Next Accord breaks cover, for Ireland next year
30 July 2002: The next Honda Accord will be bigger than the current car and in a change of recent Honda strategy will be the same basic vehicle right around the world. The first market to get the car will be the US, in September, powered by a 2.4-litre V6 engine. The car is not likely to come to Ireland untile the first quarter of next year, according to Frank Kennedy of Honda Ireland.
European versions are likely to be powered by a 2-litre petrol engine, with for the first time a choice of a turbocharged diesel designed by Honda itself with help from isuzu. It is also expected to be a 2-litre, allowing the Accord to compete in a very pro-diesel market against rivals such as Ford's Mondeo, VW's Passat, Nissan's Primera, Renault's Laguna and Toyota's upcoming new Avensis.
There will also be a new coupe in the Accord range, though it is not yet known whether this will be sold in Ireland, or even Europe.
The 2003 V6 petrol Accords sold in the US will output 240bhp, but it is not yet clear if this engine will be offered in European models.
The current European model’s place on the assembly lines at Honda UK’s Swindon plant is being turned over to increased Civic three-door and CR-V SUV assembly mostly for sale in Europe. In future, all Accords for Europe will be built in Japan.
The availability of the diesel engine may well mean the CR-V will be able to get a foothold in the diesel leisure SUV segment, where it currently performs well in the petrol segment.
July 2002