New Honda Accord radically revised to appeal to younger buyers

By RELAXNEWS | 18 July 2017


LOS ANGELES: Honda might have discontinued the Accord in some markets over the last year or two, but it's still a big success in other places such as the United States where it's currently the biggest-selling model in the midsize sedan segment of the market.

It's therefore a pretty big deal when such a successful model undergoes a major restyle, and Honda has probably gone a little further with its recently unveiled 2018 Accord than some commentators may have expected.

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The all-new 10th-generation Accord was recently revealed at an event in Detroit, the spiritual home of the US auto industry. It goes on sale in the autumn, and the 2018 Accord is more stylish, more premium and sportier than this illustrious nameplate has ever been in the past. Honda is well aware of the older demographic it's normally associated with, and the company is now going out of its way to appeal to a wider audience. The HR-V and the latest Civic were the start, and this new Accord appears to be a really big play to appeal to a more youthful audience.




This isn't just a cosmetic exercise though, as this 10th-generation model is all-new from the ground up and employs a lighter and more rigid body structure, an advanced new chassis, a pair of new high-torque direct-injected and turbocharged engines, and a 10-speed automatic transmission that's a first for a front-drive car. There will also be a new generation of Honda's two-motor hybrid technology and plenty of new safety, driver-assistive and connected-car technologies.

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
2018 Accord Hybrid


The first of the new engines is a 1.5-litre direct-injected turbo with dual Variable Timing Control, which develops 192hp and 142Nm of torque. The more powerful option will be a 2.0-litre turbo sharing a lot of its design with the 2017 Civic Type R, which in the Accord will produce 252hp and 370Nm of torque and replaces the current 3.5-litre V-6.

Accords with the 1.5-litre engine will be available in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L Navi and Touring trims, while the 2.0-litre model will come in Sport, EX-L, EX-L Navi and Touring variants. And for those wanting a more eco-friendly and fuel-efficient Accord, the new 2018 Accord Hybrid will be available in Hybrid, EX, EX-L, EX-L Navi and Touring trims. Prices for the new Accord will be revealed at a later date.

The new Camry.
The new Camry. US production of the model began last month.

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Like the Accord, Toyota's new Camry, launching this month in the United States, is expected to offer major improvements in fuel economy, technology, styling and safety, Honda's US dealers told Reuters.

The Accord and Camry are pillars of their manufacturers' US businesses, each selling well over 300,000 vehicles a year. In the coming months, Nissan is expected to launch a new Altima midsize sedan, and Hyundai will launch a new Sonata midsize car. Both are popular marques that will be promoted heavily.

"There has been no new news on the midsize sedan side for three years and we think this is a great opportunity to bring attention back to the segment," said Jack Hollis, Toyota's head of marketing for North America.

2018 Accord 2.0 Turbo with 10 AT
Accord 2.0 Turbo with 10 AT.

2018 Accord 2.0 Turbo with 10 AT

2018 Honda Accord Touring

2018 Honda Accord Touring

2018 Honda Accord Touring

2018 Honda Accord Touring


2018 Honda Accord Touring

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