Car and Driver Reviews the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept

We like our Honda Accords around here, having awarded the car no fewer than 26 10Best awards, including in all five model years of the current generation. And so it was with keen interest that we watched Honda preview the ninth generation of the Accord at the 2012 Detroit auto show in the form of this coupe concept. Rendered in a gorgeous deep satin red with lots of glitzy chrome, the Accord coupe concept was not driven on stage but rather hurled like a curling stone toward the audience on a rotating platform, providing a 360-degree look at the car that will go on sale by the end of the calendar year.

Based on this show car, the 2013 Accord will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s seen the car we have today. But the sharp creases of the current model look to be augmented with a few more curves, most notably in the line that rises over the rear wheel and the kick-up from the rocker panel. Also, apparently the front and rear ends will look exactly the same. The next Accord coupe will be roughly the same size as now, but Honda says that the sedan will be shorter in length and lighter. The latter will face some of its stiffest—and best-looking—competition yet in the form of the 2013 Ford Fusion, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and the 2012 VW Passat, to name a few, so to stand relatively still in the styling department places even more importance on what is found under the Accord’s skin.

Two All-New Gasoline Engines
What we’ll find between the doors remains purely hypothetical at this point, as we weren’t allowed a peek inside the concept. But somewhat surprisingly—or perhaps not, for a company eager to prove it can still produce world-class powertrains—Honda revealed some information on what to expect under the hood. Big H says that the 2013 Accord will offer two all-new gas engines, including the first U.S. application of its direct-injected 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. (The current base four-pot makes 177 hp and 161 lb-ft of torque.) It will come paired with either a six-speed manual or a CVT that Honda promises will be “fun,” which, if true, would be a minor miracle.

While key competitors are abandoning larger engines in favor of fully four-cylinder lineups, the next Accord will again offer a naturally aspirated V-6. We’ll note here that only four-cylinder Accord models were awarded a 10Best prize this year, so our narcissistic side says that Honda is trying to get back into our good graces with a re-engineered version of its 3.5-liter V-6—and by offering it with a choice of six-speed automatic and manual (hooray!) transmissions. Honda added that V-6 models equipped with the six-speed automatic will feature cylinder deactivation. As for efficiency, the automaker says that all four-cylinder and V-6/automatic models will deliver best-in-class fuel economy.

Return of the Accord Hybrid—This Time as a Plug-In
The next-gen Accord also will offer a plug-in hybrid option starting next winter, with a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder paired to a 120-kW electric motor and a 6-kWh lithium-ion battery. There will be three distinct driving modes: fully electric, hybrid, and “direct drive,” which will allow the driver to remove electricity from the propulsion equation. The Accord is said to be able to drive 10 to 15 miles on electricity alone so long as speeds don’t climb beyond 62 mph and, we presume, you don’t do much more than breathe on the accelerator. In addition to the usual on-the-fly power regeneration, charging of the battery should take less than 1.5 hours on a 240-volt charger, according to Honda.

All models, regardless of cylinder count or battery assist, will feature “Eco Assist” driving modes with an “Eco” button providing more efficient operation as well as visual indicators to encourage a kinder, gentler driving style. The next Accord also will offer safety features such as lane-departure and collision warning systems. Finally, Honda promises a new full-color “intelligent” multi-information display by which owners will be able to control their smartphones and apps such as Pandora.

We’re looking forward to seeing the final product, but it won’t be until we slide behind the wheel that we’ll have an idea whether the next Accord is good enough to capture a 27th 10Best trophy.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2013-honda-accord-coupe-concept-photos-and-info-news