Honda Accord 2009 News

Icy winds and snow are blowing across Motown, dumping on the auto capital of the world at a time when American politicians are applying relentless pressure for a major shift in the way that General M

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.  

White is so last season; green is in for 2008. Though some of the world’s fastest cars will headline the Melbourne Motor Show in all their fuel-burning glory, they will be offset by remarkable carbon-neutral automotive advancements in track-day cars, petrol powerplants and full-scale SUVs.Land Rover’s LRX concept hints at a trade-off between 4WDs and fuel burning with an experimental turbo-diesel hybrid drivetrain.The LRX, which debuted at the Detroit motor show in January (and is still on the plane to Australia), is only the second concept ever made in Land Rover’s 60-year history, and undoubtedly its most important development to date. Other brands such as Peugeot have developed diesel hybrids quoting fuel figures of less than 4.0L/100km, but no manufacturer has been able to bring one in at an acceptable retail cost. Perhaps Land Rover will be the first.From concept to reality, the new Honda Accord features one of the world’s most advanced V6 petrol engines. Launched to the media yesterday and revealed to the public on February 29, Honda’s revitalised sedan staple features a new 3.5-litre V6 engine with cylinder deactivation (Variable Cylinder Management, or VCM). This enables the car to power with all six cylinders on full throttle applications, or imperceptibly shut down two or even three of its cylinders during low throttle driving or at slow speed.At high speed, a new Australian sports car will debut at the show, filling in for an absent Lotus in the lightweight light-on-fuel track car niche.The E-Vade is a two-seat, sub-tonne sports car designed and built by Melbourne-based naval officer Lieutenant Commander David Walter and his wife Peta. It will feature in two iterations: a road-going convertible, and an open-top track car.The almost-production-ready E-Vade features a space-frame chassis and fibreglass body wrapped around a Nissan V6 engine.Walter claims 300kW in road-going guise, or a massive 500kW for the track car, which pushes a weight of just 950kg. The E-Vade suggests that power does not automatically equate to fuel consumption, while its environmental manufacturing expense is as minimal as the car.But the ultimate green hue radiates from the Aurora solar powered race cars.The Melbourne-based voluntary group will showcase 20 years of sun-powered advancement with two cars; a 1987 model affectionately dubbed ‘Christine’, and a newly-developed competition vehicle called Aurora 101.Both cars have been on the podium at the World Solar Challenge, which runs across Australia during October. Clocking 3000km under cooking Red Interior sun renders these machines worthy of ‘race car’ status, even if they have no cylinders to speak of. 2008 Melbourne International Motor ShowMelbourne Exhibition Centre, Clarendon Street, Southbank Friday, 29 February (from 5PM) - 9 MarchAdults $18.00; Children (5-15) $10.00; Children under 5 Free; Concession $14; Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) $44.00 

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.