Honda Accord Drive Sedan since 2011 sedan

Japanese gambit

The European version of Honda Accord, which is content with buyers in Russia, has always been noticeably different from the model for North America. Other forms, another character, the driver’s vein is now everything in the past. The new chord sacrifices its uniqueness in the calculation of sales. Japanese gambit?

Until the last moment I did not know what a new car would be. Often manufacturers open the appearance of the next model before the official session, and the chord was no exception. Our Vladimir Salmin even visited the Nine -generation Honda Accord Closed Moscow Prime Minister (cars, No. 11, 2012). And I, I repent, was not aware of the upcoming changes. But sometimes it’s more interesting to dive into something new with your head so that the flurry of emotions falls on you immediately, and not drop. Therefore, at the exit from Anapa’s modest airport, a slight shock awaited me.

Accord has changed, and changed strongly. An additional centimeters of the length give out the car immediately stretched 13.5 cm, and a little more than half (7 cm) is an increase in the base. The silhouette is now different and not so squatter there is no former clinging eye of an impressive width of the machine, instead, the classic shape of the sedan with pronounced front racks. Reason: Plus 1 cm to width, and 2.5 cm to height.

In the driver’s place, I note the large area of \u200b\u200bglazing and the excellent visibility, which the engineers spoke about. In the previous generation, the plastic was even better in places, and the design is more interesting, although, I will not hide, it became freer. The latter is especially noticeable on the back sofa I want to stay on its open spaces. The three -spoke steering wheel gave way to more solid with five rays, the floor of the trunk is leveled. The inserts of hard and brilliant plastic are embarrassed, but Honda representatives are asked not to judge strictly, because our chords from the experimental party are collected in August, while mass production starts only in January. It will be interesting to feel dealer specimens.

The front seats, compared with the past generation, lost in lateral support, and if in a 4-cylinder version (2.4 liters volume, with a lowered to 180 liters to the sake of efficiency) there are no problems, then in the car in the machine With a 3.5-liter V6, the inconvenience is already sensing. In Europe, this 280-horsepower engine debuts on the chord. The Japanese hide the exact data, but, according to the sensations, about 6-7 seconds up to 100 km/h, which, obviously, requires reliable fixation regarding the governing organs. By the way, everything is in order with them: the steering wheel is equipped with an electromechanical amplifier. The engine is installed on the rail. It is not very configured, but I want more severity at speed and stiffness for the steering column (sensitive vibrations from the road).

In a straight line in cruising mode, the car is pleasant and easy, the steering wheel does not force to look for zero, the suspension is well smooth out the bumps of roads of the Krasnodar Territory. The flagship on the tires of the 45th profile is even softer than 2.4, also inclined to longitudinal swing on the 50th, but not one of the cars provokes turns to pass with obviously greater speed. The rolls are big, and a more solid appearance now has more solid driving.

V6 joins with a new 6-speed automatic and perfectly accelerates from any speed, the four 2.4 l continues to work with a 5-speed veteran, and it lacks a linear connection between the engine speed (read the gas pedal) and the speed due The hydrotransformer, with which Yasuhid Sakamoto, responsible for power plants, kindly agree. Automatic boxes of their own production are a special passion of Honda (see changes in the design). There will be no more 2-liter motor in our market. Brakes without complaints, noise insulation was good on it a lot, but, according to the sensations, the new CR-V does not reach the silence of the new CR-V.

Honda Accord has passed to the league to such market players as Toyota Camry (more than 31,000 cars in 2012) and Nissan Teana (more than 9500). The Honda expects 60%sales growth, for which about 5,000 chords for a year need to be implemented. Whether the Japanese gambit will be successful will tell time.


 
 

Source: Cars