The 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept

Honda is turning heads with their preview of the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept.

Honda is marking their arrival at the 2012 North American International Auto Show with a preview of their 2013 Honda Accord Coupe. The concept on display in Detroit has garnered plenty of attention from journalists the world over and shows off the redesign of the popular model.The 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept is powered by the new Earth Dreams engine, a 2.4-liter inline 4-clyinder with direct injection tech, delivering a solid 181hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.

Power is transferred to the wheels via a continuously variable transmission. Honda has said that they will continue to provide an optional 3.5-liter V6 for the mid-size model, paired to a six-speed transmission in either an automatic or manual configuration.Also of note is that Honda is bringing back the Accord Hybrid, complete with an all-new two motor plug-in hybrid system. That means a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine coupled with a 120kw electric motor which runs on a 6kWh lithium-ion battery. The Accord Hybrid will feature three driving modes: all-electric, gasoline-electric and what the Japanese automaker calls "direct-drive."The Accord Hybrid was last seen in 2007, and the new model is quite impressive in its hybrid function. In all-electric mode, the concept has a range of 10-15 miles and can reach a top speed of 62mph. The battery takes less than four hours to charge on a standard outlet and less than one and a half hours when plugged into a 240 volt outlet."Marking the 30th anniversary of U.S. production, this new ninth-generation Accord will raise the bar again through a tour de force of new Honda powertrain and safety technologies, geared to ensure that Honda and the Accord continue to lead in fuel economy, safety and fun-to-drive performance," said John Mendel.

The executive VP of sales for American Honda said this with conviction, and after taking one glance at the concept you can see why.The Accord Coupe Concept also comes complete with all of the company's safety technology and has a new, aggressive design sure to attract attention on the roadways. The front bumper features sporty design lines, a revised four-sided honeycomb grille and deeply set multi-reflector headlights.The rear features a trunk-lid spoiler and a redesigned bumper. It sits on a set of of 20-inch machine-finished wheels.
The 2013 Honda Accord will go on sale in fall 2012. This is the ninth-generation Accord and is sure to surpass its predecessors in terms of technology, styling and, in what Honda hopes, sales.The 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept is currently on display at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

Honda Announces Pricing All-New 2012 CR-V

The all-new 2012 Honda CR-V, which was recently named a finalist for 2012 North American Truck of the Year, is set to debut at U.S. dealers nationwide today with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) ranging from $22,295 for the value-oriented CR-V LX 2WD to $28,295 for the luxurious CR-V EX-L AWD, plus a destination and handling charge1 of $810 per vehicle. The CR-V remains an excellent value, adding between $400 and $1000 worth of standard features and technologies to each trim compared to the outgoing model it replaces. Even loaded with feature content, the line saw only a modest average price increase of $181 and on models equipped with navigation, the price decreases by $300 compared to 2011.
"For 2012, we've made critical upgrades to virtually every aspect of CR-V's winning formula," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales, American Honda Motor Co. Inc., "The CR-V represents an excellent value for customers with pricing remaining relatively unchanged compared to the outgoing model despite the addition of numerous new features, improved fuel economy and enhanced utility."
The all-new CR-V features a more efficient engine design with improved horsepower and torque, along with an all-new Real Time All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) with Intelligent Control System™. All CR-Vs are powered by a 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 163 lb-ft. of torque paired with a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel economy2 is rated at 23/31/26 mpg city/highway/combined (2WD) (an increase of +2/+3/+2 mpg compared to the 2011 CR-V), and a compact SUV-class leading 22/30/25 mpg city/highway/combined (AWD) (an increase of +1/+3/+2 mpg compared to the 2011 CR-V).
New for 2012 features include an Easy Fold-Down 60/40 Split Rear Seat, lower cargo floor and a range of standard technology features. New high-tech features standard on all models include a Bluetooth®3 HandsFreeLink® phone interface (previously an available feature) a full-color intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) and a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines. As a first for Honda, every 2012 CR-V includes an SMS text messaging function, which can read received texts from compatible cell phones aloud over the audio system. Another firsts are the introduction of standard Pandora® Internet Radio interface4, compatible with the Apple® iPhone®, which works with the vehicle's audio controls and intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) and the availability of a Rear Entertainment System (RES).
The previous-generation CR-V was recognized as a "Top Recommended Vehicle" and received "Best Retained Value SUV under $25,000" by Edmunds.com, and named top compact crossover SUV in dependability by J.D. Power and Associates. The new CR-V continues this winning formula by already earning a Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value award for the 2012 model year.
The CR-V is sold globally in more than 160 countries throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. In the U.S., CR-Vs are manufactured at the Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio from domestic and globally sourced parts.
The 2012 Honda CR-V is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile Limited Vehicle Warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile Corrosion Limited Warranty.

 

Report: Honda to Build Production Car Based on the EV-STER Concept

Honda is planning a production car using the impressive EV-STER concept as inspiration.

Honda unveiled their impressive EV-STER electric concept vehicle at the Tokyo Auto Show last month, and according to a report from German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, a production car will soon make its way to market based on the concept.Honda CEO Takanobu Ito told the magazine that his company's biggest challenge is to reduce their CO2 emissions, so producing an EV would certainly make sense in order to keep those numbers down across their range.
He confirmed a new roadster-styled EV sports car based on the highly-acclaimed concept is in the works and may even include a gasoline-powered version.As we reported from Tokyo, the EV-STER concept ran on a 10kWh lithium-ion battery which allowed it to travel from 0-60mph in 5.0 seconds and reach a top speed of over 100mph. Range was also estimated at 100 miles.Though no timetable has been set for the new production model's release, Auto Motor und Sport say it could arrive in the U.S. as early as 2013 and overseas by next year.