[RavenAvi]

Despite the slow sales of the last-gen Honda Accord which caused it to be discontinued by Honda Cars India in late-2013, the company is said to be planning to re-introduce the new-generation Accord in the country by late-2015, according to ACI.

Contrary to the general trend amongst carmakers, the new Accord will be smaller than its predecessor and will have a slightly shorter wheelbase as well to improve the way it drives. However, while it may be smaller on the outside, Honda’s packaging expertise has resulted in the same amount of room on the inside as the previous car.

Other changes under the skin could include a new electric power steering and the chassis will be considerably stiffened for more strength.

The new Honda Accord in India is expected to be powered by a new naturally aspirated four-cylinder, 2.4-litre petrol engine. Power from the 2.4-litre motor is expected to be similar to that of the previous car’s 177bhp.

A 1.6-litre diesel engine that’s expected in the CR-V could make its way into the new Accord but at a later stage. While a 1.6-litre engine may not sound like much for a car this size, the engine is expected to produce a very respectable 30.5 kg-m of torque.

The new Accord is expected to hit showrooms by late 2015 and hopefully, with the help of Honda’s local assembly, could be priced competitively.

SOURCE (and pic courtesy) - http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...15-388900.aspx

[Vid6639]

Interesting development. Frankly speaking I don't see the point with that 2.4L petrol engine. They need to bring the diesel or try something new with the Hybrid.

The petrol will usually sell in AT, and that gives 5-6kmpl in city!!

They should seriously concentrate more on the CR-V and get the diesel. The market is now all about cross overs and Honda may just pull another rabbit out of the hat with the cheapest diesel luxury crossover if they undercut the Santa Fe, Koleos.

[coolkurt]

Rather, they should plonk the 1.6 diesel in the civic and re launch it. That engine is more suitable in that segment.

[saket77]

Cool. Accord is one mean looking car, but in my opinion, that 2.4L petrol engine is not taking it too far here. They should get a good fuel efficient petrol engine in place to suit the market better.

OT, but bring back the Civic!

[swiftnfurious]

...A 1.6-litre diesel engine that’s expected in the CR-V could make its way into the new Accord but at a later stage. While a 1.6-litre engine may not sound like much for a car this size, the engine is expected to produce a very respectable 30.5 kg-m of torque.

This is what I do NOT understand. Launch a premium & luxury product and then shoe horn a lower (segment) grade diesel engine focused on FE! Why on earth do these companies do it? A luxury customer will be least bothered about a 25 kmpl tag. Instead, launch these cars with some desirable engine options so that you can also get some sales from those who love to drive.

Originally Posted by coolkurt

Rather, they should plonk the 1.6 diesel in the civic and re launch it. That engine is more suitable in that segment.

If they launch the current Civic, 80% of the people looking at the City & Civic standing side by side would NOT be able to tell the difference!

[arnabchak]

Plonk the 1.6 IDtec derived into the re-introduced Civic.
Let it play with the likes of Jetta, Altis and the Octavia.

Accord re-launch may not really be a great move.

PS: The car looks fabulous though!!

[nik_kapur]

If they are planning to bring it in as just a marketing exercise, they will bring it in as a CBU and that too as a Petrol engined car.
If they are serious about its success, they need to do a lot of work on the car and get a Diesel Engine in. I doubt they will spend anytime doing that !!
Even with a Diesel Mill how many will they sell ? 400 mAX !!
Honda India pulled out the Civic because they did not find selling 500 units a month profitable or worth their while.

Now with a A3 at 30L, how many would buy an accord at 26 27 L ?
I know the space is awesome in a Accord but i still feel there is a lot of cross segment shopping when it comes to spending that kind of money.

[GTO]

For 2013 & 2014, Honda decided it will launch only the mass market products and a diesel. We'll be seeing the Mobilio (very soon) and the Jazz a bit later.

Having launched all the volume cars (compact SUV is still sometime away), Honda will have the spare time now for premium, low volume products like the Accord. It's been quite a while since the new Accord was launched internationally, but it never made it here.

Think about it, 5 years back, Honda had a single sub-10 lakh car (i.e. the City) and 3 cars above (Civic, Accord, CR-V). With the Mobilio, Honda will have 4 cars under 10 lakhs (Brio, Amaze, Mobilio, City) and a single (CR-V) over it.

Originally Posted by Vid6639

They need to bring the diesel or try something new with the Hybrid.

Don't think the latest Accord is sold with a diesel anywhere.

Originally Posted by coolkurt

Rather, they should plonk the 1.6 diesel in the civic and re launch it.

Doubt we're going to see the Civic anytime soon. The City has been repositioned, going a level higher, effectively filling the gap between the old City & Civic.

[vb-saan]

Ideally they should reengineer the 2.2 iDTEC to be usable in India, and get it going in the CRV and Accord. But I think this is a good move even otherwise. Once a premium brand, is now more like a top-budget brand. They need some halo products to show their presence in the 15 lakhs+ segments.

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

This is what I do NOT understand. Launch a premium & luxury product and then shoe horn a lower (segment) grade diesel engine focused on FE! Why on earth do these companies do it? A luxury customer will be least bothered about a 25 kmpl tag. Instead, launch these cars with some desirable engine options so that you can also get some sales from those who love to drive.

What you are saying is true, but many companies does this nowadays and it works for them. IIRC, the large Skoda Superb is sold with the 1.6 TDI engine (which we have in the Vento/Rapid). A car like Accord with an efficient diesel engine can work as an ideal choice for hotel/fleet operators.

[amit]

1.6L diesel in Accord? Are they serious?! Car's in that segment come with a 2.0L Diesel & even 2 segment lower car's like Vento, Verna come with a 1.6L diesel, how does Honda think they will sell a Accord 1.6 diesel?

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by vb-san

Ideally they should reengineer the 2.2 iDTEC to be usable in India, and get it going in the CRV and Accord...

Precisely! Using this engine in two products is better to re-iterate the premium-ness and also to stack up against the competition. Think of a 1.6L 130 bhp CRV against the Pajero Sport, Fortuner, Santa Fe etc!

Originally Posted by vb-san

...A car like Accord with an efficient diesel engine can work as an ideal choice for hotel/fleet operators.

That's the problem! The focus gets shifted somewhere else than where it should be.

Originally Posted by amit

1.6L diesel in Accord? Are they serious?! Car's in that segment come with a 2.0L Diesel & even 2 segment lower car's like Vento, Verna come with a 1.6L diesel, how does Honda think they will sell a Accord 1.6 diesel?

What will you do to Toyota for their 1.4L D4D 90 bhp engine in the Corolla?! Honda is still better from that perspective!

[coolkurt]

Originally Posted by GTO

Doubt we're going to see the Civic anytime soon. The City has been repositioned, going a level higher, effectively filling the gap between the old City & Civic.

It's a pity. Especially since the D segment has got quite a few cars now like the Elantra, Corolla, Cruze and Octavia. If the other manufacturers think the segment is stil worthwhile, wonder what Honda is thinking. The premium image of the honda brand was due to the civic and the accord

[Rocketscience]

Originally Posted by coolkurt

It's a pity. Especially since the D segment has got quite a few cars now like the Elantra, Corolla, Cruze and Octavia. If the other manufacturers think the segment is stil worthwhile, wonder what Honda is thinking. The premium image of the honda brand was due to the civic and the accord

In my opinion , Honda is absolutely right in not bringing a car in this already dead segment , a few years ago the civic sold in respectible numbers and so did octavia keeping the segment alive , the cruze came and managed to move around 700-800 cars for a small while , but in the past year this has drastically changed , with no car managing to sell more than 500 cars a month , from a segment that was once very exciting , we've reached a time when almost no product in this segment excites.
The cruze is already aging , the elantra and corolla come with not so exciting diesel engines , the octavia too never managed to generate some heat (seems like a pretty well rounded product to me , but reliablity concerns and skoda's horrible A.S.S are going against it)
Even we were thinking to replace the Cruze but there is no car exciting enough in this segment or the segment above (camry , superb) , the cars that excite us are from 2 segments above (3 series,A4) but are overbudget as of now.

[aniketi]

Honda has 2 potential super hit cars in luxury segment. Both are very good & people like them a lot. But hardly anyone buy it. Why?? No diesel option available in both cars. No prize for guessing those 2 cars, its CRV and Accord. My friend has both the cars & i have been privileged to sit in both the cars many times. Both are very good cars & comfort levels are very good. In & out premium quality. Honda must consider 2.0 or 2.2 Liter common diesel engine for both of them, sure they will get good numbers for both. Hope Honda listen to us

[libranof1987]

The 2014 Accord here in the US is a fabulous car. More importantly, it is not lacking when it comes to features and the equipment list (something that Honda has been fairly miserly in). It still is slightly dull on the outside though.

If they manage the price well, Accord should have a decent re-entry in India.