Honda is marking their arrival at the 2012 North American International Auto Show with a preview of their 2013 Honda Accord Coupe. The concept on display in Detroit has garnered plenty of attention from journalists the world over and shows off the redesign of the popular model. The 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept is powered by the new Earth Dreams engine, a 2.4-liter inline 4-clyinder with direct injection tech, delivering a solid 181hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.
Power is transferred to the wheels via a continuously variable transmission. Honda has said that they will continue to provide an optional 3.5-liter V6 for the mid-size model, paired to a six-speed transmission in either an automatic or manual configuration. Also of note is that Honda is bringing back the Accord Hybrid, complete with an all-new two motor plug-in hybrid system. That means a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine coupled with a 120kw electric motor which runs on a 6kWh lithium-ion battery. The Accord Hybrid will feature three driving modes: all-electric, gasoline-electric and what the Japanese automaker calls "direct-drive."
The Accord Hybrid was last seen in 2007, and the new model is quite impressive in its hybrid function. In all-electric mode, the concept has a range of 10-15 miles and can reach a top speed of 62mph. The battery takes less than four hours to charge on a standard outlet and less than one and a half hours when plugged into a 240 volt outlet. "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.
The executive VP of sales for American Honda said this with conviction, and after taking one glance at the concept you can see why. The Accord Coupe Concept also comes complete with all of the company's safety technology and has a new, aggressive design sure to attract attention on the roadways. The front bumper features sporty design lines, a revised four-sided honeycomb grille and deeply set multi-reflector headlights. The rear features a trunk-lid spoiler and a redesigned bumper. It sits on a set of of 20-inch machine-finished wheels.
The 2013 Honda Accord will go on sale in fall 2012. This is the ninth-generation Accord and is sure to surpass its predecessors in terms of technology, styling and, in what Honda hopes, sales. The 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept is currently on display at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
