Honda Accord 2006 News

Only a fraction of the 1.2 million cars on Australia roads with airbags that can spray shrapnel have been fixed, new figures show.

The Honda Accord Hybrid sedan marks a turning point for the Japanese company; it's the company's first all-new hybrid system in 16 years.Toyota has sold almost 10 times as many hybrid cars as Honda globally but the company hopes to close that gap with a series of all-new petrol-electric cars.The Honda Accord Hybrid has lithium-ion battery technology (for longer petrol-free driving range) and two electric motors (mounted back to back) which are connected to an Atkinson cycle engine (similar to that used by Toyota) for new levels of fuel efficiency.Unlike earlier Honda hybrids, the new setup will allow the car to use electric power alone up to cruising speeds, when conditions are ideal, before switching to petrol.The Accord Hybrid sips just 4.2L/100kmEarlier Honda hybrids used the electric motor only to boost the petrol engine once it was already on the move.Based on overseas fuel economy figures, the Accord Hybrid sips just 4.2L/100km, making it more frugal than the Toyota Camry Hybrid.Honda is yet to release pricing but it is expected to start from less than $40,000.As with the top-end versions of the current Accord, the Hybrid will be available with a blind-zone camera, which shows in the central display screen an image of the left side of the car in turns or when changing lanes.Meanwhile, the Honda NSX will be powered by a twin-turbo V6 matched to another version of the company's new hybrid technology (including a lithium-ion battery), and a nine-speed twin-clutch automatic. Power and performance figures are yet to be released.Honda Australia is yet to confirm its allocation of NSX supercars, which are due to go into production in the US (rather than Japan) this year."We are still aiming for 2016, hopefully some time in the middle of 2016," says Honda Australia director Stephen Collins. And the price? "I can honestly say thatI have no idea where it will end up," Collins says.In the US, the NSX is tipped to cost about $150,000 plus taxes and delivery charges. But it will probably exceed $200,000 here.The original NSX went on sale in Australia in 1991 for $160,000, rising to $220,000 in 1995 then $256,000 when it was discontinued in 2005. About 160 examples were sold here from a global production run of 18,685.Honda Australia says that only a handful of its national network of 107 dealers will sell and service the NSX.

First pictures of the new Accord from the USA show a car that's got a punchier front end and surprising curves and sculpting on the sides. The four-door sedan is a major departure from the boring looks of the previous car, which looked more suitable for Homer Simpson than Ralph Lauren. Honda has again readied the four-door family Accord alongside a wedgier coupe, although the two-door is not coming to Australia. The new Accord is a definite for 2013 and will continue Honda Australia's two-car policy, running alongside the smaller and more driver-friendly Accord Euro. It will get updated engines, with more efficiency promised for both the four-cylinder and V6. Details of the Accord plan are coming together, but Honda Australia is being deliberately evasive on the details - especially on prices and the model lineup - because the cars are still a fair way into the future. It is trying, unsuccessfully, to build some suspense despite the level of detail that's already available from the USA. "We will launch the Accord in Australia in mid-2013 with the same engine line-up as we currently have," confirms Honda spokesperson, Melissa Cross. "Regards images of the U.S. model, there will be some styling similarities between this car and the car we launch here. There will be no Accord coupe in Australia, this car is designed specifically for the U.S market." Although she will not reveal any timing for the next Accord Euro, she does confirm a continuation of the two-car attack. "We will be selling both the Accord and Accord Euro in Australia," Cross says. And what about the design, which is such a major departure from the Toyota Camry-style blandoid efforts of the past? "Design for the Accord is a collaboration between all the major markets that sell the vehicle. This is coordinated through and by Honda R&D at Tochigi," says Cross. She is not discussing mechanical details, but the new Accord points - on the design front - to an even more adventurous Accord Euro and a boost for efficiency and comfort. The overall dimensions have shrunk slightly but the cabin dimensions are largely unchanged. In the USA, the 2.4-litre four gets direct fuel injection and a continuously-variable transmission, the V6 has also been tweaked, and the hybrid attack will become all-wheel drive with a 2-litre four. Carsguide drove the hybrid prototype in Japan last year and it feeds conventional petrol power through the nose, with electric drive to the rear wheels.  Honda says the production plug-in will run for 23k kilometres on its batteries alone. On the safety front, the new Accord gets lane-departure warning as well as a front-collision alert system that uses stereo cameras in the windscreen similar to the Eyesight system already available from Subaru in Australia.  

Heralded by the sleekly styled coupe concept that was revealed at Detroit motor show in January, the new Accord design has been streamlined and updated, and now sits closer to the Accord Euro standard in a more premium look. Honda says the sedan will have a slightly more compact exterior with improved packaging meaning no loss of interior space. The Japanese carmaker is also talking about better engines, with the current 3.5-litre V6 revised to offer better performance and economy – helped by a deactiviation system that shuts down some cylinders when under light load – paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. For overseas markets, the base model 2.4 litre four-cylinder engine has been ditched in favour of a new  2.4-litre direct-injection one, mated to a new fuel miser continuously-variable transmission (CVT) that Honda claims will offer class-leading economy. The sedan range overseas will get a new all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid electric-petrol version that can toggle between three modes: electric, hybrid and petrol only. Honda says the plug-in will get up to 23km range in electric-only mode, relying on a 120kW motor and 6kWh lithium-ion battery with a recharge time claimed to be less than 90 minutes on domestic voltage. In hybrid mode the electric system is joined by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which takes over full duties at high speeds. New technology includes lane departure and front collision warning systems with monitoring from a windscreen-mounted camera. The sedan will arrive here early next year, with local specification and prices revealed closer to launch.  

In the absence of exciting new product, leaner and meaner sub-$30,000 pricing on the Honda Accord and price cuts to the City light car are the latest salvos fired by the Japanese car maker to turn around its sales figures. Honda's "aggressive" new Accord pricing aims to further improve the model's value for money, according to director and general manager Stephen Collins. "This new pricing on the Accord range is further evidence of Honda Australia's commitment to provide our customers with outstanding product at value for money pricing. "We are sure our customers will agree the Accord now offers one of the best-value buys in the large segment," he says.  Given the Japanese brand finished 2011 just over 25 per cent down on its 2010 tally (after being thumped by earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear reactor issues in Japan and floods in Thailand), the beancounters will be looking to get volumes back to pre-disaster levels. April's performance showed growth over April 2011 but the numbers year-to-date remain behind 2011. The 133kW/226Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder entry-level Accord VTi has dropped $4300 to a list price of $28,190 - or $29,990 drive-away. The VTi-L with satellite navigation has been dropped $2800 from $39,990 to $37,190 and the 202kW/342Nm V6 Luxury model has been reduced by $2700 to $47,290. The Accord V6 is equipped with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) that allows the engine to operate on either six, four or three cylinders for maximum fuel and emission efficiency. The City light car has also had its price cut - by $500 - as part of a facelift and features upgrade. Mr Collins says the $19,990 drive-away pricetag makes the City "sensational value for money." "Australians will love the look of the new-look City," he says. The City, offered in VTi and VTi-L variants, has a new grille and redesigned brake lights and bumpers, aluminium-look interior trim bits and a new rear micro antenna. The VTi-L gets a new design for the new-look 16in alloy wheels. The dash has also been refreshed - the speedometer now has blue illumination - and the City also has thicker window glass and floor carpet to reduce cabin noise, claims Honda. On the floor significantly improve cabin quietness.  The City VTi manual is priced from $18,490  (or $19,990 drive-away), add $2000 for the auto or step up to the VTi-L automatic for $22,990.  

The Koreans starred, the Japanese mounted a comeback, and One Ford hit the headlines with an extended family of Focus-based newcomers that it is certain to make a big hit in Australia. But it was one car and the commitment of its company chief that made the most impact as America fought back on the opening day of the 2011 North American International Motor Show.Take off the 20-inch rims that neatly fill out the guards and the chrome-surrounded fog lights and the concept car is production ready.And the improved styling will be backed - at least in the US - by more powerful and fuel-efficient engines. The 3.5-litre V6 is retained but has been overhauled with Honda's latest technology, including cylinder deactivation, and is mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission.The base 2.4 litre four-cylinder engine has been replaced by an "Earth Dreams" 2.4-litre direct injection unit that produces 135kW/240Nm and is paired with a new continuously variable transmission to achieve what Honda says will be class-leading fuel economy.A new two-motor plug-in hybrid system is reserved for the Accord sedan. The system operates in three modes - electric, hybrid and petrol only - to maximize efficiency.In electric mode, the Accord plug-in hybrid will use a 6kWh lithium-ion battery and a 120kW electric motor to drive up to 23km in town and Honda says the recharge time will be less than an hour and a half using a 240-volt charger.In hybrid mode, the Accord is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder , i-VTEC inline four-cylinder, Atkinson cycle engine, while at high speed the system will switch to petrol only mode. Drive in all modes is through the front wheels.Honda says the Accord will launch in late 2012 in the US and is expected to show the more compact sedan at the New York Motor Show. The sedan is claimed to have the same interior space with a more compact exterior to save weight and improve driving dynmics.The Accord will also be the first to be fitted with Honda's lane departure and forward crash warning systems. Both use a camera mounted behind the windscreen to alert drivers if the car is moving out of its lane or approaching a car too quickly.

He is - or was - Hirotaka Ono - a visionary who re-invented the Japanese brand and changed everything, from boosting the quality of its cars to creating the can-do attitude among senior managers that's essential for the success of any car company. Ono had a giant advantage because he was married to the daughter of company founder, Osama Suzuki.He was able to use his family connection to ramrod a range of changes which would have been impossible for anyone else, especially a 40-something revolutionary in a country which usually puts age and experience ahead of youth and enthusiasm. Even so, he still had to walk the walk on everything from design and driving enjoyment to bottom-line financial deals.The award winning Suzuki Swift is an Ono car, so too is the current Grand Vitara, as well as the Kizashi. His track record also includes the less-successful second-generation XL7, thankfully only sold in the USA, but everyone makes an occasional mistake. Ono died too early at the end of 2007, but not before he inspired the cars coming through Suzuki today and forecast the global financial crisis - as well as planning the way his company would react to the challenge."Thanks to Mr Ono we have learned what we can do. He inspired us," says Tak Hayasaki, managing director of Suzuki Australia. Hayasaki has his own challenges in trying to lift Suzuki's share of Australia's annual car sales from its current 2.4 per cent to around six per cent, but he knows he has the strongest lineup in the company's history.The Alto is too small for a lot of people, but a $12,990 driveway bottom line makes plenty of sense with six airbags, ABS and ESP, as well as alloy wheels. The Swift is getting very old but is still a good car, the Grand Vitara is a safe choice and the SX4 does a good enough job.Kizashi is the game-changer for Suzuki, the same as the first Mazda6 and Accord Euro were for Mazda and Honda, combining Euro-type driving enjoyment with Japanese quality.This week the company is adding an all-wheel drive car to the Kizashi line, the Sports, and believes it can boost its sales by 100 cars a month. That's 50 per cent of the current volume. It's a big call for a car which already goes head-to-head with Mazda6 and Euro and now faces up to the might of the Subaru Liberty, the car that convinced Australians about all-wheel drive.As he looks forward, with a new Swift before the end of the year - not   that you would pick it as all-new from pictures - Hayasaki knows where the credit goes. "I have to thankyou to Mr Ono for what he has given us. He proved that we can do it."

That’s because Honda’s new, larger Accord, released this week (not the Euro), is a stronger, more convincing offering than the previous model – one that could well fill the void left by 380 in the large car segment. In V6 form, at least, it offers something the others don’t – fuel-saving, cylinder shutdown technology that allows the car to run on as little as three cylinders when full power is not required. There’s also a gutsy four-cylinder model that promises even more fuel savings. It’s no secret the large car segment has shrunk significantly in the last couple of years as buyers drift towards smaller more economical vehicles. According to sales figures for 2007, Holden’s Commodore dominated the segment with 57,000 sales, followed by the Ford Falcon (34,000) and Toyota Aurion (22,000). Despite a string of awards, the poor old 380 trailed a poor fourth with just under 11,000 sales for the year followed by the Accord (7200). As sales of the 380 trickle to a stop and eventually dry up, those sales have to go somewhere and Honda is quietly confident of picking up a fair chunk of them, as much as 10 per cent of the segment total over time. And, after driving the new Accord in Victoria last week, we reckon Honda is in with a big chance. Four Accords are offered – a 3.5-litre V6 and a 2.4-litre in-line four, with standard and luxury versions of each. All of them get a revised, five-speed auto with wheel mounted change paddles. With 202kW of power, the V6 trumps the lot (but not by much) – producing more power than all of its competitors _ even the yet to be released new Falcon. The 2.4-litre also eclipses its competitors with 133kW, way ahead of the Ford Mondeo with 118kW. In the “mine’s bigger than yours” stakes, that counts for a lot! The four cylinder model’s entry level price of $29,990 should also turn a few heads, particularly as it includes an auto, climate air, electronic stability control and four airbags _ not to mention six stacker CD sound and full-size alloy spare wheel. We were able to drive the base model 2.4-litre Accord and top of the line V6 Luxury at the launch of the car outside Melbourne. With a larger more prominent front grille, the car has a much a stronger road presence than its predecessor and feels bigger inside, bigger in fact than Honda’s flagship Legend. The four with 222Nm of torque available from 4300rpm pulls strongly and the car feels lighter and more agile than the V6, nothing like the floaty model that it replaces. We pushed it hard through some demanding mountain roads with pleasing results. The stability control system, called Vehicle Stability assist in Honda-speak, intrudes only when absolutely necessary and that wasn’t very often. The engine is a little harsh under hard acceleration and the Michelin tyres generate some noticeable road noise, but apart from that it’s all good. Fuel economy for the four using standard unleaded is rated at 8.8 litres/100km. The V6 with 339Nm of torque available from 5000rpm feels softer and cruisier than the four. The VSA works noticeably harder to keep the car on the road, but still lets the driver have plenty of fun. V6 and Luxury models add curtain airbags and the top of the line V6 Luxury also gets a reversing camera. Unfortunately, the camera is not available even as an option on other models _ something that we believe is an oversight. Fuel economy for the V6 using standard unleaded 10.0 litres/100km on the knocker, but it is able to achieve four cylinder-like economy on longer runs. The change from six, to four or three cylinders is imperceptible. The car measures 4945mm and rear legroom is generous even for taller passengers, with a back seat that folds down to accommodate longer loads. The luggage area itself is good without being remarkable, compromised by the addition of the full-size spare that required the boot floor to be raised several centimetres. You can’t have everything. The tow rating of the car is 1200kg. All in all, the Accord looks every inch the winner, particularly the four-cylinder model at $29,990 with its generous equipment list. The lineup could do with the addition of a sports model, but there’s plenty of add-ons to get you there.  

If the new-car buyers' swing is to smaller vehicles, how come the medium-size models are getting bigger?The latest Ford Mondeo now rivals the Falcon for paces along the showroom floor. Even in the Toyota Corolla sedan you no longer sneak into the “small cars only” corner in the car park.And now Honda's Accord will become a Commodore-sized big sedan with a lusty V6 engine.The 2008 Accord will have a 3.5-litre engine (which we suspect is borrowed from its big brother, the Legend) and from which you can anticipate 200kW of power to shade Commodore and Falcon six-cylinders and rival the Toyota Aurion.A feature of the new Accord's V6 will be VCM - variable cylinder management which shuts down cylinders according to demand, saving fuel and lowering exhaust emissions. The new Accord will be unveiled by Honda in Australia, at the Melbourne Motor Show. It will go on sale end of February then, too. Honda Australia is unable to give us many details of the new model or price; “We haven't even told the dealers the information yet,” a spokesman says.But it's understood the new Accord V6 sedan, to be built at Honda's factory in Thailand, will have the same specifications as the model already on sale in the United States. Honda already sources cars from Thailand, allowing Australian buyers the price advantage of the zero import tariff agreement with that nation.It is known the Accord to come to Australia will be offered with a four-cylinder petrol engine (probably a 2.4-litre unit) as well as the V6.“It will be bigger than the existing car, more of Commodore and Falcon in size,” says the Honda spokesman. “It will come as only an automatic, a five-speed.”The spec sheet of the U.S. Accord shows the new car is bigger. At 4930mm long, it is 100mm longer than the current Accord V6 released in 2003. The new car will be 27mm wider at 1847mm, plus 21mm taller at 1476mm and sit on a wheelbase that is 60mm longer at 2800mm. The 1580mm track has the wheels 25mm farther apart than the current model.By comparison, a Holden Commodore is slightly shorter at 4894mm, on a 2915mm wheelbase, 1899mm wide and the same 1476mm height as the new Accord.Inside, the 1080mm front legroom shades the 1071mm claimed in a Commodore/Calais, although the Accord's 945mm rear legroom is bettered by the 1001mm of the Adelaide-built car. However, the Honda is front-wheel drive so will not have the transmission hump intrusion into rear foot room as do Falcon and Commodore.Expect the Accord to have a big boot, too. It will have a drive-by-wire throttle system and vehicle stability control.The current model Accord V6 runs a three-litre engine delivering 177kW power and 287Nm torque. The coming model's 200kW and expected 331Nm should more than cover the 100kg extra weight for the predicted 1625kg new car.The U.S. version of the new car allows the driver to use the key fob to not only unlock the doors on approach but also to lower all windows to let the car ventilate.Much will be written about the new Accord's variable cylinder management and Honda claims the model will be the first in its segment in Australia to use the technology. Under high load, including firm acceleration, all six cylinders are at work. For mild demand, it cuts back to four cylinders. And for light demand, such as gentle low-speed cruising, it will run on three cylinders, shutting down the rear bank of the transverse V6.The variable valve timing system is used to close intake and exhaust valves (spark plugs keep firing) and cylinder shutdown is determined from monitors on vehicle speed, engine speed, gear selection and throttle position. Small torqueHonda Accord V6Price: To be announcedEngine: V6, 3471cc, 24-valve, petrol, with variable cylinder management, sohc. Bore 89mm, stroke 93mm. Red-line 6800rpm.Transmission: Five-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive. Stability control system.Power: 200kW at 6200rpm (estimated).Torque: 330Nm at 5000rpm (estimated).Suspension: Double wishbone (front). Independent multi-link (rear). Front and rear stabiliser bars.Brakes: Four-wheel discs, front ventilated 30cm diameter, rear solid 28.2cm with anti-lock.Dimensions: Length 4930mm, width 1847mm, height 1476mm, wheelbase 2800mm, track front and rear each 1580mm; weight 1620-1636kg.Wheels: 17in alloys.Tyres: 225/50 by 17In its classMitsubishi 380 GTL: $44,990.Holden Calais V6: $45,490.Toyota Aurion ZR6: $42,990.Toyota Aurion Presara: $49,990.VW Passat V6: $54,990.Hyundai Grandeur Limited: $46,990.* Specifications based on U.S. model Accord. 

From baby beep-beep hatches through to luxury supercars, the millions of dollars worth of metal on display is guaranteed to thrill and delight. But there are always some that stand above the crowd. Our 10 show stars were:H3 HummerOnly a distant relative of the behemoth that raced through the Gulf in Desert Storm, but it still has the aura. The Hummer is known for its size - particularly its wide girth. However, in reality it's not much bigger than your average family SUV but - for better or worse - is designed to make you think in supersize.Ferrari 599 GTBAs slick and stylish as the Hummer is clunky. A beautiful piece of Italian design wrapped around F1 engineering. You may never own one but don't miss the chance to see it up close and personal.Audi R8With this race-bred beauty Audi steps up to the supercar plate and hits a home run. Refined over a year on the motor show circuit, the production model is one to desire.Mitsubishi TRM 380 ConceptPoints for bravery on this one. Some exterior flash, some shiny new rims and performance rubber, racing shocks and a Sprintex supercharger bolted to the 380. The result is a special that is definitely worth a look.Volvo C30What will be the baby of Volvo's fleet when it arrives in 2007 should once and for all put paid to any suggestion the Swedes can't style a car. The little coupe should be a must-have for cashed-up youngsters - and safe to boot.Saab Aero X conceptWith a nod to its aeronautical beginnings, the Saab design team has come up with an absolute cracker. The ethanol-powered performance car was named best concept at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. Bentley Continental GTCAnother from the dream end of the market. The drop-top Bentley is proof that large cars - very large cars - can still look stylish ... and there is no substitute for that special attention to detail for which Bentley is known.Suzuki SX4 WRC ConceptWith its war paint on, the car that is going to take a resurgent Suzuki back to world rallying is an absolutely awesome sight. Even better: try to imagine this corker in civvies and you will have a pretty good idea of just what a grand Swift GTi this would make.Honda Sports 4 ConceptA glimpse into Honda's future with regard to their sports lines - particularly the Accord. The four-seat coupe is both sleek and menacing.Aurion Sports ConceptClose to the TRD Aurion scheduled to be revealed as a production car in early 2007, the Aurion Sports Concept is still a front-driver. The sports concept promises a substantial lift of the base car's 200kW thanks to a force-fed engine lifting torque above 400Nm.And a couple of extras that deserve a special mention with our top 10 favourites:Mazda Kabura ConceptThose crazy Japanese. Named for the sound of a howling arrow, the Kabura is a three-seater with a token effort at a fourth behind the driver. Styling and packaging is guaranteed to turn heads but don't be too quick to dismiss it out of hand. Mazda don't do things by accident.Hyundai Arnejs ConceptKorean design has been taking giant steps and the Arnejs Concept is one of the most stylish studies to come out of the Hyundai studios. Unveiled in Paris last month, the Arnejs points clearly towards the Euro-hatch derivative of the company's new Elantra.