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US Accord breaks cover
Honda uncovers all-new
Accord but no launch in
Australia until mid-2013
By RON HAMMERTON
THE new ninth-generation Honda
Accord has been revealed in images
released in the United States, where the
mid-size sedan and coupe range will go
on sale in the third quarter of this year.
The Thai-built version for Australia is
expected to look much the same when
the sedan arrives in local showrooms in
the middle of 2013, but this market again
will miss out on the coupe that will be
built only in left-hand drive in the US.
In Australia, the American-designed
Accord will also be sold alongside the
Japanese-built Accord Euro that is also
expected to get a total makeover within
the next year.
So far this year, Accord sales in
Australia are down more than 80 per
cent due to the devastating Thai fl oods
that crippled production for months.
By contrast, sales of the Japanese-
built Accord Euro are up by more than
80 per cent, as Honda and its dealers put
their sales and marketing efforts into
the only Accord available to them.
Honda Australia corporate spokesman
Lindsay Smalley told GoAuto that
although the 2013 Accord powertrain
line-up for Australia had not been
confi rmed, it was expected to remain
much the same as the current 2.4-litre
four-cylinder and 3.5-litre V6 petrol
engine range.
But as GoAuto reported in April, a
hybrid variant is expected to follow,
probably in 2014.
Mr Smalley said some small changes
could be expected to the Accord design
for the Asian market, in line with
previous models such as the Civic, but
the major sheetmetal would remain the
same as the American version.
Aug 15, 2012 Page 16
The new Accord was teased in concept
coupe form at the Detroit motor show in
January, and the production version is
largely faithful to that design, except for
some grille and trim differences.
The sedan design is largely
evolutionary, with a prominent chrome
grille surround and slimmer headlights.
Honda says the Accord is shorter than
before, contributing to a sportier driving
character and easier parking.
“An expansive greenhouse and
generous rear seating area provide
excellent levels of visibility and comfort
for the driver and all passengers,” the
company said.
American Honda product planning
vice-president Vicki Poponi indicated
the Accord had been designed inside out.
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