08 Jan 07
Honda had never previously gone down the traditional route of using a big car show to unveil a concept version of its Accord. At the Detroit Motor Show on Monday, taking the wraps off the eighth-generation Accord, Honda finally broke that habit - but only just.
The Accord Coupe concept revealed by Honda US senior vice-president John Mendel is, in truth, barely a concept at all - Mendel himself admitted it's very close to the look of the new production model, which goes on sale in the States this autumn.
The teaser sketch released before the show made the concept look more radical than it actually appears in the metal. It's a neat, clean design, but nothing surprising - like a bigger and tidier version of the current Hyundai Coupe, in fact.
The show car has four tail pipes - shaped like the Civic's - built into the rear bumper, and dark glass emphasises the generous size of the front and rear screens. Under its bonnet it has a V6 petrol engine. When it reaches the showroom, expect the number of pipes to be halved and a full range of engines to be offered, along with saloon and estate bodies. Honda's plans for the Accord outside the USA have not yet been announced.
'It's the boldest, most refined, most exhilarating car in its segment - a new benchmark,' said Mendel. 'It promises to lift the Accord driving experience to an even higher one.'
