While other manufacturers trumpet about their vehicles one that has for many years quietly gone about producing superb family and performance orientated cars and MPVs is Honda of Japan. This month's Paris auto show will see the public debut of yet another – the 2003 Accord sports sedan.
Improved motors – with a diesel on the horizon – will, Honda says, give better performance, especially when mated to a new six-speed manual gearbox. A five-speed is also available, along with a five-speed auto/sequential unit.
"This is an Accord offering a more emotional experience, with distinctive styling, greater driving enjoyment from two lively DOHC i-VTEC engines and a tauter, more finely tuned chassis," Honda says.
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"It also has a bigger cabin, increased levels of safety, greater refinement, superb fit and finish and high fuel-efficiency."
All-aluminium motors deliver outstanding power for their size. No trumpeting there, just quiet statements of fact.
The two all-aluminium motors deliver outstanding power for their size, thanks mainly to the continued used of Honda's VTEC (variable valve timing and lift electronic control). The two-litre unit can deliver 114kW and 190Nm and Honda claims a combined-cycle fuel consumption of 7.5 litres/100km (manual transmission).
Maximum output from the 2.4-litre engine is 140kW at 6800rpm with maximum torque of 220Nm at 4500rpm. In combination with the new six-speed manual transmission, Honda says, it can return 9.4 litres/100km on the combined cycle.
This engine has an electronic "drive-by-wire" throttle.
Honda directed "considerable" attention to the driver's environment so wide adjustments are available for the driver's seat and the steering column. Distinctive black-faced and back-lit instrumentation is standard.
Distinctive black-faced, back-lit instrumentation is standard. All models will be equipped with dual-zone air conditioning but the improved specification also offers rain-sensitive windscreen wipers, DVD satellite navigation with a touch-screen and CD/radio packages.
Crash survival equipment includes two front crash bags and two cabin-length side curtain bags while the chances of avoiding a crash in the first place are improved with anti-lock disc brakes all round, electronic brake pressure distribution to the wheels offering maximum grip and instant emergency-braking pressure support.
The Accords' chassis was developed in Europe and uses Honda’s established double-wishbone front and five-link double-wishbone rear suspension designs, revised in a number of key areas – and so providing a further driving safety margin.
The 2.4-litre also has a stability system capable of helping the driver should an extreme situation develop while cornering or accelerating and of when swerving to avoid a collision.
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