Honda unveiled the new 2018 Accord in Detroit and the vehicle will have more power than its predecessor, additional technology and will feature a 10-speed automatic transmission. The new Accord was presented in teasers, but the car was caught testing several times in the past.
The new model will come with the faster-looking roofline, and generally speaking, its appearance will be sportier and more aggressive compared to the previous generations. That fastback-style rear end that is visible on the latest Civic sedan is lost on the Accord due to the long rear overhang whereas it is equipped with a chrome brow grille and side windows almost identical to the ones on the smaller car.
The tenth-generation Honda Accord receives a new chassis design with the more rigid body structure and an abundance of driver assistance equipment. All of this is necessary for the Accord to compete against the rivals and because of the new body structure, the Accord lost between 110 and 176 pounds, which is a small but significant reduction.
This version is lower, shorter and wider than the ongoing model with 54-millimiter longer wheelbase. Thanks to this, the Accord is one of the roomiest cars in the class and practicability is its strong selling point. Japanese brand also made sure to increase cargo capacity by 28 liters for petrol models and 90 liters for the hybrid versions.
Inside, we can see a new three-tier dash design while the soft-touch materials are all around. The steering wheel is sportier whereas the addition of the paddle shifters contributes to the sports aspect of the car. A new 7.0-linch TFT driver’s display comes instead of traditional dials, and an 8.0-inch central infotainment system features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. HondaLink services include emergency roadside assistance, remote locking and unlocking, stolen vehicle tracking, remote engine start and diagnostics.
If you opt for upper trims, you will also get a 6.0-inch head-up display which shows speed, engine rpm, navigation and traffic sign recognition. Among other features, we have wireless smartphone charging, near-field communication tech, over-the-air system updates and 4LG LTE in-car WiFi. There are also Bluetooth streaming and USB ports which keep media devices connected, while audio system goes from four to ten speakers, depending on a model of choice.
The greatest modifications are under the hood of the new Accord, and the turbocharged petrol engines replaced the naturally-aspirated I4 and V6 units which powered the vehicle in the past. The base powerplant is a 1.5-liter turbo four that comes instead of the 2.4-liter unit, and it develops 192 hp and 260 Nm of torque. It is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox or the CVT.
Next in line is a larger 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine which replaces the 3.5-liter V6 and this one is connected to either a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. Even though it produces less horsepower – 252hp – than the engine that is ditched, it delivers 370 Nm of torque which is an improvement.
Last but not least is the Honda Accord Hybrid which combines a 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle petrol powerplant and an electric motor. The output figures have not been revealed yet, but this version will be more spacious because engineers moved the battery pack and control systems under the rear end of the floor.
When it comes to the technology, Honda Sensing safety, and driver assistance tech suite will be featured, in the US at least. These systems bring autonomous emergency braking, road departure assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control with “low-speed follow” and traffic sign recognition. In addition, there are rear cross traffic alert, a multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, driver awareness monitor, blind spot monitoring and front and rear parking sensors.
The home of the new 2018 Honda Accord will be the Marysville facility in Ohio, while the Australian models will arrive from Thailand. Stay tuned for more details.
