- Honda is previewing the redesigned 2013 Accord Coupe at the Detroit auto show.
- The 2013 Accord Coupe and Sedan go on sale this fall, while the 2013 Accord Plug-In Hybrid will reach U.S. dealers in about a year.
- The ninth-generation Accord will feature three all-new powertrains, including a two-motor plug-in hybrid system.
DETROIT — Honda is previewing the redesigned 2013 Accord Coupe in concept form at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, ahead of the car's showroom launch this fall. An all-new 2013 Accord Plug-In Hybrid, in both coupe and sedan versions, will reach U.S. dealers next winter.
The ninth-generation Accord Coupe and companion Accord Sedan will feature three all-new powertrains, including a two-motor plug-in hybrid system and the first U.S. application of a DOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine.
The new 2.4 GDI engine makes 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque and will be offered with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a new continuously variable automatic. Honda projects an improvement in fuel economy, but did not provide specifics. The current 2.4-liter four in the 2012 Accord makes 177 hp and 161 lb-ft; coupled with a either a five-speed manual or automatic, the engine returns 23 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.
The 2013 Accord Coupe and Sedan also will offer a revised 3.5-liter V6 with more horsepower and torque, better fuel economy and a choice of six-speed manual or automatic.
The Accord Plug-In Hybrid features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, a powerful 120kW electric motor and a continuously variable automatic transmission, as well as a lithium-ion battery pack. In all-electric mode, the Accord Plug-In Hybrid will be able to drive 10-15 miles, at a speed of up to 62 mph. Honda did not provide a range, but said the car will take four hours to fully charge on a 240-volt circuit.
Among the Accord Coupe Concept's visual highlights are a four-side honeycomb grille, deep-set multi-reflector headlamps, deck-lid spoiler and 20-inch machine-finished alloy wheels.
Honda said the 2013 Accord Sedan will weigh less and have a "more compact exterior footprint," including shorter length, while retaining its current interior dimensions.
Among the new safety features on the 2013 Accord are lane departure warning, forward collision warning, rearview back-up camera and LaneWatch blind-spot display.
Inside Line says: More powerful and safer — but not much sexier.
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ispano says:
11:48 AM, 03/29/2012
Correction: meant to say there was no need to fix something that WASN"T broken.
ispano says:
11:45 AM, 03/29/2012
Some of you guys here don't realize that the Current Accord coupe greenhouse and design has been copied by the new MB c-class coupe, which in itself is a design copy of the 3-series.
This new coupe looks great, a huge improvement over the previous coupe, which wasn't that bad either.
All of my qualms with the current coupe have been fixed:
Better Tail lights. They are finally the right height and width.
Better front hood line- finally meets the grill where it's supposed to
More emotion in the sheet metal, instead of flat surfaces throughout.
A slightly more aggressive looking roofline thanks to the window trim accent.
This Accord coupe is finally one that I would consider buying. The previous generation Accord, both the MMC and pre-MMC just had too many "huh?" designs.
This new Accord, is not a copy of the Kia Forte, though it does look very similar - and that's because Kia copied the Civic.
This coupe concept was done by a team but lead by a Japanese designer who is known within Honda to like audacious designs that are atypical of Honda's bland look. He is a fan of Lamborghini, and I instantly knew that's where the design inspiration came from when I saw this concept with it's crazy in-lets.
It was later that I was told who the concept designer of the this car was and when it was mentioned that he was a fan of Lamborghini, it made sense.
Honda has been the brand that has been copied on every front- it's no surprise that when they come out with something that looks like another brand's styling, especially when they are trying to lure customers with design.
This new accord concept looks just as upscale and luxury as the new c350 coupe, sharing alot of the 3-series crease lines. The c350 is pretty much identical to the Accord coupe from the A-pillar to the rear quarter panel. If the greenhouse and shape was good enough for MB to copy, I'm pretty sure engineers and designers at Honda already knew they had a great formula, and there was no need to try to fix something that was broken, especially, best in class.
It's for this reason that Acura doesn't have a coupe. The Honda accord coupe is already nice enough.
clementkor says:
08:29 PM, 03/14/2012
Oh boy
Lots of ignorants in here.
@christoper42: I suppose this "plagiarism" is referring to the similarities with the Forte Koup, which itself was copied from the 8th gen civic. So don't jump on that bandwagon. Please.
@samster231: This is the coupe. The coupe doesn't need to be changed much because it has no competition and looked quite good to begin with. So hold your comments about bland redesigns until the sedan is unveiled. Please
@zero0: Thank you. Not all redesigns need to be radical as hell and wooshy as hell, as all competitors, save for the Malibu and the Camry seem to thing.
@damaje: Again, this is the coupe. Please hold comments about mildness until we see the sedan.
@bb49: Two things. The 8th gen Accord Coupe looked good. Why radically change something that looks good, and that does not have much competition to begin with? Second of all, the Accord Coupe isn't exactly a strong seller. So Honda isn't loosing much in terms of "lack of radical aesthetic redesign."
The Sonata isn't attractive. The designers seemed to be trying to put as many folds into the sheetmetal as possible. It's overly complicated. I'll agree with you on the new Fusion and the Optima; both look quite good.
The Chrysler 300 is a RWD full-size car. It does not compete with the Accord. And even with the 5spd Auto, the Honda still gets better mileage.
None of Honda's competitors offer 8 speed autos. They all offer 5-6spd manuals, 5-6spd autos, or CVT. Honda isn't playing catch-up, they just have delayed cycle compared to the competitors.
The Accord already has HID lights. A start-up button? WHY. It's nothing more than a gimmick. Not easier than turning a key, nor does it provide any performance/economical advantages. Agreed with heated seats. Don't agree with A/C vents though. When the AC is turned on, the entire car gets cold eventually. No need for extra vents.
@macsaan: Again, the Koup is copied from the 8th gen Civic Coupe.
Honda can do whatever the hell they want because it was their design to begin with.
macsaan says:
12:55 PM, 02/08/2012
im sorry but this REALLY looks like Kia Forte Koup...(or Forte Koup Concept)
+ it looks worse... btw rear is kinda ok
front is copy of forte koup
zero0 says:
08:34 PM, 01/12/2012
A lot of dislikes on this Accord. Its just a concept some of the features or designs are just hints to what the the next Accord might have.
bb49 says:
10:23 PM, 01/11/2012
I must say, I'm underwhelmed but this is actually to be expected as Honda continues to disappoint us by doing a minor refresh on the styling which to your average buyer means they won't be able to tell the 2013 coupe from the 2012 coupe. So instead of releasing a game changer, Honda releases an Accord that will look dated and dull compared to the bold, attractive, styling of the new Fusion, Sonata and especially the Optima. I suspect the interior will be full of hard cheap plastic surfaces and be dull, dated and uninspired. Honda really needs to hire away the Kia design studios. At least Honda is finally moving to a direct injection engine and will finally be offering a 6 speed manual (of course Honda was glacially slow with this and for most of its lineup still can only offer its dated 5 speed automatic). HOnda continues to play catch up its competitors have had 6 speed automatics for years and have or well be introducing 7-8 speed automatics (even Chrysler offers an 8 speed automatic. I could care less about the hybrid, but would love to see HID lights, 6 speed manual, start stop button, heated and ventilated seats and rear seat a/c vents offered across the board on all trim levels including the sedans. The EX should also offer the ELS sound system offered with acura. HOnda should abandon its policy of not offering "premium features" in the Honda because of the fear that it will steal sales from ACura. I think HOnda should just close the Acura division and just concentrate on improving the Honda products (acura's are so ugly will never be competitive with the premium euripean brans anyway.
litewerk says:
02:52 PM, 01/11/2012
Am in agreement with 1919diesel and trey_mont. What they said.
n54user says:
07:03 AM, 01/11/2012
" And best of all, Honda continues to deny access to a 6-speed auto on 4 cylinder models".
Actually the Accord will be getting the 6-speed auto carried over from the Acura lineup, as well as a CVT tranny which (and take with a grain of salt) is rumored to be one of the best in the biz......we know Honda can build a manual tranny, slushboxes well, not so much......lets see how the CVT turns out....
lzks says:
06:23 AM, 01/11/2012
Wow, all these mentally challenged people commenting on random crap while this car is basically the same accord with a super bling gangsta body kit. It's like commenting on a small scratch on a used car, while its engine is burnt. I mean, finally we had a proper comment courtesy of 'underwdp'. (Some idiot actually claimed plagiarism)
damaje says:
09:56 PM, 01/10/2012
Another new model from Honda that looks like it mild mid cycle freshening. @isend2c I think it looks more like the Forte than the Optima.