SPY PICS: Concept and Prototype in Accord
Honda is testing its upcoming Accord models on the road in the USAPrototypes of the new Honda Accord in sedan and coupe form were spotted by the happy snappers at Carparazzi during recent testing in the US.
In prototype form, the coupe remains largely true to the concept unveiled at the Detroit motor show (NAIAS) in January (more here). Plainly, Honda won't make major changes to the design at this late stage.
The cars on test were lightly disguised to fool onlookers, but the duct tape along the flanks cannot conceal the sedan's deep crease line which clearly runs along the flanks and delineates a step in the boot lid and rear quarter panels.
This crease line is a cue shared with the coupe, which we probably won't see in Australia.
Styling of the coupe has embraced an Audi TT look. For the production version, the grille, headlights and front bumper cover will be different and tape around the C-pillars point to revised styling there.
The Accord sedan is more of an evolutionary step and some will see it as a retreat to a more conservative design than the current Civic, for instance. In Australia the car would potentially replace the VTi and V6 moels, not the popular Accord Euro.
Mechanically, the new car is rumoured to feature cylinder deactivation for the V6 models. This follows a trend in the USA lead by GM and Chrysler and will allow improved performance without impeding emissions or fuel economy.
US production of the new Accord is expected to commence around September or October of this year.
-- with Carparazzi
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