2018 Honda Accord Release date, Price and News

Counterattack! Crossovers. They are everywhere. They are like a plague infesting buyers minds, causing them to turn a blind eye on shapes that served us righteously for a decade. Mid-size sedan segment always pop up in mind when this type of story occurs, but between heavily hurt a bunch, exist Untouchables. In literal meaning, not in negative Hindu sense this time. Easily topping 400k units sold annually, Camry just doesn’t care about taller menace, and latest one just erased everything that you could object to it. Plain look and dull handling are gone, while later often caused buyers to turn to, chart’s second favorite, Accord. The bar is raised, and Honda just retaliated, and that would be with new 2018 Honda Accord.

A Shape Is Missing, Not Gonna Be Missed

One glimpse at the new Accord and you might be confused. It resembles Malibu?! No logic in first runner-up to the sales throne mimicking “bow tie” product dreaming of growing up to be her, right? The cause of this is Japanese decision to axe coupe shape while preserving some flavor and infusing it to the sedan form so that nobody will miss it. Good. Something in the realm of fastback is that elegantly sloped roof mainly causes middle ground and Accord’s newfound boost of handsomeness. But there is more.

Headlights point out who owns Acura luxury label. Hood is more excitingly carved along with sides, previously bulky tail lights got some sleekness and falling roof morph into deck lid spoiler. For the end just pay attention at that beautiful design move at C-pillar, which might as well cause people to forget about Hofmeister Kink.

2018 Honda Accord – Dash of Elegance

Accord was never especially charming on the inside. Practical, roomy, well built yes, but this time also increasingly eye pleasing. It won’t stun you, but beauty progress is evident. Tech-ish visual approach gave in to some elegance, and new non-fuss dash with a small number of buttons increase feelings of refinement. Mandatory impractical dual screens are replaced by one stylish 8-inch display, with two knobs; fortunately capable of displaying Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 

Thank you, Honda, for listening! In bigger trims also count of fairly big 6-inch head-up display and don’t be afraid of coupe-ish shape. The cabin hasn’t suffered as wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer with bigger rear legroom and boot.

 

Turning the Page

Times are changing, and downsizing found its path into the Accord’s segment. Previously mandatory naturally aspirated V6 is dying out slowly. Malibu, Sonata, Optima, and Fusion already renounced it. While Camry decided to follow through, at least for now. Accord chose to turn the page completely, and title of new one is “turbo.” 

Naturally aspirated 2.4-liter L4 is replaced by turbo 1.5-liter L4 producing 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque; which in Civic never heard of tedious turbo lags. Power figures are marginally better than before, but peak torque starts at much more usable 1500 rpm which is 2400 rpm lower than it was. V6 made space for turbocharged 2.0-liter L4, the one found in Civic Type R, but hold your excitement, please!

Here it is heavily detuned to 252 hp and 273 lb-ft, putting it below old V6’s figures by over 20 in both power measurements. On the plus side, the power band is hugely improved by promising zeal between 1500 and 4000 rpm, while V6 has to be pushed to “supercar” like 4900 rpm to show its claws. On the contrary, improved hybrid mixing non-turbo 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle capable L4 with electric motor carries over, while batteries are freeing trunk by relocating under the rear floor.

Plenty of More

New gas guzzlers are not the end of engineering story. They could be paired with a familiar 6-speed manual or usually disturbing (but here no) CVT, while big novelty is 10-speed automatic (only with flagship mill) brought by Odyssey, though differently tuned. As for cabin noise, Honda claims great efforts with mitigating outgoing model’s bad side. Further to everything, already nimble chassis is lighter and stiffer by one-third, while adaptive dampers are available for the first time. So, driving pleasure ranking high before, just went higher.

2018 Honda Accord Price and Release Date

Ok, it has been released, but it won’t hit dealer’s lots before this fall. Precise pricing is also yet to be announced, but it shouldn’t differ much from current scale of $23k-$37k. If the price jumps slightly don’t hold any grudge as Honda decided to follow Toyota’s recipe and offer Honda Sensing safety package with no extra charge, bringing adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking and some more within everybody’s reach. In the end, Camry-Accord rivalry obviously brings benefits to all of us.

Stay tuned, as we fill you in on the news about all-new Accord.

Gallery

July  14, All-New 2018 Honda Accord – Livestream Reveal

Summer has just begun, but the hottest news is already the 2018 Honda Accord. The Japanese manufacturer is wasting no time in further teasing us every day with its upcoming sedan. A few days ago we had a first test drive. After that, the Minato-based company showed us just how their new engine works.

Today we have a first teaser picture of what’s to be the 2018 Accord. The sketch was released by carmaker itself, and it depicts the tenth generation of this vehicle. Honda will officially present this model in Detroit, while the Youtube show off will happen on 14th of July.

As you know, Accord has been the flagship model of this company since its introduction in 1976. Few years after in 1982 Honda became first Japanese manufacturer to make the cars for US market on American soil. Years after that, Honda has sold more than 13 millions copies of Accord in the States.

As much as we are accustomed to getting new information about 2018 Honda Accord, this time the photo is the only thing new. From earlier we know that this mid-size sedan is going to feature two engines. A 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter, both direct-injected four-cylinder units. Depending on the option of your choice, the available transmissions are a six-speed manual and a new ten-speed automatic. Also, like it was the case before, a hybrid option will feature on 2018 Accord.

Jun 14, 2017. Honda is getting ready for the presentation of 2018 Honda Accord family sedan. The promotional campaign is well under way, and now we have a video which is showing us an animation of their new engine. The old V-6 is saying goodbye while going into the history of this Japanese manufacturer. The engine which is dubbed ‘better than any available ‘EcoBoost’ has a lot to prove. The video mentioned above depicts Honda’s all new 2.0-liter, direct-injected, DOHC, VTEC Turbo inline-four engine.

There are no figures that show us how good, powerful or fast this engine is or can be, but rather we have a chart that’s showing us how much better it is from its competition. This mill has enhanced valve setup which will make the engine more responsive while giving it more torque on lower RPM’s. 

This powertrain has a new design which will according to Honda’s engineers give it more power and better fuel efficiency. The named things will be achieved through cylinder improvements which now do a better job at expelling the exhaust gases while at the same time allowing more fresh air to enter in between combustion cycles.

Updates don’t end there. The Minato-based company is wasting no time in glorifying the highly-efficient cooling ability of this unit. The 2.0-liter turbo four mill now has an integrated manifold cylinder head and water jacket made from two pieces. Between each cylinder, you now have slits through which the cooling factors can pass. Each piston even has integrated channels for cooling. If all of this is true, and there is no reason to believe that it is not, the 2018 Honda Accord is going to have unrivaled performance, efficiency, and longer engine lifespan.       

Maybe you are finding all of this hard to believe, but new Honda’s engine is even lighter than before. By using different types of materials, they have reduced the weight a lot. That is why they are saying that this power plant has the ‘best in segment’ weight to torque ratio. Another thing, this mill doesn’t need to use any premium fuel. Another thing that is new is the transmission. 

According to video, which you can see below, this gearbox is everything that old six-speed wishes it to be. These changes are signaling a new age for every Honda model there is. It is sad that there will never again be a V-6 Accord, but it seems, at least to us, that new inline four has all that it needs to become our favorite engine.

Jun 10, 2017. Update – It wasn’t expected, but the opportunity has arisen in Tochigi, Japan where Honda has testing grounds, to have a test drive of 2018 Honda Accord. The latest generation of Accord will come in both sedan and coupe versions. As for its intentions, it is straightly aimed at German automakers. We have no doubt that with more power and improved styling this model has just the means to do it.

Some time ago Honda decided to change its models from the ground up, and 2018 Accord is the first vehicle in its lineup to undergo a complete revamp. We are more than eager to look at it stripped of camouflage to see its design which will then be transferred onto other models in the lineup of this Japanese manufacturer. The model which was test-driven still has its camo on, but it was easy to see that it will have a sporty coupe-like design, but it will still be a sedan in a true sense of that word.

The previous claim is confirmed by just looking at its sharp headlights, side profile, longer wheelbase, and a very sporty set of tires. Looking at 2018 Honda Accord from the rear end you can be mistaken that you are watching a hatchback. The decklid, lowered roofline, and short trunk almost suggest such a possibility.

The goal to fight off the Germans is visible in its resemblance to Audi A5 Sportback from certain angles. New Accord will ride on Honda’s Global platform which is so adjustable that it’s under every Honda model from CR-V and Civic all up to Odyssey. Depending on what it’s needed out of this platform, it can be made wider, longer, or shorter.

More on design and architecture will be known when the 2018 Honda Accord release date approaches. It is scheduled for the late months of 2017, but some sources suggest that it might be released in late autumn. The pricing is not known as of now, and it will be released, together with the entire specification, on official presentation. The current generation of Accord starts at $31,800.

Now back to the real reason why 2018 Accord was shown in Tochigi, and that is the showing of its powertrain. The entry level Accord will have a 1.5-liter turbocharged unit mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or Honda’s CVT. The hybrid installment will be built around 2.0-liter naturally aspirated mill.

The range topping engine is coming to replace the outgoing V-6, and it will be created role-modeled on Civic Type R’s engine, and we all know just what is that unit is capable of producing. Of course, it will be accommodated to suit the needs of a family sedan. As for the power output, we don’t know anything because Honda didn’t fill us in. One thing is for sure it will have more than the V-6 unit but less than the one in Type R. Rumored figure is 295hp.

The new powerplant will be mated to also new transmission which is Honda’s 10-speed manumatic. This gearbox comes with paddle shifters. The current edition of Accord has a six-speed automatic transmission. Also, the manual gearbox is in the mix, which could be used on ( if there is such a thing) Accord Coupe Type R.

New engine combined with new transmission gives excellent feel during driving, shifting gears, accelerating or lowering the speed. The driving modes that come with new Accord are Eco, Normal, and Sport. While on Eco, the upshifts are fast and they come as early as possible in order to improve fuel efficiency. On Normal shifting happens well, normally, while in Sport they come slower and the time-lapse between speeds is longer to attain maximum speed. The top speed is 200kmh/h, and it comes on the seventh step of the gearbox.

The marriage between all new engine and transmission does wonders for the performance of 2018 Honda Accord. Also, the ride is quiet comfortable and has good balance to it. The steering is nice, and it gives excellent feedback from wheels. The only drawback, like its always the case with family sedans, is that at moments it looks like it’s missing some weight.

Stay tuned will we bring new on 2018 Accord your way.

UPDATE Apr 18, 2017,  Last spy photos of 2018 Honda Accord we acquired so much time ago that we already forgot that a new installment of Accord is in the works. This time around we have two sets of photos, on which 2018 Accord has a different type of camouflage, which show us new design cues of this sedan.

The less covered test mule finally revealed more of Accord’s body and here is what we saw. The car in general, and especially parts of the front end show a lot of similarities with the latest generation of Civic. This is not a bad thing because new Civic looks good, and Type R installment of it even better. The look of the front end of Civic and the one that will feature on 2018 Accord will be a shared through entire lineup of Honda’s vehicles.

The shared components include new thin headlights that stretch wide from grille all up to the edges of the hood, a new grille, and a ‘fastback’ type of roofline. The later similarity gives 2018 Honda Accord sportier appearance and together with shorter decklid gives an almost completely new look to this sedan.

The release date of 2018 Honda Accord hasn’t been scheduled yet, but it will definitely be presented during 2017, probably in the late months of this year. Considering its popularity in the States, it’s probably going to happen at one of the North American Auto Shows. The reason why we believe that the things will turn out like this is the figures that Accord achieves in the US. It is Honda’s third best selling model; behind Civic and CR-V with 69,815 units sold during the month of March.

As far as the price goes, it will probably be positioned a little north from current $23,330 which is the price of the base model. The increase is going to be a small one so that Accord remains attractive to people at which is aimed at. The price for a fully packed 2018 Accord is probably going to be in the range of $35,000 give or take a few hundred dollars.

With upcoming, tenth generation of Accord, Honda will not introduce different models for some markets. North America used to have one installment which was the larger one: while the rest of the world where Japanese manufacturer sells Accord had a shorter variation. The ending of this selling policy will prompt the change in the size of this car but worry not the 2018 Accord will have more than enough space.

There are no photos of the interior this time around but from what we saw before and from what Accord needs the materials used on the inside will all be leveled up and technology improvements are going to through just like they were on newly introduced Civic.

Under the bonnet, there will be a turbocharged four-cylinder unit, like we already stated below in the article, while the V-6 mill is going to be excluded. This is Honda’s latest policy that they have applied to most of their model’s and are going to do so with future ones. 

At the base level 2018 Accord you will most likely find naturally aspirated four-cylinder while the upper trims will receive a force induction mills. The later ones would be 1.5 or 2.0-liter powertrains. Hybrid will also feature, but it won’t be available right after the launch but at a later date.

2018 HONDA ACCORD SPEC
Wheelbase	109.3 inch
Length	193.2 inch
Height	57.7 inch
Width	72.8 inch
Weight	3232 lbs
Engine type	four-cylinder  V-6
Displacement	1.5 or 2.0-liter
Power/torque	180 hp and 180 lb-ft
Transmission	6-speed
Price : $23,330 – $35,000
Competitors: Toyota Camry,  Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima

Mar 2, 2017. Review – The Accord is already in its ninth generation and it doesn’t seem to stop anytime soon. The car was completely overhauled back in 2012 and since then it went through a few small updates. Unlike many of its rivals, it is available as a sedan or a coupe which is quite impressive. The current model provides fun driving characteristics, a compliant chassis and plenty of features. However, there are some problems, especially with the hybrid which is subpar when compared to its rivals. 

While we expected a facelift to solve these issues, it seems it won’t be released anytime soon. Instead, they will actually release an all new car. The 2018 Honda Accord has already been spotted in camouflaged guise and it looks to be quite impressive. So far there is still very little official information about it, but it seems the car will return to its roots.

2018 Honda Accord Details

This generation of the Accord is going to share its chassis with the Civic. This is not really a bad thing, especially when we consider how good the smaller model actually is. This new platform is stiffer than before, and it also offers a lower center of gravity. Despite moving to a new platform, the car’s size will increase while the weight will decrease. From most of the spy shots, it looks like the Accord is both longer and wider than before and it may even be lower. The release date is still unknown but we do expect it to be revealed by the end of the year. Its showroom debut will likely happen in early 2018 when it should arrive at roughly the same price as before.

Under the Hood Of  New Accord 2018

The 2018 Honda Accord is very likely going to make the transition to turbocharged power. This happened with the smaller Civic and we all know Honda opened a factory specifically intended for their new 2-liter turbocharged engine. The current model makes use of either a 2.4 inline 4 or a larger 3.5 liter V6. A hybrid is also available with interesting technology but moderate results. The 2.4-liter engine might get replaced by Honda’s new 1.5-liter turbo four which is capable of 190 horsepower and over 180 lb-ft of torque. This is quite impressive, especially when it also provides better fuel efficiency than its main competitors.

The larger 3.5 liter V6, on the other hand, might get replaced with a 2-liter turbo-four. This would be a similar engine to that on the European Type R Civic. Here it makes 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, but it is safe to assume the production version on the new Honda Accord 2018 will make closer to 300 horsepower and less torque than that. A six-speed manual was used before on the base model with the Coupe also being available with one on the V6.

This time around rumors say Honda will keep the manual standard across the range with the top end model getting the automatic for no extra cost. The old six-speed automatic is also expected to be retired in favor of a ten-speed unit which should boost fuel economy without affecting its driving characteristics. The hybrid will either get discontinued altogether, or it will be revised, especially since it is quite bad on fuel economy when compared to what it was rated for.

Design – Inside and Out

So far we managed to see a few parts of the interior on the new 2018 Honda Accord and things seem to be quite interesting. The car seems to boast a new instrument cluster and an edgier design than before. The car’s dual infotainment screens will definitely be gone and replaced with something a bit more up to date and also easier to use.

We do expect some influences from its smaller sibling such as the dashboard angled towards the driver or the digital instrument cluster. The car’s exterior is also likely going to borrow a few design cues from Honda’s other new cars.

The current model looks rather sedated but with competitors like the new Camry or the Maxima; the Accord will certainly have to impress in order to be successful. The Coupe model is likely going to remain an option while some rumors also suggested a wagon. The latter would definitely make it a favorite among car enthusiasts.

2018 Honda Accord Gallery  Source: Carsoid.com, Opp Trends