The next-gen Honda Accord has been spied testing in India, this may indicate that a launch is quite close. The ninth generation of the car worldwide, and the third generation in India, the new Accord will go up against the likes of Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry and the upcoming Volkswagen Passat.
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The Accord bound for India is not all that same to the model that was first showcased for international markets in 2013, it is the facelift which was first showcased in the USA in July 2015. We know this because Honda India had showcased the same at the beginning of the year at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo.
The Honda Accord is an evolution of the long-and-sleek sedan that was the previous-gen Accord, highlights being the addition of all-LED headlamps and tail-lamps, a heavily sculpted bonnet, 17-inch alloy wheels, sporty bumpers, etc.
Reports suggest that Honda will offer the Accord with petrol and petrol-electric hybrid variants only. There are some reasons why the Accord may not be offered with a diesel motor, the first and foremost being that this generation of the Accord is not offered with a diesel motor anywhere in the world unlike previous generations. Another reason why Honda India may not be too interested in offering a diesel variant for the car will be the uncertainty over diesel-powered cars in India after the double whammy of the NGT's order to ban cars with diesel motors over 2000cc and the Supreme Court's decision to uphold this order.
The petrol-only variant of the Accord may be powered by a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder i-VTEC motor developing 188PS/245Nm mated to a CVT. The petrol-electric hybrid variant will be powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol motor mated to electric motors with a combined output of 199PS/306Nm, also mated to a CVT. Both the cars will be offered with steering-mounted paddle shifters as standard.
Updated infotainment system
The Accord Hybrid will be the only true competitor to the Toyota Camry Hybrid. It will also be eligible for many incentives as part of the government's plans to make Indian roads free of fossil-fuel burning cars; this, in turn, means that Honda can price it very competitively in the segment.
It is almost certain that Honda will not offer the 281PS/342Nm 3.5-litre, naturally aspirated, V6 motor in the Accord to be sold in India.
Spy shot courtesy - Team-BHP.com