|
| ||||||
|
American Honda Reveals Styling Clues for Next-Generation Accord
11th January, 2007 | |||||
|
American Honda has revealed the styling clues for the next-generation Accord
with the unveiling of an Accord Coupe Concept at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show
(North American International Auto Show) in Detroit, USA, which opens to the
public this Saturday. The Accord is Honda's best-selling model in North America, selling over
354,000 units in 2006 and its debut in Detroit (NAIAS) marks the first time that
an Accord concept vehicle has ever been shown at a major motor show. The styling of the Accord Coupe Concept conveys a powerful stance through its
long bonnet, deeply sculpted lower body and fastback roofline. A six-sided grille
and projector headlamps that recess deep into the front bumpers contribute to an
unmistakable and aggressive front fascia. Quad exhaust outlets integrated into
the rear diffuser further convey performance and style beyond any Accord to date. "The Accord Coupe Concept demonstrates the styling direction for the
upcoming, eighth-generation Accord," said John Mendel, senior vice president of
American Honda. "As the industry's target for midsize segment excellence, the
all-new Accord will set a new benchmark for safety, efficiency, performance,
refinement and style." A more powerful and lower-emissions V6 engine will provide higher fuel
efficiency with the incorporation of Honda's next-generation Variable Cylinder
Management (VCM) technology. As part of Honda's "Safety for Everyone" initiative, all next-generation
Accord models will include the company's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (TM)
(ACE(TM)) Body Structure. Honda's ACE Body Structure incorporates a front-end
frame structure that helps absorb and disperse crash energy over a large area in
a frontal impact. ACE also makes the vehicle more crash compatible in frontal
impacts with vehicles of differing ride heights. The current generation of Civic (2006) and the soon to be released CR-V
(2007) each have the ACE Body Structure. Together, the ACE-equipped vehicles
represent more than 50 percent of all 2007 Honda vehicles sold on a
sales-weighted basis. With the addition of the next-generation Accord to the
line-up of vehicles with ACE, more than 75 percent will be equipped with the
technology on a sales-weighted basis after it goes on sale. The Honda Accord is currently in its seventh generation in 30 years and
remains Honda's best-selling vehicle worldwide. The Accord is available in Australia as a sedan with both four and six
cylinder engines. Honda has no plans to introduce the Accord coupe into the
Australian market. In Australia, the Honda Accord competes with the superior
Nissan Maxima, Peugeot 407 and Volkswagen Passat. Only Peugeot offer a coupe
in this segment in Australia, although it must be stated that the equipment
level and class of the Peugeot 407 coupe place it well above the mid-sized
sedan market segment. | ||||||
ABN 47106248033 |
 |
All rights reserved. |