Brenda Priddy and Co. have finally caught a thinly disguised 2008 Honda Accord Sedan during testing. Thanks to Autoblog and Temple of VTEC we now can see what the much anticipated car will look like. The new Accord looks very close to the coupe that was also caught testing a few weeks ago. The car pictured here is most likely a 4-cylinder version of the new car.
The 2008 Accord is expected to get an enlarged engine with cylinder deactivation to keep the fuel-economy in check. It is expected to be a 3.5L with approx. 270 horsepower. The 4-cylinder is expected to put out around 180 horsepower.
As you can tell from the pics the car is still very conservative. My immediate reactions were that it looks like they took elements from the Hyundai Sonata and Acura RL. I was hoping for something more striking since a Honda insider stated that the new Accord would be like the new Civic was, something very different. It looks like the Coupe will be the wiser choice for this generation.
Hopefully the new Acura TSX will still be the jewel it is today.
Full Story:
Autoblog
Temple of VTEC
Related Stories:
First Spy Pics of the New 2008 Honda Accord Coupe...Almost Identical to the Concept
More Spy Photos of the 2008 Honda Accord Coupe
Comments (16)
It sorta looks a little bit like a BMW in the back and with those rims and the tail lights.
Also it does not look that sporty compared to the ones in the past.
Posted by hunter | May 11, 2007 7:28 PM
Posted on May 11, 2007 19:28
The original prototypes they've shown look a lot better than this.
They showed have built closer to the prototype.
If the tsx coupe looks like this, I may have to go ahead and get the G37
Posted by mf | May 12, 2007 12:52 AM
Posted on May 12, 2007 00:52
The bastard lovechild of BMW 5 series and Hyundai Sonata!
Posted by Lindsay | May 12, 2007 1:50 AM
Posted on May 12, 2007 01:50
stagnation of creativity, id prefer camry the south east asian version.
Posted by Abdul Azis | May 12, 2007 2:21 AM
Posted on May 12, 2007 02:21
Looks like someone photoshopped an older Honda trunk onto a Passat
Posted by bubba1 | May 12, 2007 7:26 AM
Posted on May 12, 2007 07:26
Looks terrible IMO.
Posted by scrabble | May 12, 2007 10:57 AM
Posted on May 12, 2007 10:57
Yep - it looks like the Japanese have gone [back] to imitating others: very "classic" greenhouse with a high crease line for the fender flares.
Can anyone say "German"?
I thought you could.
Now, Acura's problem (in terms of sales) is not the cars...but the lackluster marketing of same. "TSX", "RL" - blah.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/april-sales-numbers.html
Forgettable nomenclature can doom a car's sales just as much as forgettable design. Go back to *names* - Integra, Legend, etc. OR go for the Mercedes-style of naming - platform with some type of sub-classification.
An "Acura T35S" or "Acura Legend S-Type" is much more memorable - and therefore, *much easier for the owner to brag about to their friends* - than "Acura TL".
A car purchase over, say, $35,000 for most people is about STATUS more than simple locomotion...and "Acura TL" has about as much status impact as a wet soba noodle in a Outback steak house. "TL" says almost nothing about the car to most people - no easily indentified traits for the non-Acura owner (or shopper). Seeing one going down the road means just about...*nothing* to the 'average' person while seeing the same cost BMW, Benz etc. says
"That person has arrived"
- which is what most prestige car shoppers WANT. Expensive cars are about making a statement to OTHERS and that is what keeps them selling.
Posted by Snake | May 12, 2007 11:22 AM
Posted on May 12, 2007 11:22
If it's true that "boring sells".. then Honda should be able to sell a ton of these.
Posted by John | May 12, 2007 12:32 PM
Posted on May 12, 2007 12:32
I think it looks awesome! The front looks great and from the side it reminds me of the BMW 5-Series. While I don't like the Bangle Bimmers, but the 5's side isn't bad.
Knowing what goodness lays under the hood (I'm referring to the I4, of course), it's great to see that Honda _finally_ decided to upgrade the looks to match. And an extra ~15 hp from the factory doesn't hurt.
Now, drop a diesel in this baby and I'll be in heaven!
Posted by Duke | May 12, 2007 1:48 PM
Posted on May 12, 2007 13:48
I think the front end looks like a Chevy. (this is not a good thing)
I buy exclusively Honda and Toyota, and I was hoping they would step to the edge (at least for Honda) on the styling of the Accord.
It appears they took a step back instead.
Oh well, at least I know it will be a great car, regardless of the boring Chevy look.
Posted by zippy | May 14, 2007 7:30 AM
Posted on May 14, 2007 07:30
That's funny, I don't think it looks that bad. But what do I know, I don't like the current model.
Posted by Obviously DaMinority | May 15, 2007 5:51 PM
Posted on May 15, 2007 17:51
I hate to say it but it looks an aweful lot like a Sonata. And I also hate to say it I am starting to like the Hyundai's more than Honda's now. I think they have come a long way, and Honda has not really done anything really new or ground breaking at all in looks or style.
Everything looks too much alike.
-D
Posted by Don | May 18, 2007 1:26 PM
Posted on May 18, 2007 13:26
When I saw the new Honda coupe spy shots all those gorgeous red sedan prototypes floating around the internet seemed more likely to be true.I could hardly wait. But now this ugly, small, , uninspiring, throwback design pops up as the Honda sedan. (It may even be a photo-shopped 3-series BMW.) How can anyone like this thing! Those beauty shots I've been seeing must really be be the new TSX.
Posted by Jim | May 19, 2007 5:04 PM
Posted on May 19, 2007 17:04
truthfully i like the current honda accord design...especially the redesigned rear end...and this is an improvement but it doesnt bubble any excitement...i mean you can see a visual change...but overall the styling does remind me of the last generation bodystyle from the 2000 honda accord (which to me was the nicest body style...second was the accord's with the pop up headlights). they should revert back to the 80s accords because they look better and look appealing to the eye.
Posted by Nes | May 23, 2007 6:12 AM
Posted on May 23, 2007 06:12
The arrogance of these mega manufacturers. This is junk and they are hoping to unleash this lame duck on the populance? I have suffered silently with Honda, I say the Camry has my money, however I 'll wait until I see this car before I abandon Honda.
Posted by Decernex | June 12, 2007 7:11 PM
Posted on June 12, 2007 19:11
Porque en los automoviles hondas,las defensas delanterar,defensas traseras,luces de alogenas y skirt son vendidadas como accesorios y cobran por la instalacion y en otros automoviles similares estos son estandar Gracias
Posted by Adolfo Calderon | October 12, 2007 3:09 PM
Posted on October 12, 2007 15:09