While its North American subsidiary is busy working on the fifth generation Honda CR-V, back home Honda is testing the Honda Freed MPV’s second generation model.
The second generation Honda Freed is said to launch in Japan this August. Already spied testing several times in Japan, and leaked in a patent image earlier this week, a speculative rendering by Adrians Ramadhani gives a clear look at the City-based MPV’s stance.
The
next-gen Honda Freed is reported to measure 4,250 mm in length, 1,695
mm in width and 1,710 mm in height (35 mm longer and at least 5 mm
taller than the current JDM-spec Honda Freed).
The 1.5-litre
naturally aspirated petrol engine will reportedly continue serving in
the second generation. The new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine to
be offered in the tenth-gen Civic later this year, will not be available on the Freed during its launch, another report said.
As for the hybrid variant which will be, the IMA (Integrated Motor
Assist) will be replaced by the i-DCD dual-clutch hybrid system. The
hybrid system’s combustion engine will be a 1.5-litre naturally
aspirated unit, mated to an electric motor, and the transmission will be
a 7-speed dual-clutch unit.
So there was a little more to the Honda Hungaroring trip than witnessing a lap record. There was also opportunity to try the old Civic Type Rs on circuit; with a current FK2 having been on the PH Fleet since March, a true three-car comparison was long overdue.
Yes, it is just the three cars. Honda doesn't have an EK9, FD2 or the
Japanese-spec EP3 with extra power and a limited-slip diff, so
apologies to those expecting a full JDM VTEC extravaganza. Instead we
have a late (2005) EP3 UK Civic Type R, a 2010 FN2 and the current FK2.
Can a turbo Type R really excite? Does the EP3 feel like a relic? When
does the VTEC really kick in? To the track!
EP3 Civic Type R '200hp for £16K!' screamed the
coverlines on the EP3 Civic Type R's arrival. It's easy to forget what a
big deal that was 15 years ago; not only was this the cheapest Type R
ever offered (both the Accord and Integra were over £20K), it also
looked great value in the hot hatch market.
As
an impressionable pre-teen back then, and with Gran Turismo consuming
every possible waking moment, the EP3 Civic Type R was a real hero car.
It still is, in fact, so expectations were running high.
We start with low-speed tracking pics, but immediately the eagerness
of that powertrain shines through. Having spent a while in the
turbocharged car the way it responds to every little throttle input is
joyous. Time to get rid of the photo car...
With the freedom of the circuit the EP3 can really be driven and -
you've guessed it - the engine stars. It just keeps on revving and
sounds feral, that glorious six-speed manual the perfect match. You will
have heard all this before, but to have a naturally aspirated engine
shriek to beyond 8,000rpm in a world where even Ferraris have to be
turbocharged is just so exciting.
The
handling is OK. This was a brief drive in Honda's heritage car but
there's enough to sense some real agility and an eagerness from its
relatively low mass. The Internet says the electric steering in
facelifted cars like this one is improved on the original, but it still
doesn't communicate enough about what's going on under the tyres.
There's also a sense a contemporary Renaultsport product might have a
little more finesse to the way it deals with bumps and changes in grip.
Still, the EP3 remains an absolute hoot, largely because of that
powertrain. It may seem an obvious one for a track project but with good
reason - can the FN2 match it?
FN2 Civic Type R There's
a common belief , thanks in part to a certain television show, that the
FN2 can't match the EP3's fun factor, that it's a poor relation and a
rather duff Type R.
Sadly,
while it would have been nice to confound those expectations, the later
Civic is disappointing after the first UK Type R. The performance is
still there if you work for it and the steering feel is improved, but
elsewhere it struggles to move the fast Honda game on.
Even on a circuit it feels stiffer than the EP3 but also oddly inert
as well. The keenness from the older car is gone, replaced with a
balance set to understeer and not a lot else. This isn't at far fetched
journalist-trying-to-be-a-racer speeds either, as the laptimes aren't
dissimilar to the older car. It wants to push almost as soon as you've
turned in, which just isn't fun. Sadly the Mugen
that promised so much on the road isn't available in Hungary, because
it would surely have shown off the FN2 era in a far better light. As it
stands the FN2 will remain the unloved Type R, even in this later
specification with the limited-slip diff from the Championship White
limited edition. This one looks rather fun with 350hp though...
FK2 Civic Type R Now
it gets serious. Yes, we've driven the current Type R on track in quite
a few situations, but to compare it back-to-back with its predecessors
reveals starkly just how far this car has moved the Civic on.
The
FK2 Civic Type R always feels fast, but in the company of the other two
it's savagely rapid. It's pulling so much harder from much lower down
that the lack of a bonkers top end feels almost worth it for the massive
increase in performance. Almost.
The gearbox is still fantastic, the brakes on another planet compared
to the other two and traction better than the FN2 despite twice the
torque. It's an absolute animal on the circuit, hugely composed over the
Hungaronring's bumps and goading you into ever more optimistic brake
and turn-in points. Yes, the tyres may not be as sticky as true track
heroes would like and, yes, a Megane is probably more playful, but as a
demonstration of how fast front-wheel drive can be the Type R is
sublime.
It's interesting to note too the similarities between the cars too.
In all three the gearbox is great and the steering wheel very good
(despite the introduction of more buttons), but the seat always a little
too high. While we're on gripes it's sad to report how much worse
visibility is; it feels like there's acres of glass in the EP3 and a
great view everywhere, which gradually declines with the FN2 and the
current car as the spaceship design, er, took off. Shame.
Verdict Given
the age and value gap between these three, this was never going to be a
conventional triple test. More it was to see how far the Civic Type R
has evolved in 15 years, where it has been good and where it could have
improved.
The
EP3 is a right giggle; perhaps it’s not the most finely wrought hot
hatch around but there’s sufficient excitement as standard and plenty of
potential too. I’d love to try one of the Japanese cars with the
limited-slip diff and additional power, just to see if it’s good as Gran
Turismo suggested. Hopefully the seat has been dropped in that one too…
The FN2 does feel like a backwards step sadly. Perhaps that would
have been different with the Mugen but then that was nearly £40K when
new – it’s a significantly more focused car. If you really can’t stand
the looks of the original car then go for the FN2, but otherwise it’s
quite hard to recommend. Sorry.
The current car feels about three generations on from the FN2; not
simply in terms of performance but in the way it feels so much more
better built and structurally rigid too. It’s a different kind of car to
those that preceded it, but arguably a more complete and competitive
hot hatch than it’s ever been.
This Civic Type R can learn some things from the old ones though. It
needs better throttle response, for starters, but a few more revs would
be good as well. Of course we won’t get 9,000rpm again, but for now the
Type R doesn’t really rev any higher than its rivals. The engine feels
really keen, and a redline of 7,500rpm would give it a selling point
over its numerous competitors. That being said, for Honda to have
returned to the Civic Type R with a car so far improved from the one
before it is to be applauded. Let’s hope the progress continues over the
next 15 years.
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R (EP3) Engine: 1,998cc, 4-cyl Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive Power (hp): 200@7,400rpm Torque (lb ft): 145@5,900rpm 0-62mph: 6.6sec Top speed: 146mph Weight: N/A MPG: 31.7 CO2: 212g/km Price: £15,995 (2001)
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R (FN2) Engine: 1,998cc 4-cyl Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive Power (hp): 201@7,800rpm Torque (lb ft): 142@5,600rpm 0-62mph: 6.6sec Top speed: 146mph Weight: N/A MPG: 31 CO2: 215g/km Price: £17,600 (2007)
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R (FK2) Engine: 1,996cc 4-cyl turbo Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive Power (hp): 310@6,500rpm Torque (lb ft): 295@2,500-4,500rpm 0-62mph: 5.7 sec Top speed: 167mph Weight: 1,467kg (Honda figure, with fluids and driver) MPG: 38.7mpg (Honda internal figure) CO2: 170g/km (Honda internal figure) Price: £29,995
China’s leaky patent bureau had leaked again; this time with renderings of the new Honda
Freed mini MPV that is scheduled for launch in September. The Honda
Freed is mostly sold in Asian and South East Asian markets, but not in
China. The new Freed however will make it to the Chinese market.
The current Freed debuted in 2008, is is based on the same platform
as the Jazz/Fit. It is manufactured in Japan and in Indonesia. If it
comes to China it will be made locally by one of Honda’s joint ventures;
Dongfeng-Honda or Guangzhou-Honda.
The Freed is powered by a 1.5 with 118hp and 148nm, mated to a
five-speed manual or a CVT. The engine will continue in the new Freed
with a few horses more. Honda is also working on a full-electric version
of the Freed.
Current Freed.
The market for small and mini MPVs is booming in China, so bringing in
the Freed now would be a good idea. It has to be cheap though, to
compare with the offerings of local Chinese car makers, which are
getting better by the day.
2017 MDX showcases next evolution of the Acura Precision Concept-inspired new Acura Diamond Pentagon grille and exterior styling
Most premium and technologically advanced MDX in history now
available with 20-inch wheels, second row captain's chairs, HD
traffic, SiriusXM Radio® 2.0, heated steering wheel and Surround View
Camera
Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) variant launching later this year
MDX is America's best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time
The restyled and refreshed 2017 Acura MDX, the best-selling three-row
luxury SUV of all time, goes on sale tomorrow at Acura dealerships
nationwide with a starting MSRP of $43,950. The 2017 Acura MDX raises
its game with bold new exterior styling, larger wheel and tire options
and an expanded complement of premium features and technologies,
including the AcuraWatch™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive
technologies, now offered as standard equipment on all 2017 MDX models, a
first in the luxury SUV segment.
Featuring refreshed exterior styling inspired by the Acura Precision
Concept, the 2017 MDX is highlighted by the new face of Acura, the bold
and distinctive Diamond Pentagon grille. Integrated with a more sculpted
hood, front fascia, front fenders and revised Jewel Eye™ headlights,
the result is a more "executive athletic" appearance for Acura's
class-leading luxury SUV. Additional styling updates include new chrome
rocker panel trim, a revised rear bumper and skid garnish, and the
return of visible dual exhausts with bright finishers.
"We're raising the Acura MDX's game for 2017 with premium new
features and technologies that luxury SUV buyers want, complemented by
bold, new styling we know they're going to love," said Jon Ikeda, vice
president and general manager, Acura Division. "Backed by its
high-performance credentials, the 2017 MDX has advanced its
competitiveness and will continue its legacy of leadership as the
best-selling three-row luxury SUV in America."
Premium Content
All 2017 MDX models benefit from increased standard luxury and
technology features, including an Electric Parking Brake with Automatic
Brake Hold, Auto High Beam headlights, SiriusXM Radio 2.0, four 2.5-amp
USB charging ports and capless fuel filler. Technology and Advance
packages add Bi-Directional Keyless Remote Engine Start, two new 20-inch
wheel and tire options, power folding side mirrors, and HD Traffic.
In addition, Advance grades add LED fog lights, genuine Olive Ash
Burl or Black Limba wood interior trim, a heated steering wheel and
Surround-View Camera System with six selectable viewing angles. Advance
models can also be equipped with two second-row captain's chairs and a
center console with two additional USB ports for third-row passengers.
An ultra-widescreen Rear Entertainment System is also available on
models with the Advance ENT Package.
Safety
All 2017 Acura MDX models come equipped with the AcuraWatch suite of
safety and driver-assistive technologies: Collision Mitigation Braking
System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning
(FCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with
Low-Speed Follow (LSF) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). All models
also come equipped with a multi-angle rearview camera, and upper grades
add blind spot information (BSI), front and rear parking sensors, Rear
Cross Traffic Monitor and new Auto High Beam.
Combining AcuraWatch with Acura's next-generation Advanced
Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, the 2017 MDX delivers
intelligent safety and confident driving performance at the top of the
competitive segment and targets top safety ratings; a five-star Overall
Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) has already been achieved, and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is anticipated.
Powertrain
The 2017 MDX leads its class with its combination of refined and
responsive power and outstanding fuel efficiency. The 3.5-liter
direct-injected i-VTEC® 24-valve V-6 engine is rated at 290
peak horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. peak torque. The 2017 MDX with
front-wheel drive and Idle Stop has an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg
city/27 highway/23 combined, and MDX with Super Handling All-Wheel
Drive (SH-AWD) and Idle Stop is EPA rated at 19 mpg city/26 highway/22
combined. The MDX also meets the stringent EPA Tier 3/Bin 125 and CARB
LEVIII ULEV-125 emissions standards.
An available Sport Hybrid Super Handling-All Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®)
powertrain variant will be available later in the year, making MDX the
third model in Acura's lineup to utilize its revolutionary three-motor
Sport Hybrid powertrain with electric torque vectoring.
For More Information
Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at www.acuranews.com/channels/mdx. Consumer information is available at www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/Acura.
About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers
Precision Crafted Performance, an original approach to technology and
design that creates a new driving experience. On March 27, 2016, Acura
celebrated the 30th anniversary of its launch as the first luxury
nameplate from a Japanese automaker.
The Acura lineup features five distinctive models – the RLX luxury
flagship sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan,
the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the seven-passenger Acura
MDX, America's all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV. This spring,
Acura launched its next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new
and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.
Honda's next-generation Odyssey minivan has been spotted undergoing
high-altitude testing in the Colorado Rockies. Honda's next people mover
is expected to go on sale later this year
The 2017 Odyssey will adopt new exterior styling with influences from
the Pilot crossover. That should mean new headlights with LED accent and
a more aggressive looking lower bumper area.
Although still covered in heavy camouflage, it's clear that the new Odyssey
will ditch the controversial "lightning bolt" belt line that adorns
today's van. That should give the Odyssey a more conventional van look.
The rear of the minivan will also be redesigned, but those details are
still hidden.
The 2017 Odyssey is expected to use Honda's latest
3.5L V6 engine with about 280 horsepower on tap. As with top-spec
versions of the Pilot, the Odyssey will use a nine-speed automatic.
Front-wheel drive will likely be the only configuration on offer. It's
possible that Honda could eventually offer the Odyssey with a hybrid
drivetrain.
The 2017 Odyssey will continue to offer Honda's
outstanding packaging along with the HondaVac vacuum system. Android
Auto and Apple CarPlay will be the highlights of a new infotainment
system.
Look for the 2017 Honda Odyssey to go on sale before the end of the year.
Honda's Acura EV Concept is a
battery-electric race car that will compete in the Pike's Peak Hill
Climb. It includes technology that Honda might be refining for upcoming
electric cars
Honda's latest concept car is a battery-electric Acura-NSX-based
racer with four electric motors. Honda has been late to the
battery-electric car race, but the new race car's technology hints that
it might be gearing up to launch a Tesla rival.
Honda (NYSE:HMC)
said on Monday that it will enter a battery-electric concept car into
this year's Pike's Peak Hill Climb, a fiercely contested event in which
racers compete for the fastest time up a steep and winding mountain road
in Colorado.
The Acura EV Concept, as the car is called, is based on the hybrid
Acura NSX supercar and builds on technology that Honda used in another
experimental race car at last year's event. It's a strong hint that
Honda may be planning its own entry into the upscale battery-electric
car market currently dominated by Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA).
That's of interest to future-minded investors watching the automotive space. Here's why.
A four-motor electric race car that is based on production technology
When we think of big automakers that might step up to challenge Tesla
with "premium electric vehicles" with entries of their own, we
typically think of the German luxury brands, all three of which are
known to be working on battery-electric models. We might also think of
one or two others -- perhaps General Motors (NYSE:GM), which has moved to embrace advanced technologies more aggressively than most of its mass-market rivals.
Needless to say, Honda isn't exactly
the first one to come to mind, and that perception has probably hurt it
with future-minded investors.
Honda has dabbled with "green" technologies like fuel cells and
produced well-regarded hybrids for years, but it hasn't (yet) made a big
splash in the world of battery-electric cars, much less premium once.
The Acura EV Concept might be a sign that that's set to change. While
Honda didn't share much detail, it did note that the concept builds on
the electrified part of the "sport hybrid" powertrain system that's part
of the new Acura NSX sports car. Simply put, it uses a system of four
electric motors, one for each wheel. That allows the car's computer to
"vector torque" -- to fine-tune the power applied to each wheel on the
fly.
Done right, it should make for
electrifying (so to speak) handling that goes far beyond what can be
accomplished with traditional gas-powered drivetrains, and a step beyond
anything that Tesla has so far attempted. It should be ideal for a for a
tight, twisty race course like Pike's Peak -- and it might make for a
very fun-to-drive premium sports-luxury car.
So will Honda build it or something like it?
That's unclear. But there are a growing number of clues that Honda is
finally making an aggressive move toward battery-electric cars.
Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo has had the top job for less than a year,
but he's already taken big steps to reorient the company toward the
emerging electric future. Honda hasn't yet announced detailed plans for
specific electric vehicles. Hachigo, citing concerns about recharging
and hydrogen-refueling infrastructure, has said that Honda will focus
the bulk of its efforts on plug-in hybrids in the near term.
But Hachigo recently told Autocarmagazine
that he expects that battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles will
together make up about 15% of the company's total global sales by 2030
and a majority by 2050.
That and the Acura EV Concept race car suggest that something
is coming. And that in turn could reassure investors concerned that
"disruption" will overtake the historically innovative Japanese
automaker.
Autohome.cn has acquired a spyshot of the production-spec Honda Concept B, which is christened as Honda ‘Gienia’. It is the hatchback version of the Honda Griez sedan, and both are based on the Honda City’s platform.
The exterior of the Gienia will draw design cues from the Honda
Concept B, featuring a large Solid Wing Face with bold chrome elements,
gloss black grille, projector headlamps and sporty bumper design. The
rear-end has boomerang-shaped taillights connected by strip that runs
across the upper portion, sculpted bumper with chrome accents and a rear
spoiler.
The Gienia measures 4,517 mm long, 1,705 mm wide, 1,477 mm high, and has a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. Compared to the Griez, it is 22 mm shorter in overall length. Powering
the Honda Gienia will be a 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine producing 96 kW
(128.6 hp) and 155 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual gearbox will be the
standard transmission, while a CVT option would also be available.
The Gienia will be manufactured by the Dongfeng-Honda JV, and sold alsongside its four-door sedan sibling later this year.
For a manufacturer that’s never really done a concept car before,
Rolls-Royce did really well yesterday with the launch of its luscious
103EX concept. It knew that gimmicks like a ‘virtual red carpet’
projected from the car on the pavements outside the world’s leading
hotels, bars, restaurants and nightclubs would prove excellent
clickbait. It did. Ditto the elegant silk love seat, room enough for two
(or maybe three, nudge-nudge).
Don’t go thinking Rolls was
entirely pandering to the world’s sidebars of shame; egress from the
car, which allows both passengers (there are no drivers, but we’ll come
to that) to stand up before exiting will deprive the world’s more
depraved paparazzi of one particular money-spinning shot. Rolls knows
how to play to the gallery these days. It knows its customers even
better.
Let’s get one thing straight, the
103EX is absolutely beautiful. Just about recognisable as a car as we
know it, but so full of sculptural form and obsessive detail it crosses
the line between automotive and art. You don’t need to understand it to
be transport to appreciate its beauty. Cars were like this once, they
will be again if Rolls-Royce’s version comes to be. Rolls doesn’t take
orders these days, it takes ‘commissions’, so extensively personalised
are its range of cars – Ghost, Wraith, Dawn and the soon be discontinued
Phantom VII family – before they leave the factory. It long ago became
common down at Goodwood for customers to be invoiced twice the list
price of the car, so extensively modified are their new cars.
Yet the notion of ‘commissioning’ is
a bit of a conceit as the cars do all look fundamentally the same. They
have to, so stringent are the laws protecting both passengers and
pedestrians, so exhaustive the proving of compatibility with those laws.
They are of course all built on the assumption that cars will crash
into each other, into solid objects, into soft flesh. But what if you
remove that assumption? 103EX does.
If you wanted to classify 103EX,
it’s a next-but-two Phantom Coupe from around 2040. Only it’s not,
because Rolls-Royce assumes it will have stopped building series
production cars by then and will instead revert to its original business
model (as in the big idea of Henry Royce and Charles Rolls) of
providing a sublime mechanical platform on to which independent
coachbuilders would construct a body and interior.
Only Rolls-Royce doesn’t want to give that side of the business away,
not all of it, at least. So assuming then there are no rules dictating
much of the exterior and interior design of the car, and there are
technologies (such a 3D printing) that allow car makers to dispense with
the expensive business of making tooling, the investment in which then
needs to be amortised across the life cycle of vehicle, there is no
reason why every car from a maker like Rolls-Royce need not look
entirely different. 103EX is not then the Rolls-Royce of the future but a Rolls-Royce.
It’s enormously long – as long as
the extended wheelbase Phantom – but surprisingly only chest height. The
roof flips open (hinged left or right depending on where you park — not
that driving on the left and driving on the right will be a thing once
cars are all autonomous according to Rolls) to allow passengers to make
the elegant exit. The vast cockpit, beautifully but minimally finished
with just that silk sofa, and a large silk rug in front of the
wall-to-wall screen with just a clock on what we call right now a dash,
is the most extreme take on the autonomous assumption. There is no
provision for a steering wheel, although Rolls believes some customers
might specify one.
Royce loved his electric motors and
believed them to have been ideal for the kind of car he had in mind:
torquey and silent. He was 100 years before his time as the world is
only really ready for battery-powered cars now and arguably only because
of the bloody-mindedness of Elon Musk and Tesla. Rolls-Royce
demonstrated an electric Phantom VII some years back but it appeared to
get a better reaction from the press than it did customers who were said
at the time — by Rolls-Royce — to still be very much in love with their
V12s. No longer, apparently. Although it won’t say when, Rolls-Royce
does now see an horizon for the V12. Beyond a certain date, and probably
well before we see anything like the 103EX on the road there will be
electric-powered Rollers. There will have to be; Norway for example is
pondering banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2025. That’s
just nine years away.
The 103EX — or something like it —
is maybe three times as far off, and certainly wishful thinking in the
lifetime of the vast majority of you reading this. So once you’ve got
your fill of the sheer and incontestable beauty of this thing, imagine
just how much more elegant still it will look navigating its way
silently through an autonomously-controlled swarm of
anonymously-designed Google and Apple ‘personal transporters’. With the
103EX, Rolls-Royce has made a bold and potent case for its own and for
Luxury’s survival in an unrecognisable automotive future. Given that
most of its ‘competitors’ subjugate luxury to outright performance, it’s
going to fascinating to see how they respond.
by Viknesh Vijayenthiran of www.motorauthority.com
Honda's Civic Type R is one of the fastest hot hatches in the world, despite it skipping
an all-wheel-drive system and sticking with a good ol’ manual
transmission.
The current generation, powered by a 305-horsepower turbocharged
2.0-liter 4-cylinder, made its debut in 2015 and although it isn’t on
sale in the United States its successor, which has been spotted testing, is due here soon.
Engineers of the next-generation Civic Type R have a great base to
build from as the current car has just clocked in some impressive
benchmarks for five of the most iconic racetracks in Europe, four of
which feature on the Formula One calendar. The times are the current
records for a production car with front-wheel drive.
Below are the five racetracks where the Honda Civic Type R currently
holds lap records for a production car with front-wheel drive, and the
name of the driver in each instance. There’s also a video for each
attempt.
Next-generation two-motor hybrid powertrain with class-leading
212 horsepower and top-in-class EPA fuel economy ratings of 49/47/48 mpg1
Dynamic new styling and advanced features including standard
Honda Sensing™ technology, plus available Display Audio with Apple
CarPlay™ and Android Auto™
America's best-selling midsize sedan bolsters its resume for 2016
with the arrival of the restyled and reengineered 2017 Accord Hybrid,
America's most powerful and fuel-efficient midsize hybrid sedan,
launching today at Honda dealerships nationwide. Featuring an advanced
second-generation two-motor hybrid powertrain, the 2017 Accord Hybrid
delivers a knock-out combination of power, fuel efficiency and standard
high-tech feature content with peak total system output of 212
horsepower, best-in-class EPA fuel economy ratings of 49/47/48 mpg
(city/highway/combined)1, and a starting MSRP of $29,605.
In addition to its more powerful and fuel-efficient hybrid
powertrain, the 2017 Accord Hybrid benefits from the extensive upgrades
made to the Accord lineup for 2016 including dynamic new styling,
sportier driving performance and the latest in advanced technology.
Available in three well-equipped trims – Hybrid, Hybrid EX-L and
Hybrid Touring – all Accord Hybrids boast increased levels of standard
and available equipment including the Honda Sensing™ suite of advanced
safety and driver-assistive technologies, offered as standard equipment
on all models; and for EX-L and touring trims, Honda's newest Display
Audio touchscreen interface featuring Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™
compatibility.
"The Accord Hybrid is the ultimate Accord, offering exceptional
dynamic qualities with the greatest technological sophistication and
fuel efficiency in the Accord family," said Jeff Conrad, Senior Vice
President and General Manager of Honda Division, American Honda Motor
Co., Inc. "Consumers have made Accord America's top selling midsize
sedan, recognizing its unique combination of performance, value,
efficiency and refinement, and the 2017 Accord Hybrid ups the game in
each of these traits."
A 30-time recipient of Car and Driver magazine's "10 Best"
award, unprecedented for any vehicle, the Honda Accord has been
America's top retail selling car for three years running and is also the
best-selling midsize car among under-35 year old car buyers. Through
the end of April of 2016, Accord is the outright best-selling midsize
car in America with sales up 13.2 percent versus year-ago results.
Combining the next generation of Honda's two-motor hybrid system with an ultra-efficient 2.0-liter i-VTEC
Atkinson Cycle engine, the 2017 Accord Hybrid powertrain achieves a
peak combined output of 212 horsepower, the highest of any midsize
hybrid sedan and up 16 horsepower over the 2015 Accord Hybrid. EPA fuel
economy ratings of 49/47/48 (city/highway/combined)
put the Accord Hybrid at the top of the class under a more stringent
EPA ratings system for 2017 model year vehicles, making it the most
powerful and fuel efficient midsize hybrid sedan in America.
The Accord Hybrid's two-motor hybrid powertrain takes an elegant and
innovative approach to hybrid power, eliminating the need for a
conventional mechanical transmission. The Accord Hybrid's powertrain
seamlessly transitions between three modes of operation:
EV Drive – using its electric propulsion motor and
lithium ion battery pack to drive the front wheels for short distances
under light loads (with the engine turned off)
Hybrid Drive – the electric propulsion motor drives
the front wheels while the gasoline engine powers a second
motor/generator to supplement electrical current drawn from the battery
pack
Engine Drive – using a lock-up clutch mechanism to
connect the engine and propulsion motor, the front wheels are driven by
both the motor and gasoline engine
Honda Sensing™
All 2017 Accord Hybrids come standard with Honda Sensing™, among the
most comprehensive suites of advanced safety and driver-assistive
technologies in the competitive class. The following technologies
comprise Honda Sensing:
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
All 2017 Accord Hybrids also feature a standard Multi-Angle Rearview
Camera with dynamic guidelines and Expanded View Driver's Mirror. The
Touring trim adds new auto high-beam headlights that enhance nighttime
visibility and driving convenience.
Exterior and Interior Design
The Accord Hybrid gets a major facelift for 2017 that closely follows
the changes made to the gasoline-only powered 2016 Accord models. In
place of the previous wrap-around front bumper is a more sharply creased
and intricately structured front fascia, the lower portion of which
tucks into large intake-like meshed areas that house new standard LED
fog lights. An Accord Hybrid exclusive, elegantly contoured aluminum
hood meets up with a brighter, more pronounced front grille. The more
expressive face of Accord is complimented by a sharply sculpted rear
bumper fascia and new LED taillight design. Blue-accents on the front
grill, headlights and taillights of the 2017 Accord Hybrid, along with
special "Hybrid" badging, provide a subtly distinctive look and visual
differentiation between from its gasoline-only powered stable mates.
All Accord Hybrid trims have unique 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels and
feature the expanded use of LED lighting – LED daytime running lights
(DRLs), taillights and fog lights for all trims, and LED headlights for
the Touring trim.
The Accord Hybrid also gets a revised exterior color palette with
five new colors – out of the eight available – as well as new interior
tricot seat fabric (base trim) and color schemes including a
sophisticated new wood grain-style dashboard trim.
Body and Chassis Upgrades
The 2017 Accord Hybrid's sportier design is matched by its improved
dynamic performance. High body rigidity is complimented by new high
performance dampers and a retuned electric power steering system that
delivers even more linear and precise response. All Accord Hybrid models
are fitted with Amplitude Reactive Dampers with newly-tuned internals
for a more supple, yet controlled ride, and new Straight Driving Assist
technology that helps reduce the driver's workload when driving on a
crowned or canted road surface.
Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
The 2017 Accord Hybrid audio and digital experience is also
significantly upgraded with the application of a new 7-inch touchscreen
Display Audio interface (EX-L and above trims) featuring Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto compatibility, as well as newly available HondaLink
Assist (e911) and HD Radio®. Smartphone pairing is now simplified with a
single USB cable connection, no longer requiring an HDMI cable
connection. The new Display Audio system serves as the interface for new
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, offering a multitude of new functions
and features, including smartphone-linked navigation (Apple Maps or
Google Maps), audio streaming, voice-controlled SMS text messaging and
more.
The lower 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen is paired with an upper
7.7-inch display screen and steering-wheel controls. The upper screen
can display audio settings, turn-by-turn directions (from embedded
navigation, when so equipped, or from Android Auto or Apple CarPlay navi
apps), time and trip information (e.g. range, trip distance), LaneWatch
and Rearview Camera displays, incoming calls, SMS text messages, and
parking sensor alerts.
2017 Accord Hybrid Major Engineering Changes and Feature Upgrades
Body and Chassis
Increased body rigidity courtesy of multiple new stiffeners, a thicker front shock tower bar and sturdier rear bulkhead
Retuned electric power steering
Amplitude Reactive Dampers
Exterior
New, more dynamic front and rear styling
Restyled aluminum hood
Rear deck spoiler
Expanded application of LED lighting
New exterior color options and interior decoration
Rain-sensing wipers (Touring)
Front and rear parking sensors (Touring)
Side sill garnish (Touring)
Interior
Remote engine start
HondaLink Assist
7-inch touch screen Display Audio system (EX-L)
Expanded application of SiriusXM Radio (added to EX-L) Android Auto
and Apple CarPlay (EX-L and Touring)New HD Radio (EX-L and Touring)
7-inch touch screen Display Audio+ with Navi system (Touring)
Heated rear seats (Touring)
Safety and Driver Assistive
Honda Sensing
Auto High-Beam headlights (Touring)
Front and rear parking sensors (Touring)
Powertrain
The 2017 Accord Hybrid features a significantly reengineered
second-generation two-motor hybrid powertrain. The new hybrid powertrain
benefits from numerous changes that reduce the physical size and weight
of components while increasing efficiency, performance and cargo
capacity. Total combined horsepower is up 16 horsepower to 212 HP and
EPA fuel economy ratings are 49/47/48 mpg (city/highway/combined)1.
These EPA fuel economy ratings are based on the new more stringent
ratings requirements enacted by the U.S. EPA for the 2017 model year and
cannot be directly compared to the figures for earlier model Accords or
competing vehicles. Nevertheless, when compared using the same
criteria, the 2017 Accord Hybrid bests the 2014/2015 model in all
ratings.
Advanced Safety Performance
In keeping with Honda's commitment to safety, the 2017 Accord Hybrid
is the first Honda vehicle to have as standard equipment the Honda
Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies.
Honda Sensing is designed to expand the driver's situational awareness
while sensing and responding to potential road hazards, including other
vehicles, road obstacles and even pedestrians, even to the point of
mitigating the possibility or severity of a collision.
The 2017 Accord Hybrid is expected to receive the highest safety
ratings – a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway and
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including a GOOD rating in all crash modes.
The Accord Hybrid incorporates Honda's next-generation Advanced
Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, designed to more
efficiently absorb and disperse the energy from a frontal collision,
along with new ultra-high-strength door rings designed to help better
protect occupants.
Standard safety and driver-assistive features include four-channel
anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist; Vehicle
Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control; an Expanded View
Driver's Mirror; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, driver
and front passenger side airbags and side-curtain airbags for all
outboard seating positions; and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
General Specifications
Specification
Engine Type
i-VTEC, in-Line 4-Cyl., Atkinson Cycle
Displacement
1,993 cc
Horsepower (SAE net)
143 @ 6,200 rpm
Torque (SAE net)
129 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Hybrid Electric Motors
AC Synchronous Permanent-Magnet
Horsepower (SAE net)
181 @ 5,000-6,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net)
232 lb-ft @ 0-2,000 rpm
Total System Horsepower
212 @ 6,200 rpm
Transmission
Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT) with Sport Mode
Front Suspension
MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension
Multi-Link
Steering
Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion (EPS)
Brakes
Power-Assisted Ventilated Front Disc/Solid Rear Disc
Tires
All Season, 225/50 R17 94V
Wheelbase
109.3 in
Length
194.1 in
Height
57.5 in
Width
72.8 in
Track (front/rear)
62.4 in / 62.7 in
Curb Weight (base)
3483 lbs
Cargo Volume
13.5 cu ft
Passenger Volume
103.2
EPA Fuel Economy Ratings (City/Highway/Combined)
49 / 47 / 48
Fuel Capacity
15.8 gal
2017 Accord Hybrid Press Kit Detailed information plus high resolution photo and video assets are available online at: www.hondanews.com/channels/accord
About Honda Honda offers a full line of
reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety
technologies sold through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda
dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger
cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, the
soon-to-be-launched Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.
Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 33 years and
currently operates 18 major manufacturing facilities in North America.
In 2015, more than 99 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S.
were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Honda Commitment to the Environment Based on its
vision of "Blue Skies for our Children," Honda is working to advance
technologies that address society's environmental and energy concerns.
Honda is targeting a 50 percent reduction in its total company CO2
emissions on a global basis by 2050, compared to 2000 levels.
Honda will introduce the Clarity series of advanced electrified
vehicles, beginning with the new, hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell
later in 2016, followed by the new Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-In
Hybrid in 2017, as the company strives to realize significant growth in
sales of electrified vehicles.
Honda is also demonstrating its vision for zero-carbon mobility and
living though initiatives like its Honda Smart Home U.S., in Davis,
California, which is designed to operate with half the energy use and
CO2 emissions of a typical home in that region.
