Honda Accord: Launching In Melbourne & Geneva

Motoring Channel Staff - 29/February/2008

Melbourne, Australia —  The Accord badge represents a large portion of Honda's global sales. To call it an important vehicle would be underplaying its significance.

This is why the Australian debut of the 8th generation Honda Accord model (known as the "U.S." version) was a big event.

The new 2008 model Honda Accord was be unveiled at the 2008 Melbourne International Motor Show in late February, showing off a more sophisticated design than the previous model. 

It will also be the first 6-cylinder car in Australia to feature an advanced cylinder deactivation system which reduces fuel consumption and noxious emissions. Chrysler also has a similar system, but only on its V8 engine.

The Thai-built Honda Accord is a front-wheel drive medium/large car that will compete against vehicles such as the Nissan Maxima.

Power comes from a high-tech 3.5-litre V6 engine with around 200kW of power. In an Australian first, it will be feature an advanced cylinder deactivation system.

The V6 engine can shut down certain cylinders allowing it run on just 4-cylinders or even 3-cylinders, which reduces fuel consumption and C02 emissions. 

Honda calls the cylinder deactivation system VCM, or Variable Cylinder Management. 

The engine will shut down cylinders when cruising on the highway, for example, where only a small amount of engine power is needed to maintain a constant speed. The car is expected to be equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission.

Australian pricing for the new Honda Accord is as follows:

Accord VTi: $29,990
Accord VTi-Luxury: $36,490
Accord V6: $38,490
 Accord V6 Luxury: $46,990

In related Honda news, the slightly smaller Accord Euro has been revealed - to a point.

Honda has released a number of teaser images of the all-new model, which will make its global debut in March at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

We spoke to Honda Australia's PR manager Mark Higgins and he confirmed the new Accord Euro will be coming to Australia around mid-year.

The pricing and specifications are still being finalised, and the wagon model? It's "certainly being considered" said Mr Higgins, but said it's too early to say.

Wagons are big business in Europe, but the new car sales statistics show that Australian buyers gravitate towards mid-sized sedans more than wagons.

While it's hard to tell from these teaser images exactly what the car will look like, the major styling cues are an evolution of the previous design. Honda knows the Accord Euro is a popular model, and has made sure it will be recognisable.

The headlights appear to be fairly similar to previous models, though the brake lights have more in common with the new Honda Civic sedan than the previous Accord Euro design.

Honda has taken a number of design elements from the Accord Tourer Concept first seen at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. For example the headlights appear almost identical to the concept wagon.

Engine power for the new Honda Accord Euro will come from 2.0- and 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engines that will be Euro 5 compliant, though Australia will probably only get the 2.4-litre version as is the case currently.

Honda also has a high torque 2.2-litre diesel engine that it will offer European customers, though it's unlikely to come to Australia in the short term.

The new Honda Accord Euro is expected to be on the road in Europe a few months after its Geneva Motor Show unveiling, and will be on sale in Australia around the half-way point of 2008.

Related Articles:
- Mugen Honda Civic Type-RR (2008)
- Honda HF-S Concept (2007)
- Honda Jazz (2008)
- Honda Accord Tourer Concept (2007)
- Honda Accord USA (2008)
- Honda Civic Type R (Road Test)
- Honda CR-V (Road Test)
- Honda Civic Type R - sedan (2007)
- Honda CR-V (2007)
- Honda Legend (Road Test)
- Honda Civic Hybrid (Road Test)
- Honda Accord Euro (Road Test)