Honda strikes Accord with new U.S.-built car

By Alastair Doak

HONDA importer, PT Imora Motors, is turning its back on Japan and will instead import the American version of the sixth generation Accord.

The American model, which is wider and bigger-looking than the Japanese car, is seen as a more suitable car for the Indonesian market, where the Accord sells as a luxury model.

Like the present Accord, the car will be shipped to Indonesia in completely knocked down packs for local assembly.

The packs will be shipped from Honda's American Accord plant in Marysville, Ohio.

The first shipments are due here in January with the car expected to go on sale about March or April.

Plans to sell the American Accord, which will also be shipped to other Asian countries and Australia, were confirmed last week by Honda America executives in Los Angeles.

It is expected that only the four-cylinder 2.3-liter version of the car will be sold here. In the U.S. a 3.0-liter V6 model is also offered.

Honda claims the fifth redesign of its midsize Accord is the most comprehensive yet, with the car getting new engines, platform and suspension to name just a few of the changes.

This conservatively styled model, which primarily has to appeal to the buyers in middle America was considered more appropriate for our market as it has a wider body than both the Japanese and European "skinny" body models.

However, in true world car style, all versions of the sixth generation Accord share major components such as engines and suspensions and all are built off the same basic modular platform.

The car is marginally longer and wider than the old model, although it is a fair bit taller, which makes getting in and out of the car easier than before.

The taller body also helps improve legroom in the back because passengers sit taller with their legs down rather than sticking out.

It may look larger, but the car is identical to the old model in every other exterior dimension, and it rides on the same wheelbase.

Better interior packaging, however, has also brought improvements in front headroom and front and rear shoulder and hip room.

While the front overhang has been reduced, a larger rear overhang helps increase trunk space.

Inside, the impression of more space is accentuated by the low dashboard and large windscreen.

In the back, the additional legroom is immediately obvious, although the seats (both front and rear), are a little flat and unsupportive.

A sunglasses holder joins the now familiar cup holders and the interior, like the rest of the Honda range is familiar to look at and use, with all the major controls placed where they need to be.

Honda has worked very hard on reducing levels of noise vibration and harshness, and their efforts appear to have paid off.

Engine and road noise as well as vibrations at idle are all said to have been reduced, and initial impressions of the car on the roads in and north of Los Angeles would support those claims.

At high speed, wind and road noise are well subdued.

The stiffer body helps here as does the new double wishbone front and rear suspension systems, which are mounted on vibration absorbing subframes.

The new suspension has helped to minimize understeer, while the ride feels more supple and controlled than that found on the old model.

The 147kW 3.0-liter single camshaft V6 is smooth, responsive and gives the new Accord a substantial power boost.

Peak torque of 247Nm is at a high 4700rpm but the company's VTEC variable valve timing system ensures there is a decent spread of bottom-end grunt.

It mates to a new four-speed automatic that provides clean crisp changes and it resists hunting between gears.

Four-cylinder Accords are powered by an extensively modified and enlarged version of the previous 2.2-liter models.

The new 2.3-liter power plant has been designed to run more smoothly and efficiently. It also gets VTEC.

Power increases from 107kW to 110kW, while torque is the bigger winner jumping from 198Nm at 4500rpm to 206Nm at 4800rpm.

Honda claims the four-cylinder models return better fuel economy, and exhaust emissions meet the tough California Low Emission Vehicle regulations.

Overall impressions are of a car that not only looks and feels bigger, but a car that offers the refinement of a bigger, more upmarket model.

Standard equipment is expected to include dual air bags, an engine immobilizer, power steering, mirrors and windows and air conditioning.