Alongside it will be Honda's next-generation clean diesel engine, the production Civic Hybrid and the FCX Concept with its fully-functioning fuel cell technology which made its European driving debut at the Gotland Ring in Sweden earlier this year.

The "Sports" area of the stand will include Honda's current F1 racing car, the RA107 piloted by Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, alongside Civic Type R and Honda S2000 production models, There will also be a strong emphasis on the company's motorsport heritage and alongside the latest F1 car will be one of Honda's first, the 1967 RA300.

To emphasise the major contribution made by motorcycles towards Honda's sporting prowess and reputation there will be displayed examples of both the Repsol Honda RC212V from this year's MotoGP series - raced by Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden - and one of the HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades which contested this year's Isle of Man TT races and allowed John McGuinness to capture the first 130mph lap of the circuit and victory in the Senior TT Race.

The line-up of production motorcycles includes the world's first production motorcycle airbag system, available on the new Gold Wing, which can help lessen the severity of injuries caused by frontal collisions.

Stand visitors will also be welcomed by several displays of Honda's unique innovation, which include the ASIMO humanoid robot, Honda solar panels and HondaJet.


Source: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/08/29/frankfurt-preview-hondas-booth-run-through-including-accord-t/

Big Rig Truck Accident on Riverside Freeway - Who’s Fault?

Was the truck illegally parked and that was the cause of this accident? Or was the driver of the Honda Accord at fault? The California Highway Patrol is investigating.
In Corona, California, about 2:00 a.m. this morning on the eastbound shoulder of the Riverside (91) Freeway a 2008 Honda Accord collided with the back of a parked big rig truck, wedging itself beneath the semi truck, according to authorities as reported on the CBS2 website.
The two occupants of the Honda Accord were trapped inside the car, one of them for 75 minutes, before rescuers extradited them from the vehicle according to a Corona Fire Department Battalion Chief. The rescued Honda occupants were not identified. However the chief did say that the male occupant suffered moderate injuries and the female occupant was taken to a hospital in critical condition.


Source: http://www.californiainjuryblog.com/2007/08/big_rig_truck_accident_on_rive.html

Dongfeng Honda to Produce ‘Inspire’ in China

Dongfeng Honda is set to produce the Honda Inspire locally in China, Chinese media reported yesterday. Honda's Inspire model is similar to Honda Accord in both appearance and car size, but it is "better" than Honda Accord. The model will feature CMS, E-Pretensioner and HiDS.Targeting a similar market segment with Honda Acura, Honda Inspire may herald the coming of Honda Acura to Chinese market.

Chinese media said that while Accord, a middle-end car model, is produced by Guangzhou Honda, high-end Accord models will be produced in Dongfeng Honda.
Honda may try to copy its success in North America to Chinese market: while Guangzhou Honda competes with Camry in middle-end market; Dongfeng Honda will invade high-end market by introducing luxury car models.

Guangzhou Honda said the company is ready to launch the eighth generation of Accord by the end of this year or earlier next year.

Source: http://www.boxarea.com/2007/08/29/dongfeng-honda-to-produce-inspire-in-china/

Nosing In: Honda Accord Tourer Concept for Frankfurt

Honda has announced that it will present its Accord Tourer Concept at the bazaar of wonders that will be next month's Frankfurt Auto Show.

Releasing only the skimpiest of preview shots and a brief press release, all we can say for sure is that the Tourer will be wider and lower than the present Accord and will signal a styling approach with a focus on sporting cues. A greener, low-emission engine lineup will be on offer (natch), as well as "Innovative chassis technology" that will involve the driver without sacrificing the Accord's hallmark comfort.

In the release, Honda goes on to reveal their twin themes for the auto show, "sports" and "environment." Frankfurters in attendance should look for Honda's Small Hybrid Concept, FCX Concept, RA107 F1 Car, Civic Type R, and a liberal sprinkling of really fast motorcycles.

Honda will present the world debut of an exciting Accord Tourer Concept at the forthcoming 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. A press conference will be held on the Honda stand in Hall 5 on the first Press Day, 11 September, between 13.15 and 13.45. The Accord Tourer Concept gives an indication of the design direction for the next generation Accord – on sale in the UK from mid-2008. Its wider, lower look signals a more sporty styling approach. Innovative chassis technology will deliver an involving driving experience without compromising ride comfort. It will be powered by a range of advanced, low emissions engines. The Honda stand will also feature a selection of models from the current car range, as well as a comprehensive line-up of motorcycles and power equipment products. In addition, stand visitors will be welcomed by several displays of Honda's unique innovation, including the ASIMO humanoid robot, Honda solar panels and HondaJet. The stand follows two key themes: Sports and the Environment. The Environment area showcases Honda's ground-breaking 'greener' technologies, with a focus on our petrol-electric hybrid models. This will include the Small Hybrid Sports Concept – first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show this year – which demonstrates the rare fusion of advanced hybrid technology and exciting sports car characteristics. Alongside it will be an example of Honda's next-generation clean diesel engine, a production Civic Hybrid and the latest driveable FCX Concept fuel cell car, with its fully-functioning, zero-emissions fuel cell technology. A production version of the FCX Concept will go on sale in the US and Japan next year. The Sports area of the stand will include Honda's current F1 racing car – the RA107 piloted by Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello – alongside Civic Type R and Honda S2000 production models. There will also be a strong emphasis on our motorsport heritage and alongside the latest F1 car will be one of Honda's first racers: the 1967 RA300. The phenomenal success of Honda in motorcycle racing is an important part of the company's sporting history, so we'll have some examples of our race-winning machinery on display. As well as the Repsol Honda RC212V from this year's MotoGP series – raced by Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden – there'll be the HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade that John McGuinness rode to the 130mph average speed lap record at this year's Isle of Man TT races. Finally, the line-up of production motorcycles includes the world's first production motorcycle airbag system, available on the new Gold Wing, which can help lessen the severity of injuries caused by frontal collisions.

Source: http://news.windingroad.com/concept-cars/nosing-in-honda-accord-tourer-concept-for-frankfurt/

2008 Honda Accord unveiled!

During the night, Honda opened the flood gates and officially unveiled the 2008 Honda Accord, the eighth generation of the automaker's perennial best-seller. There's too much new stuff to talk about, so we'll hit the highlights here and you can check out Honda's exhaustive press release after the jump.

The Accord for 2008 is available as a sedan, which has grown large enough to be classified a large car by the EPA, or a coupe. There are three basic engines available, including a 3.5L iVTEC V6 producing 273 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs. of torque. Do the math and you'll realize the '08 Accord with this engine is the most powerful Honda ever produced. It also features a new Variable Cylinder Management system when ordered in the sedan that can power the vehicle on three, four or all six cylinders to achieve an excellent 19/29 mpg. The other two mills are a 2.4L inline-four producing 200 horsepower/170 ft-lbs., and another 2.4L producing 180 horsepower/166 ft-lbs. All models of the '08 Accord can be ordered with a five-speed automatic, while four-cylinder models can also be had with a 5-speed manual transmission, and the V6 Coupe can be optioned with a six-speed manual.

Source: http://news.euro-truck.biz/automobiles/2008-honda-accord-unveiled/

FIRST LOOK: 2008 Honda Accord

Honda's way has always been to produce low-key cars that spoke to buyers in terms of value and performance while not necessarily wowing them in the looks department.For the 2008 redesign of the Accord, however, the "wow" is now.The car has grown up in terms of its size, shape and substance, thereby ensuring this flagship model continues to be a highly desired passenger car.Since its 1976 arrival, the Accord brand has made its mark as a high-quality and well-equipped vehicle that keeps boredom at bay by delivering plenty of driver enjoyment. The '08 version is as entertaining as ever, as our recent pre-launch drive around the Cape Cod area near Boston, Mass., confirmed.The fun - or the "wow", as it were - actually begins before you even unlock the door. Honda has sharpened the sedan's looks with creases and accent lines that carve out a visually striking package. And don't get us started on the two-door model. Previous Accord coupes were a bit inconspicuous, a fact that Honda readily acknowledges has hurt sales. The company anticipates coupe sales to increase in a big way for '08, hardly an earth-shattering revelation given the new version.More room will also help the brand appeal to a broader audience. The four-door has been enlarged in most key areas to the extent that it's now classified as a "large" sedan, based on interior volume. There's additional distance between the front seats and three extra inches of leg room for rear-seat passengers. It now almost seems limo-like back there.Honda has a knack for taking gauges and switchgear and making them part of a high-tech-looking control center. The Accord's refined dash provides a proper sense of proportion and harmony with the rest of the interior.The platform is highlighted by new suspension components and a revised engine mounting system designed to improve the ride and reduce vibration, respectively. The floor has been lowered, which lowers the center of gravity for greater stability and less body lean while turning. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard across the line.The base LX sedan gets a 177-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder (up 11 over the '07 model), while the LX-S coupe and all EX and EX-L models feature a 190-horsepower version of the 2.4. To stay competitive with vehicles such as the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry, an optional 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 replaces last year's 244-horse 3.0. Perhaps oddly, the gas/electric hybrid model has been discontinued, but it should reappear on a dedicated platform for 2009.A five-speed manual transmission or extra-cost five-speed automatic are available on all four-cylinder models, while the five-speed automatic is standard on the V6 coupe. A six-speed manual gearbox is part of a special V6-coupe-only performance package that also enhances low- and mid-range engine torque.Honda's advanced Variable Cylinder Management (V6, automatic-transmission models) allows the engine to function using three, four or all six cylinders depending on load and throttle position, with the intention of maximizing fuel economy while cruising around, coasting and decelerating.Honda claims that the four- and six-cylinder motors deliver improved fuel economy, despite the fact that the now full-size Accord is as much as 130 pounds heavier than its '07 counterpart.Based on our brief driving experience, both body styles are comfortable, quiet, smooth and eager to please when the throttle is punched and the manual transmissions continue to be among the best (smoothest shifting) in the business, at any price.All LX-level Accords arrive with the expected air/tilt/cruise/power-operated content, with the EX adding a power moonroof and power driver's seat, up-level sound system and heated outside mirrors. The EX-L V6 piles on the climate control, leather interior, heated front seats, four-way adjustable passenger seat, 270-watt audio package and 18-inch wheels for coupe models.How can you not be impressed with the new Accord? It's more comfortable, spacious and powerful and the say-something styling, especially in coupe form, provides welcome "wow" for the line. But perhaps best of all, overall high-value goodness remains an Accord virtue.


Source: http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070825/WHEELS/70824002/-1/RSS01

2009 Honda Accord Coupe Concept

Eighth generation of Honda Accord is very near to its release. So how would 2009 Honda Accord Coupe that is going to be launched around the spring or summer of 2008 look like. We have very little information on that but what we could claim is that it would very much resemble 2009 Honda Accord Coupe Concept, revealed in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Source: http://www.indianpad.com/story/92470

Honda's Marysville Auto Plant at 25 Years: Historic Yet 'New'

It's been nearly 25 years since Honda became the first Japanese company to build a car in the United States, and like the all-new 2008 Honda Accord, the Marysville Auto Plant has evolved into a wonder of technology. The first Accord produced in America - a silver-gray sedan with the license plate "USA 001" -- came off the line on Nov. 1, 1982. It was enshrined in a museum to mark the achievement of Honda and its U.S. workforce. Today, the production of that first U.S. car is recognized as a turning point in American manufacturing. And the plant - where more than 8.8 million vehicles have been built - has been marked by continuous innovation, including more than $3.6 billion in new investments. "On the outside, the Marysville Auto Plant is 25 years old. But on the inside, our associates have used their passion and knowledge to keep their plant at the top of the global industry," said Akio Hamada, president of Honda of America Mfg. Inc. In the final two months of 1982, Honda turned out 968 Accords at Marysville.

Today, the plant can build 1,800 cars and light trucks in a single day, or 440,000 a year. Back then, the Accord was assembled using many imported parts, including the engine. Today, the plant builds the Accord, Accord Coupe, Acura TL cars and the Acura RDX sport utility vehicle. All of these vehicles receive their engines from the nearby Anna Engine Plant, the largest auto engine plant in North America.  Of the 1.5 million vehicles Honda sold in the United States last year, nearly 80 percent were domestically made. All of the domestic cars and light trucks were equipped with U.S.-made engines as well as parts from a network of 610 North American suppliers - 525 of those located in 35 U.S. states. The Marysville Auto Plant has evolved into a source of leadership and teaching -- what Honda calls a "mother plant" in its global system.

"When the Ohio operations were being set up, the teachers were Japanese," Hamada said. "But 20 years later, when we established production in Alabama, our Ohio associates performed the 'mother plant' function. Over the next year, this process will be repeated as new Honda associates from Indiana come to Ohio to learn."

In fall 2008, the excitement that surrounded the birth of the Marysville plant will be repeated when construction is completed on Honda's newest assembly plant, in Greensburg, Ind. The Greensburg plant will contain the ninth Honda vehicle line at six sites in North America. The other sites are at Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio; Alliston, Ontario; Lincoln, Ala.; and El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico. Today, of the 27,000 Honda associates living in the United States, well over 20,000 are employed in manufacturing, engineering and research and development, mainly in Ohio, Alabama, North and South Carolina and California.

"Honda's philosophy of Respect for the Individual has allowed us to tap the spirit and ingenuity of the associates who build the cars," said Sam Harpest, plant manager at the Marysville Auto Plant, where 5,300 associates work. "After all these years, our plant continues to win quality and productivity awards, and that's testimony to our concept of a single, customer-focused team." As a result of continued investment, every major process at the Marysville Auto Plant - known locally as "MAP" - has remained state of the art since it opened in 1982. Among the highlights:

Honda wasted no time with its first major MAP project -- the addition of a second assembly line in 1985. Capacity and efficiency projects followed, and tweaks and fine-tuning has never stopped. Several years ago, the plant took its turn in the global Honda process called the New Manufacturing System, under which assembly plants were converted to flexible production. The body-welding shop converted from more-costly retooling to "re-teaching" flexible robots with sophisticated software to construct cars and light trucks of different body styles. The conversion saves time and millions of dollars, allows Honda to react quickly to changes in consumer demand, and contributes to workforce stability. A new paint shop two years ago employs environmentally friendly water-borne paint while increasing efficiency. A new door assembly department - which is state of the art in ergonomics and efficiency - was added this year in the space the old paint shop occupied. Reconfigured assembly lines have accommodated more models and body styles and a richer mix of equipment on the vehicles. A more efficient materials service and logistics operation saves money for Honda - and its suppliers, who ship many parts on an as-needed basis.  Associate-led ergonomic and efficiency improvements have helped achieve higher quality and a safer work environment.

The all-new 2008 Honda Accord offers a glimpse into how MAP's continuous changes pay off. The new Accord is higher, wider and longer than the vehicle it replaced, and has more optional equipment and amenities. Yet, engineers at Honda of America and Honda R & D were able to design a car that has fewer parts and employs more ergonomic help for associates.

"Honda has always done things in a different way, and I think that has been the key to our success here and at the newer plants," Harpest said. "Our associates have proven themselves time and again to be up to new challenges, and we're confident the quality of the 2008 Accord will reflect their teamwork and know-how."

Clement D'Souza, engineering project leader for the 2008 Accord, oversaw a wide array of operational changes to take the new car to higher levels of quality and reliability. "We were aiming to identify potential quality issues very early in the development stages, and design them out of existence," D'Souza said.

The result is a 2008 Accord that's not only engineered to please Honda's American customers, but which is intended to be exported to more than 30 countries. In 1977, Honda announced that it would begin U.S. manufacturing with a motorcycle plant in Marysville. On Sept. 10, 1979, the first bike came off the line. The next day, Honda of America received this facsimile message from Tokyo headquarters: "Proceed with auto plant." The original USA 001 Accord is on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. Honda began U.S. sales operations in 1959, the company's first venture abroad. Honda's cumulative investments in U.S. operations exceeds $9 billion. Last year, the company purchased more than $17.6 billion in parts and materials from its 610 suppliers in North America.

Source: http://corporate.honda.com/press/article.aspx?id=4105

Comment on 2008 Honda Accord Full Details and Photos by king

Honda has released details and full product images of the new 2008 Honda Accord sedan and coupe, but let’s look at the Accord sedan first as it is more relevant to our local market. The Honda Accord sedan in the US comes with 3 engine options - two 2.4 liter inline-4 i-VTEC units as well as a 3.5 liter V6 engine for the top of the line model.
The 2.4 liter engine is available in two stages of tune - a 177hp @ 6,500rpm, 218Nm @ 4,300rpm basic unit that has 7 more horsepower than the 2.4 liter in the current Accord as well as a tuned up 190hp at 7,000rpm variant with 220Nm of torque at 4,400rpm thanks to a reprogrammed ECU and a high-flow muffler with a variable valve silencer.
The V6 unit grows from 3.0 liter in the current Accord up to 3.5 liters and makes 268 horsepower at 6,200rpm and 336Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. This SOHC V6 engine is equipped with Variable Cylinder Management which allows the engine to operate on three, four or all six cylinders to help boost fuel economy or power as needed. The coupe has this same engine without the VCM - the reduced valvetrain weight improves low to mid-range power.
Once again the 2008 Honda Accord rides on a double wishbone front suspension at the front, enhancing the driving experience. In the US market, this new Honda Accord marks a few firsts for a USDM Accord - disc brakes on all wheels for all models, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) on all models, power lumbar support, auto-dimming inside mirror, compass, multi-line display CD/MP3 player, auxiliary-input jack and subwoofer. I sincerely hope the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) as standard on all models make it to Malaysia - when you pay over RM130,000 for a car I think safety features such as traction control are very important.

The interior space of the new 2008 Honda Accord has been improved so much that it is now classified as an EPA Large Sedan in the US market. Honda says the interior offers “equal” front and rear seating comfort for four adults - the rear passenger comfort level is no longer a hit and miss thing if the front passengers move the seats too far rearward. If you measure the growth in size from the exterior, the new 2008 Accord is 76mm longer than the previous model, 28mm wider and 22mm taller. Torsional rigidity has been improved by 20% thanks to the usage of 48% high-tensile steel, the highest by volume of any Honda Accord to date.
Aerodynamics have also been improved thanks to a new frame rail system which positions the frame rails inside the Accord’s body structure instead of underneath it, creating a nearly flat bottom to ruduce under-floor turbulence. The car is also more balance now in terms of weight distribution as the fuel tank has been moved lower and further forward.
It is not known at the moment when the new 2008 Honda Accord will be introduced in Malaysia, or whether these engine enhancements will be brought here or not as we usually carry the same engine specs as Thailand Accords, and one of the ways the new engine makes more power is because it has a higher compression ratio. Thailand fuel might not be able to handle that. A new Accord also usually means a new Honda Odyssey is coming soon, which is a lovely MPV.
Read Honda’s full press release on the 2008 Honda Accord.
More images and a video after the jump!

This Accord does looks good. But i feel that the rear looks alike with current Accord. And the interior doesn’t look as good as the Civic’s.

rear looks like the lexus. abit like the new sonata and abit of volvo s40 front end….interior is not really that much diff….i guess its geting harder to find original designs nowadays…

agree with e-nabill, looks like the new sonata. in fact, this accord, the new sonata, and the new camry looks alike.

side view gives me the feeling of a 5 seriess. the current honda accord is cool.better. but xzos on this one is killer….

hahaha once the table has turned.. after accord has been beaten in styling by camry, now the new accord in an afford to fight back came out with something new but i’ve to say that it look preety much like a camry styling with some of bmw also incorperated..

Ewww. The front is so boring. Something you don’t expect from Honda but Korean brands.
Put a BMW emblem at the rear and people would assume its a new 5 series. (from the back) . I like the rear section, has sort of a camouflage look .
Overall from the exterior if you remove the badges and ask me to identify the car I would guess a Lexus.

People getting bigger, cars follow in sizes.
Back looks bland…can’t seem to point the finger to what but it just looks that something is missing.
Looks under-”tyred”, could use bigger wheels and tyres but knowing Honda, they have always used tyres one size too small for all thier cars, even the previous EP Type R which the only let down was the stock tyres.

Looks nice…but from side reminds me of Chrysler Sebring la …can someone inform when it is available….so that I can cancel the Camry !

i can smell some of the bmw 5 series ingredients inside this new accord.. anyway, design looks a bit conservative but overall is quite good, not too radical..

I wish it has more ooomph! The BM’s can extract 218bhp from a 2.5 litre engine and the best that Honda can do is only 190, ie for the ‘higher powered’ version. Even then, it is available at high 7000rpm.
In the looks dept, I think this time Honda has got it’s act together and can give the Camry a run for it’s money.

looks like a bad cross between a C-class rear end and mercs signature waistline line on the door handles, 5 series side profile and interior of the my08 impreza….
76mm longer than previous model… and the previous model isnt small to start with!!
6 months to msian debut perhaps?

Em, conservative styling.. but veteran driver will like this.
This accord carries so much USDM exterior. The USDM Camry also nothing to admire too.. (have any change for JDM or not?)
Although Camry don’t release another model, my first sight say the current Camry (Asean model) is already good looking.
Accord interior might be better…
Maybe will sell on 4th quarter 2008.

to me the car seems to turn to uncle-lish design… looks like they are targeting the executive sedans on uncles? still prefer the look on current accords…

hahahaaha…. great…. now we’ve seen it all…. a honda that wants to look like a lexus….this car looks so disjointed. there is no fluidity of lines from front to back. looks like someone photoshopped a lexus ls400 front and bmw 5 series rear to the current accord.

not surprising. Honda’s external design has been quite disappointing in the last few models - though the interior’s good. This round, it looks like they adapted the Proton Waja concept - just download the design from different carmakers and rojak them together and call it your own.

Did u guys notice that the front door trim from the video is albeit different from the picture? Can somebody explain

Actually the steering wheel in the two interior shots looks a bit different at the botton of the steering wheel. One is a straight fork while the other is curved slightly and has a narrower gap.

the rear might be pen by some one who designed Mark X
http://toyota.jp/markx/exterior/garally/index.html

hmm.. i would say.. the Sonata NF looks better than this. what’s wrong with honda designers nowadays? nice interior though.

This is the first Accord that doesn’t look sporty. It looked more suited to compete with the previous Camry - Dai Fan Shu.

Well, the engine and interior are, as expected, the high quality works from Honda. The exterior, however, is rather disappointment.. The tail looks weird, bad… The front looks like mix of Camry and Sonata. (In human term, must be bastard of Toyota and Hyundai. He he)
I think tis Accord is no fight to Camry…Camry jus got too much class lah!

Wah ! This Accord is gonna give Camry a run for it’s money…….Steering could be better…….? : (
Still, there’s NEW Mazda 6

This is what i think about the new accourd.. horrible grill.. nice headlamps.. back seems good.. side profile good.. interior.. okay.. missing rear passenger airvents is something to curse about.. sat nav.. err.. funky.. overall exterior.. not as bold as the camry

2.4L with 190hp and it is only a 4 cylinder engine, even the basic 2.4L has at leats 177hp, how about 3.0 V6 with 268hp….compare to camry 2.4L with just 158hp and 3.5 V6 (comapre to accord 3.0 V6) with 268hp…

it is a camry tht was redesigned, exteriorly to me.. the headlamps just looks like its ‘pulled backwards’ a little more than the camry.. inside looks like a bmw rip off n the buttons look cluttered in d center console.. first impression; it looks like the camry, only that this time, the toyota looks much more muscular than the honda..
camry looks more masculine..
is that a manual transmission stick i spot in d video n pic?

Interesting engine I would say… Will search more on the tech and mechanism behind it.
Sadly the exterior design is kind a rojak already (EVO X, BMW and Hyundai), I would prefer Camry instead of this @!@#$$…

i personally think that the new Camry will win by a mile.. but anyway, i guess it depends on people’s taste… i agree with some comments that the new Accord looks like Sonata.. maybe that’s why it does not look so “refreshing”.

hmm….nice car but still prefers camry for its design and class…the interior looks a bit weird though….civc’s interior is still nicer

mmm…..really got a bit like HYUNDAI SONATA!! izzit HONDA and HYUNDAI share using the same designer???
if compare with CAMRY….i think this accord not enough power to counter back CAMRY…may be we have to wait the market price or have any special offer about this accord….
but for me….i still want TOYOTA CAMRY !

Looks good… the previous 2 models are fugly! But, I seriously doubt anyone would pay for the 3.5L model due to higher roadtax.
I wonder when can we enjoy roadtax based on vehicle weight? Roadtax based on engine cubic capacity is VERY UNFAIR!
Imagine this… a Proton Perdana V6 owner would pay the same amount of roadtax as a BMW 320i owner even though prices of both vehicles are far apart (and BMW is slightly heavier than a Proton). Because of this… the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

Japanese are space conscious and don’t want the extra ‘bulge’ in the middle of the car, that’s why the FWD.
This front is extremely boring and stupid, IMHO.. But the rear and the interior is nice, I’ll just sum this up..
I’m a Honda fan who loves Honda cars and despise Toyota cars, although I love the fact that they never break down, however I think Toyota’s designs are WAY TOO CONSERVATIVE, but this Accord redefined that.
I think the front is just horribly boring, but the rear end, that’s not bad looking, well creativity will reach its limits one day, sooner or later, and many ‘new’ designs are actually borrowed, so why not? - As long as it looks good.
One verdict: Get the front redesigned, the current one looks much better.
Just my 2 cents..

i think there will be some minor alterations when it reaches our shores just like the Civic. My take will be the front emblem area (which looks darn boring for a Honda even though it’s an executive car) and the fog/sport light.
Having said that, I love the interior as it is now. But then when it comes to our shore, sigh… it’ll be a lousy, plain design without the GPS and some of the high-tech looking buttons/operations.
Overall, if the pricing is between RM140k to RM160k like Camry, I may choose Accord over Camry simply because the overall/general maintenance of Toyota cars are more expensive compared to Honda.

a very conventional design from Honda this time around. looks boxy and got a feel that they are trying to make it look and feel like Nissan Teana but failed miserably. (just got the feel…)
too many lines. perhaps this design should come out first before the current design we have here.
perhaps it’s time to change the design team in Honda. who are we to say this anyway…

Very disappointing design from Honda. Interior good. Exterior sucks… Honda should fire their current designer and hire a new designer. Maybe even change CEO since he made the wrong choice. The 2008 Accord cannot even match the current Camry’s design. What a loser…

Ugh… the car exterior looks like gruel. I prolly the only one here who hates it. The interior seems alright tho’. I still rather have the camry. Prolly ends up being cheaper than this new honda when it reach our shores by the end of next year.

the 4th pix from top shows that this car looks more like the 5 series. Or this car generally has the 5 series design cues? Anyway it’s not a bad design but would be bad if people bash Honda for being bimmer wannabes lol
Anyway, the inside… aiyaahhh that same old color again. Darker one pls… evern Persona has switched to darker one maa…

The proportions are awesome. Seems like they’ve nailed it - long front end, rear end for the classic car look but with modern ammenities. Better than some of the bulges other cars have become.

I would say Sonata has the look of last 2-3 generation ago Accord.
The Accord 2008 rear looks like the Audi A4 + BMW 5er.

Duh… Hyundai copied Accord design and now the Accord look like a Hyundai? Gimme a break.
This 2008 Accord looks more like an Acura now. Guess that means the US design team had something to do with it. Way too bland compared to the current model. Guess we’ll have to wait for the next gen before we see some of the new concept designs coming in.

Good news to Honda Accord’s fan indeed. Compare to Camry 2007, I find that Camry outlook is more outstanding especially in Black…

ingolstadt said,
August 22, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
This is the first Accord that doesn't look sporty. It looked more suited to compete with the previous Camry - Dai Fan Shu
_____________________–
exactly the reason why they designed it like that…didn’t that camry outsell the old accord by more than 3 to 1 ? i.e in malaysian market.

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Source: http://paultan.org/archives/2007/08/22/2008-honda-accord-full-details-and-photos/#comment-107560