2008 Honda Accord unveiled

The 2008 Honda Accord comes to market as the most powerful Honda model ever. It has also grown larger to meet the needs of an audience that values hospitality with "equal" front and rear seating comfort for four adults - while also maintaining or improving its fuel economy, lowering its emissions and building on its reputation as a class leader. From a pure performance standpoint, the Accord's 273-horsepower V-6 engine provides acceleration on par with luxury vehicles from classes outside of the segment.

Dynamically, the Honda Accord engages the driver with a refined and rewarding performance feel, yet ride comfort remains equally impressive for passengers. Furthermore, the level of standard equipment and premium features allow customers to create an environment that matches 21st century expectations. Ultimately, the 2008 Accord adds more emotion and style to the model's smart-to-own foundation in an all-out effort to genuinely deliver on the promise of an "evolution of the best" with one of North America's favorite cars.

Exterior
The Honda Accord Sedan embraces a traditional three-box shape that emphasizes both a dynamic and athletic feel with the sophistication of a timeless sedan form. The design is intended to convey a prestigious presence toward family, friends and business associates in much the same way a good suit can be worn on totally different occasions with a consistent feeling of style and class.

The focal point for creating the exterior began with the belief that a sedan should reflect both American values and embrace values shared worldwide. Truly a global effort, the Accord design theme of "athletic dynamism" brings together contributions from Honda design centers in Italy, Germany, Japan and the United States. Dimensionally, the Accord Sedan's overall length of 194.1 inches (4-cylinder models) is 3.0 inches longer than the 2007 model, the width of 72.7 inches is 1.1 inches wider, and the height of 58.1 inches is 0.9 inches taller. Even though the size is larger in every dimension, the vehicle's torsional rigidity has increased by 20% as a result of advanced body construction that uses 48% high-tensile steel - the most high-tensile steel by volume of any Accord to date. A significant benefit to the advanced body construction is that total vehicle weight increased only by approximately 5% despite the larger size, greater rigidity and added features.

The Honda Accord Coupe styling radically breaks from the sedan with a uniquely aggressive image. Its long hood, sleek roofline and muscular lines suggest an even more powerful presence and a heightened agility compared to the sedan. Dimensionally, the Accord Coupe's overall length of 190.7 inches is 2.9 inches longer than 2007 model, its width of 72.7 inches is 1.4 inches wider, and its height of 55.7 inches is 0.7 inches higher. Compared to the 2008 Accord Sedan, the Accord Coupe is 3.4 inches shorter in length and 1.7 inches shorter in height. Both 2008 vehicles are the same width._An overview of the top Accord body highlights includes:_• Expressive styling - The 2008 Accord Sedan becomes more upscale and prestigious with a more substantial front end with distinctive 6-point grille, taller and longer hood line, more aggressive flared fenders, unique upper and lower style lines along the body side, and a dynamic roofline.

Interior
Premium quality with a simple, modern and spacious design describes the philosophy behind the Honda Accord's interior. Rather than adding feature after feature to assault the senses with opulence, a variety of design techniques were used to enhance the feeling of width and space to express premium quality. Considerable attention was paid to interior shaping and detailing just as it was for the exterior, where the traditional three-box sedan form was enhanced by sculpting of the body panels. The exterior concept of using a beveled corner where the front bumper and fender meet is similarly applied to the lower part of the instrument panel to create a spacious feeling while entering the vehicle. Careful attention was paid to the symmetry of the exterior and interior of the vehicle - including sight lines related the dashboard height and the visual presence of the hood to the driver.

While the interior is larger than the previous-generation Honda Accord, the fundamental reason for increasing its size is grounded in the goal of producing equal seating comfort for front and rear passengers. In other words, the vehicle provides a sense of true hospitality to all of its occupants. Real differences in usable space can be noticed in the hip-point distance between front and rear passengers (+ 1.0 inch compared to the 2007 model).

Furthermore, the increased hip-point distance and lower floor allows rear occupant knee space to increase by three inches compared to 2007. By Honda's in-house measurements, the few sedans on the market with more rear knee space include the Mercedes Benz S550, BMW 750i and Lexus LS 460. The wider interior (+1.5 inches), combined with a more compact lumbar support system (EX and above), allows the front seats to be positioned farther apart to allow for a 2.75 inch wider center console compared to the 2007 Accord. Not only does a wider console provide the obvious enhanced functionality, but it also conveys a sense of openness more commonly found on high-end luxury vehicles.

A traditional zone approach separates operation-related instruments (top) and information-related instruments (lower). At night, the controls are further separated by color to distinguish between climate controls (aqua green) and audio controls (white). Classically-styled gauges for the speedometer and tachometer are round (instead of being truncated at the bottom). The steering wheel was meticulously fashioned with a shape, size and mass consistent with the finest luxury automobiles.

Overall, the 2008 Honda Accord Sedan has gained 3.3 cubic feet of interior space (120.0 cu-ft. total). Sedan customers traditionally value the comfort and utility of greater interior space, and as a result, the new Accord looks, feels, and simply is bigger. The Accord offers more interior space than its prime competitors in most dimensions. Building on Honda's already excellent reputation for interior styling (one of the significant strengths of the previous generation Accord), the new Accord has an even more upscale presence.

Powertrain
All 2008 Honda Accord engines deliver increased horsepower across the board, along with high fuel efficiency and low emissions. The sedan is available with either a 180-horsepower engine (up 14 horsepower) or a 200 horsepower 4-cylinder engine (up 34 horsepower) with a choice of 5-speed manual transmission (standard) or 5-speed automatic transmission (available), or a 273-horsepower V-6 with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The Accord Coupe is offered with a 200-horsepower 4-cylinder engine (up 34 horsepower) or a 273-horsepower V-6 engine (up 29 horsepower) with a choice of 5-speed manual (4-cylinder) 6-speed manual (V-6) or 5-speed automatic transmission (all engines). In total, these powerplants represent the most powerful and advanced technologies of any Accord in history, and are also projected to deliver excellent real-world fuel economy performance.

Key engine features include:
• The 2.4-liter Accord Sedan LX and LX-P four-cylinder engine produces 180 hp and features a DOHC i-VTEC valvetrain system. It produces 14 more horsepower than the 2007 Accord's 2.4-liter engine, due primarily to a higher compression ratio and related engine tuning.
• A 200-horsepower 2.4-liter engine is standard in the Accord Sedan EX, EX-L and Accord Coupe LX-S, EX and EX-L.
• Both 4-cylinder engines have EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21/31 mpg* City/Highway (Sedan AT, calculated using 2008 method).
• The new 3.5-liter V-6 engine (with automatic transmission) uses Honda's exclusive i-VTEC valvetrain system that incorporates Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) to enable engine operation in 6-, 4- and 3-cylinder modes to improve fuel economy.
• Active engine mounts on the i-VTEC V-6 engine work with the VCM system for smooth engine operation.
• The V-6 engine with automatic transmission has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19/29 mpg* City/Highway (Sedan, calculated using 2008 method).
• The Accord Coupe V-6 manual transmission engine (3.5-liter VTEC) is a unique variant of the Accord V-6 that uses a specially tuned VTEC valvetrain (without VCM) to enhance low- and mid-rpm torque and contribute to its sport-oriented character.
• All engines feature exhaust manifolds built into the cylinder heads, allowing for closer proximity of the catalytic converters and helping both engines achieve PZEV emissions standards with automatic transmission. 2.4-liter i-VTEC in-line 4-cylinder engine (Sedan LX, LX-P)

Chassis
Accord has always been considered a sporty performer among mainstream sedans and coupes, and for 2008 the Sedan and Coupe chassis were both developed to increase both driving enjoyment and passenger comfort. A performance-inspired double-wishbone front suspension and an in-wheel double-wishbone multi-link rear suspension are designed to provide world-class chassis dynamics. The Accord Sedan wheelbase of 110.2 inches is 2.4 inches longer than the 2007 model, while the 62.2-inch front/rear track is 1.1 and 1.0 inches wider, respectively. The Accord Coupe wheelbase of 107.9 inches is 2.3 inches longer than the 2007 model (track is identical to sedan). The longer wheelbases contribute to improved ride characteristics. Ultimately, the premium suspension design and wider track (along with wider tire sizes, standard ABS and standard Vehicle Stability Assist) are intended to enhance driver confidence and handling performance in all situations.

"Safety for Everyone"
Through a comprehensive approach to vehicle safety, Honda seeks to provide a high level of occupant and pedestrian protection in all of its cars and trucks, regardless of size or price, as well as increased compatibility with other vehicles as part of the Safety for Everyone initiative introduced in 2003.

Consistent with the Safety for Everyone initiative, every 2008 Accord integrates sophisticated safety technology that includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and dual-stage, dual-threshold driver's and front passenger's airbags (SRS); driver's and front passenger's dual-chamber side airbags; and side curtain airbags. The ACE body structure enhances frontal collision energy management through a network of load-bearing front frame structures designed to improve the likelihood for two vehicles to connect during a frontal collision in such a way as to absorb more crash energy compared to a conventional design. _Advanced Safety Technology_Every 2008 Accord incorporates newly-designed side-curtain airbags and dual-chamber front- side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), along with active head restraints that are designed to reduce the severity of neck injury in the event of a rear collision. Additional standard safety features include dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Brake Assist, front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, and a pedestrian safety design in the front of the vehicle. Passenger-side seatbelt reminders and daytime running lights are also standard equipment.

Trim Levels
The new 2008 Honda Accord is available in Sedan and Coupe body styles and 4 different trim levels for a total of 14 different variants.

Sedan Trim Levels:
• LX and LX Premium (LX-P) trim levels are powered by a 2.4-liter, 180-hp four-cylinder i-VTEC engine with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic.
• EX and EX-L trim levels are powered by a 2.4-liter, 200-hp 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic.
• The EX V-6 is powered by a 3.5-liter, SOHC, i-VTEC® V-6 engine with VCM and a 5-speed automatic transmission.
• The EX-L and EX V-6 are available with a Navigation system.

Coupe Trim Levels:
• LX Sport (LX-S), EX and EX-L trims are powered by a 2.4-liter, 200-hp 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic.
• The EX V-6 automatic is powered by a 3.5-liter, SOHC, i-VTEC® V-6 engine with VCM and a 5-speed automatic transmission.
• The EX V-6 6MT is powered by a 3.5-liter, SOHC, VTEC® V-6 engine with a 6-speed manual transmission.
• The EX-L and EX V-6 are available with Navigation system.