Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is an automobile manufactured by Honda. The Accord was introduced in 1976 as a 1600 cc engine-powered midsize hatchback, with styling similar to an upsized contemporary Honda Civic. A conventional four-door sedan was later released in 1977.

Early history and concept

Original plans for the Accord were to make it a midsize car, along the lines of the Ford Mustang. The Accord was originally planned to be a V6-powered car with a long hood and sporty pretensions. Honda chose the name Accord, reflecting "Honda's desire for accord and harmony between people, society and the automobile."

The initial design was changed to a fuel efficient, low emission vehicle since it was introduced during the fuel crises of the 1970s. In the United States and Japan, a version was produced using Honda's CVCC technology, meeting emission standards of the 1970s and 1980s without a catalytic converter.

Like the smaller Honda Civic, the Accord uses front wheel drive and a transverse (sometimes called "East/West") engine layout.

The Accord became the first Japanese car to be produced in the US in 1982, when production commenced in Marysville, Ohio.

Chronology

• In 1982, the Accord became the best-selling Japanese car by name in the US, holding that position for 15 years. Since 1997, its main rival, the Toyota Camry, has held the title of the best-selling car in America, with the exception of the year 2001.

• In 1986, the third-generation Accord was introduced. Pop-up headlights and a sporty hoodline were borrowed from the Honda Prelude. Three versions were available in the US. The low-end DX which featured standard items such as cruise-control, rear window defogger and digital clock. The mid-grade LX with was loaded with standard features such as air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, high-power AM/FM cassette, body colored bumpers and rear seat armrest. The top of the line LX-i featured in addition, a 115 BHP. fuel injected engine, sunroof, 14" alloy wheels, and full-logic cassette player. Manual transmissions are standard on all 1986-1989 Accord models. A 4-speed automatic transmission is optional on all trims.

• In 1988, the Accord coupe was introduced. Built in Marysville, Ohio, this was the first car to be produced in a factory located in the United States and exported back to Japan.

• In 1989 Honda brought back the SE-i trim which included leather seats, a Honda-Bose music system, bronze-tinted glass, machined 14" alloy wheels, dual exhaust and 4-wheel disc brakes. The SE-i was available in both coupe and sedan versions. Only two colors were offered in the sedan and coupe.

• In 1990 the Accord underwent a major re-design based on a larger "CB" chassis. The more conservative Accord now bears resemblence to the Acura Legend. All Accords sold in North America now come with a 2.2 litre fuel injected engine standard. The Accord has matured into a larger car now approaching the likes of the Ford Taurus but still given "compact" status. The LX-i and SE-i trims are dropped. Available trims in the US were DX, LX, and EX. The Canadian Accord trims varied slightly from the US models with LX, EX and EX-R. (In some countries, EX stands for 'Extra') A 125 HP engine is offered with the DX and LX trims. Cruise control was dropped for the DX and air conditioning remains a dealer-installed option. The LX keeps the same features as the previous generation including air conditioning, power windows, locks, and mirrors. The EX adds 15" machined aluminum-alloy wheels, sunroof, upgraded upholstery, dual exhaust, rear stabilizer bar, and a 135 HP engine. A redesigned manual transmission with hydraulic clutch remains standard equipment while an all-new electronic controlled 4-speed automatic transmission is optional on all trims. Some new dealer-installed accessories are now offered. They include a single-disc CD player or 6-disc CD changer, fog lights, security system, trunk wing spoiler, trunk lip spoiler, luggage rack, full and half nose mask, center armrest, equalizer, window visors, sunroof visor, car cover, and cockpit cover.

• In 1991 Honda unveils the Accord Wagon to the US. The wagon includes a driver's side airbag and is available only in LX and EX trims. The SE returns and includes leather seating, a 140 HP engine, automatic transmission and Anti-Lock Brakes. The SE is only offered with an automatic and as a sedan. It is available in two colors: Solaris Silver Metallic with Graphite Black interior and Brittany Blue Metallic with Silky Ivory interior.

• In 1992 the Accord underwent a minor facelift. The SE is dropped again and the Accord loses the unpopular automatic shoulder belts used in 1990-1991. All models now include a standard driver's side airbag. Anti-Lock Brakes are now standard on the EX. The front and rear facia's receive a more rounded and updated look. Coupe and sedan models receive a new grille, new headlights, new taillights, slightly thinner body side moulding and updated wheel designs. The EX includes an anti-theft function to deter car stereo theft. A driver's side armrest is now standard on LX and EX models. Some dealer-installed accessories are dropped including the luggage rack, trunk-lip spoiler and cockpit cover. The gold finish kit is added.

• In 1993 Honda releases the 10th Anniversay Edition sedan marking the 10th year for the Accord's US production. It is basically an LX trim but includes ABS, 15" alloy wheels, and body colored side moldings and is available in an automatic transmission only. Only three colors are offered on the 10th Anniversary Edition: Frost White, Granada Black Pearl, and Arcadia Green Pearl. The SE returns for 1993 in both the sedan and coupe. Dual airbags are included on the sedan, but not the coupe. A Honda-Bose music system, automatic transmission, leather trim and body colored side moldings are standard. The SE coupe gets a factory wing spoiler. In Canada, the SE comes with heated front seats and heated sideview mirrors. Both the sedan and coupe receive distinctive 15" alloy wheels as well. All SE sedans are manufactured in Japan, while all SE coupes in the US. The sedan is available in two colors: Cashmere Silver Metallic and Geneva Green Pearl both with Silky Ivory interior. The coupe is offered with two colors as well: Cashmere Silver Metallic and Atlantis Blue Pearl with Silky Ivory interior. This will be the last year for the high-level SE trim package.

• In 1994, the fifth generation Accord was released based on the "CD" chassis. With styling cues again borrowed from the Honda Prelude as in 1986, the Accord gains overall size and is now classified as a "mid-size" automobile. It was also a break from the previous generation with its boxy, rectangular shape. This more contoured and rounded look broke the Accord away from its conservative past. The Accord becomes Car and Driver Import Car of the Year in 1994. Trim lines are back to DX, LX and EX while Canada retains the EX-R. The DX and LX receive a slightly more powerful 130 HP engine while the 145 HP VTEC is standard on EX models. The 4-speed automatic transmission remains an $800 option on all trims but now includes a "Grade-Logic" shift program. The Accord receives a more ergonomic interior with standard safety features such as dual airbags and reinforced side-impact beams. The EX gets standard ABS (now an option for the LX.) Leather seating is offered on the EX as a factory option. Dealer accessories include: Fog lights, gold-finish kit, gold finish grille, cornering lamps, CD player, CD changer, security system, trunk wing spoiler, car cover, full nose mask, half-nose mask, and sunroof visor. In Australia, the fifth generation Accord proved an instant success. It set a new sales record in 1994, with 6,446 sales, or a 1% share of the Australian new vehicle market. This figure would remain unsurpassed until 2004.

• In 1995, the Accord debuted a V6 engine, the 2.7 L C27 from the Acura Legend in the US market to compete with the V6-powered Mazda 626. This generation was also the first where Honda produced the Accord in its Swindon plant in the UK for European markets. This European Accord was based on the JDM Honda Ascot Innova, which in turn was based on the fourth-generation Accord. Europe is a market where Honda did not conquer, as Japanese cars then were deemed plain and characterless. This marketing strategy sowed the seeds for future Accords, as Honda tried to accommodate customer requirements of different markets.

• In order to increase the Accord's competitiveness against its rivals in different markets, Honda CEO Nobuhiko Kawamoto decided on one basic platform for the sixth-generation Accord, but with different bodies and proportions for local markets. In 1998, the Accord split into three distinct versions, one for European markets, the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM} and the US Domestic Market (USDM. These are commonly referred to as the European Honda Accord, JDM Honda Accord and USDM Honda Accord. The European Accord became available to the US in 2003 as the Acura TSX.

The USDM Accord finally became big enough for American tastes, and both the European Accord and JDM Accord were designed with the requirements of their respective markets. Comparing the three Accords, it is clear that the US version is more distinct than the other two, with the JDM and European versions being more sporty and the US versions being more family-oriented. The F-series VTEC engines made its debut in the European and Japanese Accords, and the 90° C-series V6 engine was replaced by a more-compact 60° J-series unit for the US Accord. Surprisingly, Honda offered the US Accord in a number of Asian markets, resulting in mixed sales performance.