new auto cars 2012: 2013 Honda Accord Coupe

The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world. In 1982, the Honda Accord which had always been manufactured in Sayama, Japan, became the first Japanese car to be produced in the United States when production commenced in Marysville, Ohio at Honda's Marysville Auto Plant. In addition, the Accord is, or has been, produced in Nelson, New Zealand, Swindon, England, Guangzhou, China and Ayutthaya, Thailand. The Accord has achieved considerable success, especially in the United States, where it was the best-selling Japanese car for fifteen years, topping its class in sales in 1991 and 2001, with around ten million vehicles sold. Numerous road tests, past and present, rate the Accord as one of the world's most reliable vehicles.

Since initiation, Honda has offered several different car body styles and versions of the Accord, and often vehicles marketed under the Accord nameplate concurrently in different regions differ quite substantially. It debuted in 1976 as a compact hatchback, though this style only lasted through 1981, as the line-up was expanded to include a sedan, coupé, and wagon. By the Accord's sixth generation in the 1990s, it evolved into an intermediate vehicle, with one basic platform but with different bodies and proportions to increase its competitiveness against its rivals in different international markets. For the current generation of the Accord released for the North American market in 2008, Honda has again chosen to move the model further up-scale and increase its size. This pushed the Accord sedan from the upper limit of what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines as a mid-size car to just above the lower limit of a full-size car, with the coupe still rated as a mid-size car.

The seventh generation of the Accord was launched in 2002 and consists of two separate models; one for the Japanese and European markets, and the other for North America. However, both were in fact sold in many other markets, fueled by the popular Cog advertisement for the Accord.

The Honda Accord Euro R was launched in October 2002. A lightened and more sports focused variant of the Japanese car the Accord Euro-R was powered by the K20A 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC engine with 220 horsepower and 21.0 kg-m of torque through a lightweight 6-speed manual transmission. The Accord Euro-R was only available to the Japanese Domestic Market. Some features that distinguish it are the Recaro seats, the body kit, a MOMO steering wheel and a special metal gearknob found only in Honda's Type-R variants.

The updated Honda Accord for the Japanese and European markets went on sale in mid-2008. It is also sold as the Accord Euro in the Australia and New Zealand markets, and as the Acura TSX in North America. It is available as both a sedan and a station wagon. In the People's Republic of China, a version of the sedan is sold as the Spirior. Production started in August 2009 in China, by Dongfeng Honda.

The North American version of the Accord is the same vehicle as its Japanese counterpart. This shape is sold as the Honda Inspire in Japan, and is not sold in Europe. Larger than the previous model, the sedan is now classified as a full-size car by EPA standards. A coupe version is available, as well as a Crosstour fastback model, which was introduced in the US for the 2010 model year. Engines include at 2.4 Liter 4-cylinder rated at 132 kW with 161 lb·ft for sedans and 190 bhp with 162 lb·ft for coupes; as well as a 3.5 Liter V6 rated at 203 kW and 254 lb·ft.

In Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, this car which is assembled in Thailand, is sold as the Honda Accord in left or right hand drive forms. In Malaysia, the Accord is locally assembled. In Hong Kong, this car is made in Japan and sold as Honda Accord, and in Taiwan, the Accord is locally assembled. In China, Guangqi Honda also makes this vehicle with 2.0L, 2.4L and 3.5L engines. Guangqi began making the Accord Crosstour in 2010.

Honda revealed the Accord Coupe Concept at the 2011 NAIAS. The new Accord which goes on sale in Fall of 2012 will feature three powertrains: A new direct injected "Earth Dreams" 2.4 L 4-cyl paired with either a 6-spd manual or new CVT transmission, an updated direct injected 3.5 L V6 mated to a 6-spd automatic, and a plug-in hybrid. New safety features include an optional forward collision warning system, lane departure warning system and blind spot monitor.