Next Gen Honda Accord Sketch

Here's a nice rendering of the potential face of the next Honda Accord, based on what I've seen on the Coupe, I would doubt that the face would be this dramatically different from the current Accord....
Thanks for the tip Jeff....

Car and Driver: A look at the 2013 Honda Accord

What It Is: The ninth generation of the longest-running 10Best winner. Unlike many of  its mid-size competitors, the Accord will continue to be offered as a coupe and a sedan. Slightly smaller and lighter than the current Accord, the new version also will have softer lines and more cohesive styling.

Why It Matters: This Accord will be as important to Honda as anything it’s done in the past decade. Will it be able to beat the growing range of exceptional mid-size competitors? Will it have the magic feel of previous Accords? Will Honda get its size right? Will it deliver Honda-style innovation and fuel economy? The new Accord needs to answer these questions in the affirmative.

Platform: The new Accord likely  will be based on an updated version of  the current car’s architecture.

Powertrain: While many mid-size competitors are dropping their six-cylinder options, the Accord will offer a revised and more powerful version of its familiar 3.5-liter V-6 with cylinder deactivation. But the bread-and-butter Accord will be the four-cylinder model. Direct injection helps the 2.4-liter four make at least 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, with improved fuel economy. A six-speed manual will be offered; the automatic will be a CVT. A plug-in-hybrid version will couple a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 161-hp electric motor.  A 6-kWh lithium-ion battery  will offer 10 to 15 miles of city driving range and will recharge in less than four hours using a standard 120-volt outlet. Three selectable modes will allow the hybrid driver to choose among fully electric, hybrid, and “direct drive,” which decouples the electric motor for more efficient cruising.

Competition: Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat.

What Might Go Wrong: The conservatively styled and engineered Civic has us wondering if the Accord will suffer the same fate. After seeing the new Accord coupe in concept form at the Detroit auto show in January, the threat of dullness remains.

Estimated Arrival and Price: The two- and four-door Accords arrive this fall. Pricing is expected to remain in the $20,000-to-$30,000 range for the vast majority of the lineup. A well-equipped hybrid and a loaded V-6 model will crest $30,000.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2013-honda-accord-future-cars

Honda Aims to Reclaim Its Luster

By NICK BUNKLEY

DETROIT — When everything seems to be going wrong, hire Jerry Seinfeld, bring back Ferris Bueller and pray. And even then things might not improve all that much.

That’s the predicament for Honda as it tries to recover from its troubles in the past year, when a series of natural disasters in Asia caused sales to plunge, and an important model, the revamped Civic, got such a poor reception that the company rushed to make changes.

Honda’s chief executive, Takanobu Ito, was so fearful that the company might be “jinxed” that he spent New Year’s Day at a Japanese shrine in the hope of eliminating the “bad omens,” he said recently. In commercials for Honda shown during the Super Bowl, Mr. Seinfeld is desperate to get the first Acura NSX, a concept car not coming to market for several years, and Matthew Broderick plays himself, taking a Bueller-like day off away from the movie set and giving a shout-out to the Honda CR-V.

The two ads were highly rated by viewers, and Honda is off to a better start in 2012, breaking a string of eight consecutive monthly sales declines in the United States with an 8.8 percent increase in January. But analysts do not foresee a smooth road back for the carmaker, whose market share dropped to 9 percent last year, the lowest level since 2005. Its share was 10.6 percent in 2010.

On Monday, Moody’s Investors Service cut Honda’s credit-rating outlook to negative from stable, citing “significant challenges” for Honda and doubts about how much market share the company can regain even after dealer inventories are back to full strength. “Although Honda still has a good reputation, the competition in the auto market is getting tougher because its rivals have improved their product quality and brand acceptance in the last several years,” Tadashi Usui, a vice president with Moody’s Investors Service in Tokyo, said in a report.

Honda executives, while projecting a 60 percent drop in net profits for the fiscal year that ends in March, have expressed confidence that the company is on the brink of a significant rebound. One goal is a 25 percent sales increase in the United States this year, helped by a redesigned CR-V crossover vehicle and several new models for its upscale Acura brand.

Honda unveiled the production versions of the Acuras, the RDX crossover and ILX compact car, this week at the Chicago auto show. They are part of a major push to expand Acura, whose sales last year suffered even more than the mainstream Honda brand. Honda executives have said they hope to sell 180,000 Acuras this year, which would represent a 46 percent increase. Still, the NSX featured in the Super Bowl ad is not scheduled to go on sale for about three years, and with a price expected to top $100,000, it will not be a very high-volume car.

“In order to grow, the product offering that they have needs to be more compelling,” said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with the research firm IHS Automotive.

Honda was hit harder than other automakers by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan last March. Its factories in Japan, North America and elsewhere were forced to stop or slow production for months because of parts shortages, and dealerships across the United States sold out of some popular models as a result.

A rival, Nissan, even ran a commercial showing a loaded Nissan car carrier passing an idle Honda dealer in an empty lot.

Honda was just beginning to recover from the tsunami when severe flooding in Thailand compounded the shortages. Executives say dealers should finally be back to normal inventory by the end of March, putting the company back on a level playing field with its rivals for the first time in nearly a year.

Honda’s inventories grew 38 percent from December to January.

“Last year we had a big handicap,” Tetsuo Iwamura, the chief executive of American Honda, said last month in Detroit, adding that 2012 “is the year that we will be able to show how Honda is competitive in the marketplace.”

Besides running plants on overtime to compensate for the lost production last year, Honda has worked to get vehicles to dealerships faster. By altering how it assembles shipments of various models and making other changes to its logistics operations, deliveries to crucial markets like Chicago and Houston occurred up to 15 percent faster, a Honda spokesman, Edward K. Miller, said.

“We thought we were efficient, but we discovered a whole lot of room for improvement,” Mr. Miller said in an e-mail. “Delivery times shrank dramatically.”

Honda has said it might cost $650 million to rebuild a plant in Thailand that was underwater for several weeks last fall. The damage and lost production from the flooding and the Japanese tsunami combined with the high value of the yen to cut Honda’s third-quarter earnings by 41 percent.

The company now expects to earn about 215 billion yen ($2.8 billion) in the current fiscal year, down from 534 billion ($6.9 billion) a year earlier. Its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange are down 20 percent in the past year, though they have risen 20 percent so far in 2012
For decades, Honda had been on a relentless march upward in the auto industry, steadily expanding its market share by churning out ever-larger quantities of cars consistently rated as the most fuel-efficient and reliable in the country. Though it has never been able to catch its rival, Toyota, in size, Honda always seemed equally invincible as the two companies wrested control of the American passenger-car market from Detroit.

After introducing itself to American shoppers in the 1970s with cars including the Civic, Honda turned its Accord into the top-selling Japanese car in each year from 1982 through 1996; the Accord was the first Japanese nameplate to be the country’s most popular car over all in 1989.
In the fall, Honda plans to bring out a redesigned version of the Accord, still its top-selling vehicle. Much of Honda’s ability to regain market share depends on the Accord’s being successful, and the stakes are even higher after the Civic elicited many negative reviews last year.

In addition, the Accord will face stiffer competition than in the past from other midsize sedans. Besides the Toyota Camry, whose sales have surged since it was redesigned last year, the Accord will be up against new versions of the Ford Fusion, which was a breakout hit at the auto show in Detroit last month, and Chevrolet Malibu.

“There’s going to be a lot of noise in the market in that particular segment,” said Ms. Lindland, the IHS Automotive analyst. “They’ve got to have a significant home run in order to get people to notice.”

Most notably, the magazine Consumer Reports, which historically has given high marks to most Hondas, stopped recommending that consumers buy the Civic. It said the car now “feels insubstantial with a cheap interior” and falls short of the standards set by improved compact-car models from Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai, among others.

Though Honda officials disputed the notion that the Civic is not competitive — and pointed out that its sales jumped 50 percent in January, making it the month’s top-selling compact — the carmaker is accelerating what is known as a “midcycle refresh” of the car.

Executives told dealers attending a national convention last weekend that the refreshed 2013 Civic will arrive around the same time as the Accord, a mere 18 months after its introduction, the trade publication Automotive News reported. Automakers typically wait at least three years after introducing a model before making substantial changes.

Source;
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/business/global/beleaguered-honda-hopes-the-fates-are-kinder-in-2012.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25&pagewanted=print

Honda moves up to this fall major changes to the Civic

Honda will bring out a significant mid-cycle change to its embattled Civic compact this fall, just 18 months after it launched, a high-ranking executive told dealers here.

The move is a rush to improve the Civic in time for the 2013 model year. The Civic's cheapened interior and other reductions in content got a critical reviews from The Wall Street Journal, and Consumer Reports removed the model from its recommended list.

John Mendel, executive vice president at American Honda Motor Co., previously had said Honda hoped to get a midcycle freshening for the Civic sometime in 2013. More recently, Honda executives said they hoped a change could come by the end of 2012.

Even that would have been a feat, since most automakers wait three years into a five-year cycle for a midcycle change.

Most midcycle changes involve minor changes to the front and rear fascias and some minor interior updates. A dealer source said changes to the 2013 model year version would be more significant than that.

This latest announcement confirms that the substantially revised Civic will arrive at about the same time as a redesigned Accord. The Civic still is in the fight for the title of best-selling compact car, despite the bad reviews and inventory shortages related to the Japan earthquake in March and then floods in Thailand.

Source;
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120206/CARNEWS/120209930#ixzz1lcCBwJN7

Honda to spend $98 million to build CVT parts at Ohio plant

During trial production, two of Honda's advanced continuously variable transmissions undergo leak testing on the new assembly line at Honda's plant in in Russells Point, Ohio.

DETROIT -- Honda today said it will invest $98 million at its Anna, Ohio, engine plant to build pulley components for the company's continuously variable transmissions.

The CVTs are part of Honda's next-generation powertrain technologies aimed at boosting performance and fuel efficiency.

Production of the pulley components in Anna is to begin in 2013.

"The production of this new CVT technology puts the Buckeye State right in the middle of Honda's global strategy," Hide Iwata, CEO of Honda of America Manufacturing, said in a statement.

The investment in the Anna plant is aligned with a $120 million investment announced last year for Honda's plant in Russells Point, Ohio, where the company will begin producing the CVT this summer.

The modernization and expansion of the Russells Point transmission plant and the new pulley component production at Anna will create a combined 150 new jobs, Honda said.

Since November 2010, Honda has announced more than $500 million in investments for advanced technologies and systems at its four Ohio plants. In January, Honda's Acura luxury brand said the all-new Acura NSX -- which debuted last month at the Detroit auto show -- will be developed in Ohio and built at a new manufacturing operation in central Ohio.

PRESS RELEASE: Honda to Invest $98 Million in Anna Engine Plant for Production of Advanced Transmission Components
Honda will build new continuously variable transmission (CVT) in Ohio;
Total recent Honda investment in Ohio operations exceeds $500 million

ANNA, Ohio, Feb. 1, 2012 – Honda announced today that it will invest $98 million at its Anna Engine Plant as part of a strategy to build the company's next-generation powertrain technologies in Ohio. The move is aligned with a $120 million investment, announced last year, for the production of a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) in nearby Russells Point, Ohio.

The Anna Engine Plant will manufacture high-tech pulley components for Honda's new CVT technology, which is part of the new Honda 'Earth Dreams' powertrain technology lineup, to be deployed for the first time in the U.S. in the all-new, more powerful and fuel-efficient 2013 Honda Accord.

Honda will produce its technically advanced CVT on a new assembly line at Honda Transmission Mfg. of America, Inc. in Russells Point. The modernization and expansion of the Russells Point transmission plant, along with the new pulley component production at the Anna plant, will create 150 new jobs.

Since November 2010, Honda has announced new investments exceeding $500 million in its two auto plants and two powertrain plants in Ohio.

"For decades, our two Ohio powertrain plants have worked together to deliver advanced products for our customers," said Hide Iwata, president and CEO, Honda of America Mfg., Inc. "The production of this new CVT technology puts the Buckeye State right in the middle of Honda's global strategy."

The new transmissions will debut in the all-new 2013 Honda Accord models that will come to market later this year. The Accord for the U.S. market is built only in Ohio at the Marysville Auto Plant.

"Applying Honda's new Earth Dreams Technologies in the production of engines and transmissions will greatly enhance the driving performance of Honda vehicles, and help us achieve fuel economy leadership in every segment over the next three years," said Iwata.

While the Anna plant prepares for its production launch, the Russells Point transmission plant will proceed with CVT production this summer. These transmissions require highly sophisticated pulley components. Initially, these components will be supplied from Honda operations in Japan, before CVT production for U.S. models is taken up by the Anna plant in 2013.

"Our associates have incredible experience and we are counting on them to help us introduce an even higher level of powertrain technology for our customers," Anna Engine Plant Manager, John Spoltman, said. "The new CVT technology will be mated with Honda's new Earth Dreams 2.4-liter direct-injection engine, which will also be produced here at the Anna Engine Plant."

Earth Dreams technology defines Honda's next-generation engine and transmission strategy to realize advanced levels of both performance and fuel efficiency. Introduction of the new CVT for mid-size cars, will improve fuel economy by approximately 10 percent compared with the current five-speed automatic transmission.

The new component production operation at Anna will utilize 84,000 square feet of plant space for lathing, heat-treating, grinding and subassembly of precision CVT pulley systems. With the capacity to manufacture 1.18 million V-6 and four-cylinder engines annually, the Anna Engine Plant is the largest automobile engine factory in Honda's global production network
At the Russells Point transmission plant, CVTs will be manufactured on a sophisticated assembly line that is being constructed as part of a $70 million, 200,000-square-foot expansion of the facility. An additional $50 million is being invested in a 75,000-square-foot expansion of the facility for additional aluminum casting operations to support the CVT assembly line.

Honda Transmission Mfg. of America currently employs 1,050 associates. In addition to automatic transmissions, the Russells Point plant also manufactures four-wheel-drive systems. Both plants manufacture the precision steel parts for engines and transmissions, and four-wheel-drive components.

Today's announcement continues a series of major initiatives by Honda in its Ohio operations. In January, the Acura luxury brand revealed that the all-new Acura NSX supercar will be developed in Ohio and built at a new manufacturing operation in central Ohio. And since November 2010, Honda has now announced more than $500 million in investments for advanced technologies and systems at it four existing Ohio plants.

Other major initiatives now under way include construction of on-site parts consolidation centers at Anna and East Liberty, a sophisticated new stamping press at the Marysville Auto Plant, and several major projects at East Liberty to expand assembly lines, implement new paint technologies and consolidate vehicle quality operations.

Source;

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120201/OEM01/120209993/1424

TOV's Director of Design Neal McDaniel Photoshops a 2013 Honda Accord Speculation

Based on the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept, this looks like a very real rendition.... great job!
Inspired by the recently revealed 2013 Accord Coupe Concept, TOV's Director of Design Neal McDaniel worked some of his photoshop magic to create his version of the 2013 Accord Sedan Type-S. Here's what he had to say about it:

(This) was a challenge to sort out - and I still think it's a little unusual with the essentially an italicized roof of the sedan grafted onto the coupe. My rationalization was that the coupe roofline changed little so I'll keep the sedan's as well... It's mostly working for me as a what-if - to see if a sedan inspired by the new surface treatments of the coupe concept can be somewhat aesthetically pleasing and believable. In beautiful desert bronze...

Source;

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1030821

Car and Driver Reviews the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept

We like our Honda Accords around here, having awarded the car no fewer than 26 10Best awards, including in all five model years of the current generation. And so it was with keen interest that we watched Honda preview the ninth generation of the Accord at the 2012 Detroit auto show in the form of this coupe concept. Rendered in a gorgeous deep satin red with lots of glitzy chrome, the Accord coupe concept was not driven on stage but rather hurled like a curling stone toward the audience on a rotating platform, providing a 360-degree look at the car that will go on sale by the end of the calendar year.

Based on this show car, the 2013 Accord will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s seen the car we have today. But the sharp creases of the current model look to be augmented with a few more curves, most notably in the line that rises over the rear wheel and the kick-up from the rocker panel. Also, apparently the front and rear ends will look exactly the same. The next Accord coupe will be roughly the same size as now, but Honda says that the sedan will be shorter in length and lighter. The latter will face some of its stiffest—and best-looking—competition yet in the form of the 2013 Ford Fusion, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and the 2012 VW Passat, to name a few, so to stand relatively still in the styling department places even more importance on what is found under the Accord’s skin.

Two All-New Gasoline Engines
What we’ll find between the doors remains purely hypothetical at this point, as we weren’t allowed a peek inside the concept. But somewhat surprisingly—or perhaps not, for a company eager to prove it can still produce world-class powertrains—Honda revealed some information on what to expect under the hood. Big H says that the 2013 Accord will offer two all-new gas engines, including the first U.S. application of its direct-injected 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. (The current base four-pot makes 177 hp and 161 lb-ft of torque.) It will come paired with either a six-speed manual or a CVT that Honda promises will be “fun,” which, if true, would be a minor miracle.

While key competitors are abandoning larger engines in favor of fully four-cylinder lineups, the next Accord will again offer a naturally aspirated V-6. We’ll note here that only four-cylinder Accord models were awarded a 10Best prize this year, so our narcissistic side says that Honda is trying to get back into our good graces with a re-engineered version of its 3.5-liter V-6—and by offering it with a choice of six-speed automatic and manual (hooray!) transmissions. Honda added that V-6 models equipped with the six-speed automatic will feature cylinder deactivation. As for efficiency, the automaker says that all four-cylinder and V-6/automatic models will deliver best-in-class fuel economy.

Return of the Accord Hybrid—This Time as a Plug-In
The next-gen Accord also will offer a plug-in hybrid option starting next winter, with a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder paired to a 120-kW electric motor and a 6-kWh lithium-ion battery. There will be three distinct driving modes: fully electric, hybrid, and “direct drive,” which will allow the driver to remove electricity from the propulsion equation. The Accord is said to be able to drive 10 to 15 miles on electricity alone so long as speeds don’t climb beyond 62 mph and, we presume, you don’t do much more than breathe on the accelerator. In addition to the usual on-the-fly power regeneration, charging of the battery should take less than 1.5 hours on a 240-volt charger, according to Honda.

All models, regardless of cylinder count or battery assist, will feature “Eco Assist” driving modes with an “Eco” button providing more efficient operation as well as visual indicators to encourage a kinder, gentler driving style. The next Accord also will offer safety features such as lane-departure and collision warning systems. Finally, Honda promises a new full-color “intelligent” multi-information display by which owners will be able to control their smartphones and apps such as Pandora.

We’re looking forward to seeing the final product, but it won’t be until we slide behind the wheel that we’ll have an idea whether the next Accord is good enough to capture a 27th 10Best trophy.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2013-honda-accord-coupe-concept-photos-and-info-news

Honda Unveils 2013 Accord Coupe Concept

So, as far as changes to the overall design go, it sounds like the Sedan will be the one that gets the primary changes....
All-new Accord will feature next-generation powertrain technologies, class-leading fuel economy plus innovative safety and technology features
01/10/2012 - DETROIT

Honda unveiled the dynamic Accord Coupe Concept today at the North American International Auto Show, providing the first official glimpse of the athletic styling direction, as well as revealing a host of new technologies for the all-new, ninth-generation 2013 model, set to go on-sale this fall.

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.Design and Packaging

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.

Advanced and Efficient Powertrains
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 economy1.

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 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.

Safety and Technological Innovations
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 Collision 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 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®3 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 interface4, compatible with the Apple® iPhone®, which works with the vehicle's audio controls and i-MID.Sales, Accolades and Manufacturing

History
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. Since then, more than eight million Accords have been produced5 at Honda's first U.S. auto plant in Marysville, Ohio. More about Honda in America is available at http://www.hondainamerica.com.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate/releases/honda-unveils-2013-accord-coupe-concept

Temple of VTEC: 2013 Honda Accord Update

The 12-month period spanning from mid-2011 to mid-2012 is huge for Honda, with their three top-selling models undergoing full model changes (FMCs). The 2012 Civic was first, followed by the 2012 CR-V, and soon it will be the Accord's turn. Honda will roll out the concept for the 2013 Accord Coupe early next week at the Detroit Auto Show, so we'll have our first look at the car's styling then. We have heard that the new designs are a little more aggressive, but one source that has seen this coupe concept indicates that it is somewhat of an evolution of the current design.

It should go without saying that Honda is feeling some pressure on nailing this new Accord: so far, the 2012 CR-V has been generally well received, but the 2012 Civic has taken an uncharacteristic beating by a chunk of the media (to the point that Honda has basically admitted the Civic's shortcomings and is working to address them for the 2013 model year). On top of that, the current Accord has trailed not only the Toyota Camry for the past few sales years, but the Nissan Altima even outsold the Accord by more than 33000 units in 2011.

So how does Honda plan on returning the Accord to a position of sales dominance? From what we've heard, the plan is to shrink the car's dimensions a little bit - we received the following tip from one of our sources:

"I have heard from suppliers that the vehicle will be on a shortened version of the current Accord platform, also a shorter wheel base, and overall length of 4-5 inches shorter than the current one. Width will be 1 inch less than current. Interior dimensions will be only slightly less than current."

On the powertrain front, we have heard several things there as well. Supposedly 6-speed automatics are coming to 6-cylinder Accord versions. We're told that the 6MTwill continue to be offered in the V6 coupe. On the 4-cylinder side, we're hearing there is the possibility of a 6-speed manual transmission as well a CVT. If the CVT materializes, our guess it will be the new CVT that Honda demonstrated during the week of the Tokyo Motor Show at Twin Ring Motegi as part of the "Earth Dreams Technology" family of powertrains. This CVT should deliver better fuel economy and better performance compared to the outgoing 5-speed automatic currently used in 4-cylinder Accords.

While I was in Japan for the Tokyo Motor Show, I drove a prototype Accord model that was coupled to a new "earth dreams" direct-injection DOHC i-VTEC 2.4L 4-cylinder engine and was impressed not only by the engine's strong and broad torque curve, but by the responsive and direct feel of the new CVT design. I generally despise the lethargic and "laggy" feel of CVTs, but this new "Earth Dreams" CVT exhibited none of these annoying traits.

It seems logical that this combination will appear in the new Accords, though it's unclear whether or not the full "Earth Dreams" package will be ready in time for the 2013 Accord's launch later this year. If not, look for it in a mid-cycle product update for the Accord.

Hybrid
The Accord Hybrid is expected to return to the lineup, though there seems to be a little bit of confusion concerning which form it will take. Some of our sources seem to think it will not be a plugin model. Honda has stated that their new 2-motor hybrid technology will support both plug-in and standard hybrid configurations. Honda has announced that they expect a vehicle with the plug-in configuration to go into production in 2012, while the standard 2-motor hybrid configuration would not go into production until 2013. Reading between the lines, that means that if an Accord Hybrid is launched along with the rest of the lineup in 2012, then it will most likely carry the plug-in technology. If not, then it will probably be use a standard hybrid configuration. For what it's worth, one of our sources has told us that they had heard that the plug-in technology would be saved for a unique standalone model. Stay tuned...

During my time in Japan, I drove a prototype of the "PHEV" (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle). This uses Honda's new "2-motor" Hybrid setup with the so-called "e-CVT" transmission. The fact is, there is no real transmission - simply an electric traction motor, and a 2nd motor/generator connected directly to a gasoline engine that uses VTEC to operate in either an efficient Atkinson cycle or a more powerful Otto cycle when loads demand. At low speeds (below roughly 100kph), the electric traction motor handles all of the drive duties and either runs straight off of battery power, or when demands dictate, from electricity generated via the gasoline engine/generator combo. At high speeds, a clutch engages the gasoline engine directly to the drive motor, for a direct 1:1 drive through the wheels. The PHEV prototype worked quite well, delivering a good feel of smooth and torquey acceleration and keeping the car in pure EV mode wasn't difficult with smooth throttle operation. A sudden demand for full acceleration resulted in the gasoline engine suddenly firing up in order to meet the large demands for electrical current, but the maximum permitted speeds were so low on our driving loop I wasn't able to get a good feel for how this would translate to "real world" driving circumstances. As soon as I could get the engine to fire up I had to lift off the accelerator in order to not seriously breach our very low speed limits. Overall though, I came away impressed by the operation of the system, and if this is what ends up in the 9th generation Accords, it seems like it will be something that will impress many potential buyers, particularly if it lives up to Honda's "top of industry" fuel economy claims.

i-MID and other technology
Also, it almost goes without saying, but we're hearing that the new Accord will be getting the same technology features that were recently introduced on the 2012 CR-V. By these, we're referring to the color i-MID display with Pandora, SMS (text) integration, iPhone, etc. We have also heard that Honda was working on possibly adding a few more features to this integration suite, but with the recent NTSB developments concerning the possible ban of cell-phone usage in vehicles, they have backed off on these features for now.

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1023953

Is this the Next Honda Accord?

This pic was sent to me by 'Steve', not sure what to think about this, but it does look good, whether or not this is the Next Generation Accord or not .... we'll have to wait and see.

*UPDATE*
This is the Euro Honda Accord, be nice to see this non-TSX front end here though.

2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept to Make World Debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show

12/11/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.
A concept vehicle revealing the styling direction of the next-generation Honda Accord Coupe will debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show January 10, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
The Accord Coupe Concept will convey the dynamic and aggressive profile of the ninth-generation 2013 Honda Accord set to go on sale in the fall of 2012. John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president of sales, will introduce the concept vehicle at a press conference, which will also be broadcast live via webcast at http://hondanews.com/live/2012naias-honda (link will be live Jan. 10).
A leader in style, performance, safety, efficiency and value since the introduction of the first generation model in 1976, the Accord remains one of the best-selling cars in America. The 2012 Accord was recently named to Car and Driver Magazine's '10Best' list for a record 26th time and was ranked as having the highest initial quality in its segment in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Initial Quality Study (IQS). The introduction of the ninth-generation Accord marks 30 years of U.S. production of the model at the Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio, the first Japanese car assembly plant in the U.S.
For high-resolution photos and media information on the current Honda lineup, please visit http://www.hondanews.com/. After the press conference, images and video of the Accord Coupe Concept will also be available for download on the site.


Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2013-honda-accord-coupe-concept-to-make-world-debut-at-the-2012-north-american-international-auto-show

Honda Prays for Disaster-Free U.S. Rebound Led by New Models

By Alan Ohnsman
Dec. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co. says replenished vehicle inventory and new Honda and Acura models planned for the next 24 months will spur a U.S. sales rebound next year after natural disasters dashed its 2011 goals.

Honda’s loss of some North American output in October and November due to parts shortages caused by floods in Thailand led to it being the only large automaker to post a U.S. sales decline last month as total sales jumped 14 percent. That came after six months of declines resulting from reduced auto inventory triggered by Japan’s March earthquake and tsunami.

“I’m going to the shrine to pray to avoid any more such disasters from Mother Nature,” Tetsuo Iwamura, Honda’s top North American executive, said in an interview on Dec. 2 in Las Vegas. “Next year, even starting this month, we’ll recover.”

Japan’s third-largest automaker counts on the U.S. for the largest portion of its global sales. Tight inventory and competition from Ford Motor Co., Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. and others cut Tokyo-based Honda’s U.S. sales 5.3 percent through November.

While Honda’s market share has fallen to 9 percent from 10.5 percent so far in 2011, combined share for South Korean affiliates Hyundai and Kia rose to 9 percent from 7.8 percent a year ago.

“It is a year to forget, and then push the reset button,” said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with researcher IHS Automotive. “We’re now seeing heavy replacement demand, so there is a lot of sales opportunity out there.”

IHS Automotive estimates U.S. sales of new cars and trucks will rise to about 13.7 million units in 2012, from about 12.7 million this year, she said.

‘Outrageous’ Competition

“The competition is outrageous and it’s coming from every part of the market,” Lindland said. “Every year we say this is an incredibly competitive market, but this year we mean it.”

Honda’s immediate goal is to boost production of its new Civic compact and CR-V compact sport-utility vehicle that goes on sale this month, Iwamura said. The company starts December with about a 40-day supply of vehicles, he said.

“Unfortunately, our competitors didn’t show us any mercy,” Iwamura said. “They took as much market share from us as they could. That’s the reality of the market. You have to fight back.”

In 2012, the company releases a revamped Accord, Honda’s top-selling U.S. nameplate, and other models Iwamura declined to identify. “Fortunately, we are going to have lots more models in the next 24 months,” he said.

New Engines, Hybrids

Vehicles coming out next year will also begin powered by new four- and six-cylinder engines and transmissions Honda unveiled last week at the Tokyo Motor Show, claiming they will lead the industry in fuel efficiency.

The company also will add new hybrid models from next year that will boost its reputation for fuel-efficiency and advanced technology, he said.

“New models with good technology, yet very value-oriented pricing for the sake of competitiveness,” said Iwamura, 60. “That is our key for a successful year in 2012 and onwards.”

Sales of the new Civic, released this year, will continue to increase and haven’t really been hurt by some critical reviews, he said.

“In November, Civic was the number one selling compact vehicle,” Iwamura said. “Customers still believe in the Civic.”

The 2012 Civic failed to receive the “recommended” status from Consumer Reports magazine. The revamped model “ranks near the bottom of its category,” David Champion, senior director of the magazine’s auto test center, said in an Aug. 1 e-mailed statement.

Honda’s U.S. headquarters are based in Torrance, California. The company’s American depositary receipts rose 0.3 percent to $31.59 at 9:35 a.m. New York time.

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-05/honda-prays-for-disaster-free-u-s-rebound-led-by-new-models.html