Not since the long-missed Acura NSX sports car has a Honda product prompted people to ask, "What is THAT?" The 2009 Honda Accord Coupe inspires the same curiosity by those who have never seen one-and even a little amazement to learn it's a Honda, and an Accord. It has an authoritative, road-serious look, and with the available 271-horsepower V6 and sport-tuned suspension, it has the power to match.
Coupe Du Jour
Say "Honda Accord" and most will think: boring but reliable and economical transportation. The 2009 Honda Accord Coupe requires new word associations: "attractive and fast." The Accord Coupe is far more than an Accord with the rear doors welded shut. The most obvious feature is its styling. For us, it's like a cross between a BMW 3 Series and an Aston-Martin DB9. It enjoys Honda's tradition of durable attractiveness-styling that doesn't go quickly out of style. Compared to the Accord Sedan, the Coupe is narrower and shorter. It has more aggressive suspension tuning and a lower final drive ratio for better acceleration.
Inside, the upscale feel continues. A multi-curved black dash is accented with a polished aluminum-colored band across the bottom. The top-of-the-line tester that Honda provided boasted supportive leather seats. Access to the back seat is as easy as it gets with a coupe. Once seated, there's adequate room for two average-sized adults. The Coupe has two fewer inches of headroom than the sedan, so basketball players and those with a larger than average behind will bump their heads on the ceiling. The center rear seat is for urgent situations only.
Power Levels
Two engines are available: A 190-horse, DOHC, four-cylinder, and the potent 271-horse SOHC 3.5-liter V-6. The six, which features four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing, makes a strong 254 pound-feet of torque at a relatively high 5000 rpm. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The automatic suffered from a bit of lag between when we asked for full throttle and the transmission downshifted to the needed gear. That gave the BMW too much of a head start. The four-cylinder with the five-speed manual gets 22 miles per gallon in the government's city driving cycle and 31 on the highway. The V-6 automatic gets 19 in the city and 28 on the highway.
A limiting factor in the Accord Coupe's ability to keep up with a 230-horse BMW 328 or a 300-horse 335 on winding roads are its less-than-sticky Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 all-season tires. Drive too deep into a tight corner before getting on the brakes and the anti-lock braking system will flutter like a frightened dove and the car will slide wide of your intended path. The Coupe's handling seemed nicely balanced but we kept radically overestimating the level of grip. The Accord Coupe will require a switch to ultra-high-performance summer tires to keep up with a well-driven BMW. Since Michelin doesn't make ultra-high performance tires in the Coupe's P235/45R18 original equipment size, options include the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A or the low-cost Kumho Ecsta SPT. Fitted with either, the Honda-BMW match-up will be determined mainly by the drivers' skills and determination. With sticky tires on the Honda, even 335i drivers will have to keep an eye on the rearview.
Top Models
The Accord Coupe comes in three trim levels: The base LX-S, the mid-level EX and the top of the line EX-L. Only the EX-L is available with a V-6. Pricing begins at around $23,000 and explodes past $32,000 for the EX-L V-6. This eighth version of the Accord Coupe was first introduced in 2008 and was changed little for 2009.
Standard in the V-6 Coupe is a 270-watt AM/FM/6-disc in-dash audio system with seven speakers. Standards include MP3/auxiliary audio input jack and XM satellite radio. We found the speed-sensitive volume control a very nice feature, especially when slowing after a mountain-road charge. A continually annoying trait of Hondas is reflections cast into the windshield and backlight at night and even under certain daylight conditions.
The Accord Coupe is a classically beautiful, strong performing two-door, four-seater. A dozen years ago it would have been among the top-performing sports coupes on the market. Add a set of sticky tires and a skilled driver and it is today, too.
AutoMedia.com, boasts more than 60,000 pages of original auto articles, including more than 2,100 features researched and written by leading automotive experts, covering car buying, maintenance and technology. For automotive advice you can trust read more about the 2009 Honda Accord Coupe, including the latest pricing, rebates and incentives along with photo galleries and details on all Honda Models.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mac_Demere
Your 52 MPG Accord Is On Its Way
The 2008 Honda Accord has arrived and with this next generation model buyers are finding a car that is bigger and wider than any previous Accord model made. Indeed, the Accord is slightly larger than its bitter rival, the Toyota Camry, itself elongated as of the 2007 model year.
The Hybrid Accord Bites The Dust
What you won't find on this year's model is a hybrid model. According to Honda officials, the company admits that their hybrid technology works better on smaller models. Yes, the V6 hybrid Accord only got four miles more to the gallon than the gas-powered I4, not necessarily bad but not something consumers were interested in.
The 2009 Honda Accord Diesel
Although the news that the most fuel efficient Accord isn't part of the automaker's current model year offerings, Honda fans who are willing to tarry one more year are likely to find that their wait has been well worth it. A 2.2L four cylinder diesel, now available in Europe, will make its way to the U.S. market for the 2009 model year. According to Autoblog Green, the Honda diesel will be able to attain 52 mpg on the highway, putting the Honda's mid-size offering in a class all of its own.
Honda Will Have The Cleanest Diesels On The Market
For enthusiasts who remember yesterday's diesel technology with its attendant smoke and racket, today's diesels must be rigorous EPA requirements in order to be certified for the US market. In addition, today's diesel technology has delivered an engine that is a lot quieter than earlier generation bangers.
Volkswagen and Mercedes with their jointly developed BLUETEC technology will be able to meet strict environmental requirements, but an additive called urea will need to be included to bring emissions output down to acceptable levels. Honda's diesels -- according to the company -- will be as clean as the gasoline engines they now sell.
Copyright 2007-2008 For additional automotive articles from Matthew C. Keegan, please visit his The Auto Writer blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan
The Hybrid Accord Bites The Dust
What you won't find on this year's model is a hybrid model. According to Honda officials, the company admits that their hybrid technology works better on smaller models. Yes, the V6 hybrid Accord only got four miles more to the gallon than the gas-powered I4, not necessarily bad but not something consumers were interested in.
The 2009 Honda Accord Diesel
Although the news that the most fuel efficient Accord isn't part of the automaker's current model year offerings, Honda fans who are willing to tarry one more year are likely to find that their wait has been well worth it. A 2.2L four cylinder diesel, now available in Europe, will make its way to the U.S. market for the 2009 model year. According to Autoblog Green, the Honda diesel will be able to attain 52 mpg on the highway, putting the Honda's mid-size offering in a class all of its own.
Honda Will Have The Cleanest Diesels On The Market
For enthusiasts who remember yesterday's diesel technology with its attendant smoke and racket, today's diesels must be rigorous EPA requirements in order to be certified for the US market. In addition, today's diesel technology has delivered an engine that is a lot quieter than earlier generation bangers.
Volkswagen and Mercedes with their jointly developed BLUETEC technology will be able to meet strict environmental requirements, but an additive called urea will need to be included to bring emissions output down to acceptable levels. Honda's diesels -- according to the company -- will be as clean as the gasoline engines they now sell.
Copyright 2007-2008 For additional automotive articles from Matthew C. Keegan, please visit his The Auto Writer blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan
Honda Named IInd - Largest Maker in 1st.Quarter 2007
The Honda Accord is a fuel efficient, low emission Japanese car import. The car is available in de facto DX, EX, LX, LX-V6, and EX-V6 line up. It is also available in high performance “enthusiast” versions which boast of better performance.
One of the most well known Japanese car import is the popular Honda Accord Hybrid which features the “green” hybrid car that is making waves in the eco-car community.
Accord Design
The Honda Accord sedan has many design features which make the car a popular choice among car buyers. A few features worth mentioning are the bright LED taillights, attractive 17” wheel design, a GPS navigator and a valuable maintenance minder system which reminds the owner about scheduled maintenance for the car.
Accord Performance
The V6 engine of the Honda Accord generates 244 hp. The 4 cylinder engine, on the other hand, gives 166 hp of power. These improvements to the car's performance were gained by the extensive refinements that the car went through in its intake and exhaust airflow systems.
The car also drives through a Drive By Wire (DBW) system instead of the common throttle cable. This makes the car more responsive and smoother to drive.
The Honda Accord Hybrid, on the other hand, features a 253 hp, 3.0 L, V6 engine and a larger battery back. The Honda Accord Hybrid is easily differentiated from the regular Honda Accord by the difference in their rear light clusters, the antenna, the wheel design, the mirror turn signals and the folding rear which is absent in the Honda Accord. The Hybrid version of the Accord also does not have a 4-way passenger seat.
Honda Accord Market
While readily available in the car market, the Honda Accord is also easily accessible in many Japanese used car dealers. In Online Japanese auction sites, the Honda Accord is readily available, Reputable used car dealers offer many good-as-new Japanese used car models and, with proper maintenance, a used Honda Accord can last for years to come. Used car warranty offerings will differ from one dealer to another.
That silent drive and those aerodynamic designs have always made HONDA as a favourite among all ages drivers. Be proud of your HONDA.
http://www.nexusscars.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anu_Radha
One of the most well known Japanese car import is the popular Honda Accord Hybrid which features the “green” hybrid car that is making waves in the eco-car community.
Accord Design
The Honda Accord sedan has many design features which make the car a popular choice among car buyers. A few features worth mentioning are the bright LED taillights, attractive 17” wheel design, a GPS navigator and a valuable maintenance minder system which reminds the owner about scheduled maintenance for the car.
Accord Performance
The V6 engine of the Honda Accord generates 244 hp. The 4 cylinder engine, on the other hand, gives 166 hp of power. These improvements to the car's performance were gained by the extensive refinements that the car went through in its intake and exhaust airflow systems.
The car also drives through a Drive By Wire (DBW) system instead of the common throttle cable. This makes the car more responsive and smoother to drive.
The Honda Accord Hybrid, on the other hand, features a 253 hp, 3.0 L, V6 engine and a larger battery back. The Honda Accord Hybrid is easily differentiated from the regular Honda Accord by the difference in their rear light clusters, the antenna, the wheel design, the mirror turn signals and the folding rear which is absent in the Honda Accord. The Hybrid version of the Accord also does not have a 4-way passenger seat.
Honda Accord Market
While readily available in the car market, the Honda Accord is also easily accessible in many Japanese used car dealers. In Online Japanese auction sites, the Honda Accord is readily available, Reputable used car dealers offer many good-as-new Japanese used car models and, with proper maintenance, a used Honda Accord can last for years to come. Used car warranty offerings will differ from one dealer to another.
That silent drive and those aerodynamic designs have always made HONDA as a favourite among all ages drivers. Be proud of your HONDA.
http://www.nexusscars.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anu_Radha
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