Generation-8 KM Accord-CP

[junning]

CARBUYER Nov 09, 2007, Lionel Kong

New Honda Accord and Jazz lineup for Singapore confirmed

Singapore to get three engine variants for the new Accord and two for the new Jazz.

LOCAL HONDA DEALER Kah Motor has confirmed that the eighth-generation Honda Accord will make its appearance in the showrooms by the end of the year.

Order books for the new car will be open at the same time, and the first deliveries are scheduled for March 2008. However, local prices have yet to be confirmed.

Upsize Accordingly
There will be three engine variants for the Accord available here. The 2.0 and 2.4-litre will be in-line four-cylinder engines while the 3.5-litre engine is a V6. All will come with five-speed automatic transmissions.

The Accord has always been more of a driver’s car than many of its Japanese contemporaries, and this continues with the new generation car. With 280bhp on tap, the 3.5-litre variant will be the most powerful Honda Accord ever to make it to the production line.

Besides putting out a lot of grunt, the V6 engine is also set to be highly economical; it can shut off either two or three of its cylinders while at idle or when cruising. This means that when sitting in still at a traffic junction, the 3.5-litre block theoretically uses only as much fuel as a 1.7-litre engine.

All three engine variants meet Euro IV emission ratings.

Unlike the current generation Accord, which was made in two distinctively different styles for the American/Asian and European/Japanese markets, the new car will have just one design worldwide. Cars for the Singapore market will be assembled in Thailand.

CarBuyer had the opportunity to preview the new Accord in Japan, and besides having a larger interior than the current car, it also displayed excellent high speed cruising ability. The 3.5-litre variant was especially impressive in the way the engine switched seamlessly between the economy and full-power driving modes.

Jazz it up
Meanwhile, the second generation version of Honda’s popular compact hatchback, the Jazz, is set to be officially available here only around the third quarter of 2008. This is because Kah Motor will be retailing the European-spec edition of the car, which will go into production only in mid 2008.

The new Jazz was officially unveiled at the Tokyo Motorshow as part of Honda’s 2008 model lineup. Visually, the car resembles a smaller, more upright version of the Honda Civic hatchback, and is built on a thoroughly revised version of the original Jazz chassis.

Wheelbase has grown by 50mm, and structural rigidity has been increased significantly as well. There are now even more storage compartments in the car, including a ‘secret’ space under the rear seats.

A spokesperson for Kah Motor revealed that the variants that will be making their way here are the 1.3-litre, 100bhp and 1.5-litre, 120bhp engined versions of the car. Both variants are likely to be made available here with 5-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmission options.

Honda claims that the 1.3-litre engine is capable of covering 24km per litre of petrol under highway driving conditions, while the 1.5-litre is good for 19.6km per litre.

Official performance figures have yet to be released, but based on the power outputs of the new engines, expect to see an improvement in straightline speed over the current version.

Prices for the Jazz are expected to be set closer to the local release date.

http://www.carbuyer.com.sg/?s=news_main&id=513

[urbanx]

Means they open for booking now ?

[junning]

Hi urbanx,

Not yet till the car arrives...

Meanwhile Hong Kong got this teaser ad too:

http://www.honda.com.hk/accord_form/form01.php

Guangzhou will be revealing the new Accord in the upcoming Auto Guangzhou 20-26Nov.

[sarion]

i just wish it has 6 airbags to compete w/ european models....

[autoglymer]

Another misinformed local car publication? Doesn't Car Buyer know that it's an Inspire that they tested in Japan? Really beats me if these guys are from the automotive industry. Have they been to the Frankfurt or Tokyo Motorshows this year? Have they seen the Accord and Inspire Prototypes? Do they know what is Internet?

Making a statement like this "Unlike the current generation Accord, which was made in two distinctively different styles for the American/Asian and European/Japanese markets, the new car will have just one design worldwide" is simply IRRESPONSIBLE. Perhaps KM wants to make jump on the PIs this time. Sigh ... real lame. Come on .. just bring in the REAL Accord. If u must ... bring in both the Inspire (pls don't rebadge it) and the REAL Accord.

CARBUYER Nov 09, 2007, Lionel Kong

New Honda Accord and Jazz lineup for Singapore confirmed

Singapore to get three engine variants for the new Accord and two for the new Jazz.

LOCAL HONDA DEALER Kah Motor has confirmed that the eighth-generation Honda Accord will make its appearance in the showrooms by the end of the year.

Order books for the new car will be open at the same time, and the first deliveries are scheduled for March 2008. However, local prices have yet to be confirmed.

Upsize Accordingly
There will be three engine variants for the Accord available here. The 2.0 and 2.4-litre will be in-line four-cylinder engines while the 3.5-litre engine is a V6. All will come with five-speed automatic transmissions.

The Accord has always been more of a driver’s car than many of its Japanese contemporaries, and this continues with the new generation car. With 280bhp on tap, the 3.5-litre variant will be the most powerful Honda Accord ever to make it to the production line.

Besides putting out a lot of grunt, the V6 engine is also set to be highly economical; it can shut off either two or three of its cylinders while at idle or when cruising. This means that when sitting in still at a traffic junction, the 3.5-litre block theoretically uses only as much fuel as a 1.7-litre engine.

All three engine variants meet Euro IV emission ratings.

Unlike the current generation Accord, which was made in two distinctively different styles for the American/Asian and European/Japanese markets, the new car will have just one design worldwide. Cars for the Singapore market will be assembled in Thailand.

CarBuyer had the opportunity to preview the new Accord in Japan, and besides having a larger interior than the current car, it also displayed excellent high speed cruising ability. The 3.5-litre variant was especially impressive in the way the engine switched seamlessly between the economy and full-power driving modes.

Jazz it up
Meanwhile, the second generation version of Honda’s popular compact hatchback, the Jazz, is set to be officially available here only around the third quarter of 2008. This is because Kah Motor will be retailing the European-spec edition of the car, which will go into production only in mid 2008.

The new Jazz was officially unveiled at the Tokyo Motorshow as part of Honda’s 2008 model lineup. Visually, the car resembles a smaller, more upright version of the Honda Civic hatchback, and is built on a thoroughly revised version of the original Jazz chassis.

Wheelbase has grown by 50mm, and structural rigidity has been increased significantly as well. There are now even more storage compartments in the car, including a ‘secret’ space under the rear seats.

A spokesperson for Kah Motor revealed that the variants that will be making their way here are the 1.3-litre, 100bhp and 1.5-litre, 120bhp engined versions of the car. Both variants are likely to be made available here with 5-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmission options.

Honda claims that the 1.3-litre engine is capable of covering 24km per litre of petrol under highway driving conditions, while the 1.5-litre is good for 19.6km per litre.

Official performance figures have yet to be released, but based on the power outputs of the new engines, expect to see an improvement in straightline speed over the current version.

Prices for the Jazz are expected to be set closer to the local release date.

http://www.carbuyer.com.sg/?s=news_main&id=513

[autoglymer]

Hi Junning,

Thanks for sharing. Seriously, I think the local official distributors are giving lame excuses: Distributors wanted to but are not officially allowed to sell those domestic models as they're bounded by agreements set by the Principal. To illustrate the point, KM had the choice to bring in FD2 or FN2. In this case, KM decided FN2 for SG and FD2 for MY. Dun tell me it's the principal again; SG sells higher grade of fuel than MY which makes JDM FD2 more ideal for SG?

It beats me that KM is not allowed to bring in the REAL Accord from Japan? But forced to import Accord (rebadged Inspire) from Thailand? It's a DIFFERENT model altogether. If need be ... bring in both models like in Australia: Honda Accord (http://www.honda.com.au/wps/wcm/connect ... om/Accord/) and Honda Accord Euro (http://www.honda.com.au/wps/wcm/connect ... cord+Euro/). KM is simply not giving consumers in SG choices.

With regards to built quality, the difference is obvious. KM seems to be blind in this area again. Even the FDs (no need to mention the CLs) have much better built quality than the current made-in-Thailand CMs. This is no fault of KM's. But please admit it. Feedback to Honda Japan for heaven's sake.

Whatever that transpires ... my choice is clear. I'm sure they'll be many likewise. KM is shoving the other group of buyers to PIs. Dun blame the PIs. Sigh.

Hi autoglymer,

Some times it's not totally an issue of country of origin, it's just the design, look & feel that affects the individual choice.

Remember when KM 1st brought in the Gen-6 US-made Accord? There were many comments and feedbacks.


And they decided to switch to Japan-made when the facelift Gen-6 was out, but sales didn't pick up either


With strong competition from everywhere, many manufacturers have to expand their capacities and go for cost efficiency by centralising their parts sourcing, lowering thier labour cost and bringing themselves closer to the target market etc... And they tried very hard to cultivate end-user by saying their products are "Made by them" with the same quality. This tag line may be too common, but it's happening everywhere.

Distributors are always tied-up by the export line-up offered by the Principal and left with limited choices. Distributors wanted to but are not officially allowed to sell those domestic models as they're bounded by agreements set by the Principal. Distributors can't do anything but to see the brisk sales of those PIs and having them eating into their market share.

Like one what a motoring senior correspondent always says - Principal are hitting their own legs in this Distributor-PI war, but end of the day it's only either left pocket or right pocket.

But let's hoped that this Gen-8 Accord will give a good showdown for the other competitors and may it makes its way to be the top model for this segment which it has been missing for a long long while.

[cl7teckie]

Another misinformed local car publication? Doesn't Car Buyer know that it's an Inspire that they tested in Japan? Really beats me if these guys are from the automotive industry. Have they been to the Frankfurt or Tokyo Motorshows this year? Have they seen the Accord and Inspire Prototypes? Do they know what is Internet?

Making a statement like this "Unlike the current generation Accord, which was made in two distinctively different styles for the American/Asian and European/Japanese markets, the new car will have just one design worldwide" is simply IRRESPONSIBLE. Perhaps KM wants to make jump on the PIs this time. Sigh ... real lame. Come on .. just bring in the REAL Accord. If u must ... bring in both the Inspire (pls don't rebadge it) and the REAL Accord.

Well...the local car publication tends to make a lot of such silly steoro-typing and have a bad idea of how the world of automotive work. Ask them about race....there mostly will be ONLY to tell u F1 ..errr got regional race meh?

[junning]

Hi autoglymer,

Thanks for sharing too

KM no longer distributes Honda in Malaysia, it's now Honda Malaysia. Maybe HM voices are stronger and further to that WongKN & his team fought very hard & all the way to the top ( http://asia.vtec.net/Reviews/8GCivicRLaunch/index.html ).

Not forgettng NZ is also enjoying the best of both CL & CM, they got the volume and capacities.

Thanks to govt effort in promoting free and open market competition, the monopolies long held have been broken. Consumers are now spolit for choices, which no one ever had more than a decade ago.

Some publications tends to speculate, add 'salt/ vinegar'..... Some times reading articles written by WongKN might be better, this month he will be writing on Singapore Honda fanatics scene.

The tested car in Tochigi is indeed an Accord but LHD (wondered why ) & not the JDM RHD Inspire.

[ombre]

call me selfish... or whatever.... I'm just glad that the new generation accord is not as sporty and desirable (at least to me)...

this will keep me happy for the next 3 years and not think of changing my ride till the 5th year mark...

hopefully, by then, they would have come up with a sportier EuroR version..

[lucasrock]

call me selfish... or whatever.... I'm just glad that the new generation accord is not as sporty and desirable (at least to me)...

this will keep me happy for the next 3 years and not think of changing my ride till the 5th year mark...

hopefully, by then, they would have come up with a sportier EuroR version..

My thoughts exactly.....

[Batmobile]

So envy u... I think my next car got to downgrade liao.

My thoughts exactly.....

[urbanx]

Hi urbanx,

Not yet till the car arrives...

Meanwhile Hong Kong got this teaser ad too:

http://www.honda.com.hk/accord_form/form01.php

Guangzhou will be revealing the new Accord in the upcoming Auto Guangzhou 20-26Nov.

I tot they open booking for those early bird liao

[junning]

Hi all,

More from the Media Accord-CP test drive in Tochigi
















More pictures & full article written in Thai language though:
http://caronline.net/Article.aspx?Article_id=117

[urbanx]

More pictures & full article written in Thai language though:
http://caronline.net/Article.aspx?Article_id=117

It says that, All new accord will launch in Thailand on Nov 20th.

And rear will be as following :

[junning]

Hi urbanx,

Seems like you're the most potential 1st Accord-CP owner in SHC.

Had thought LED side mirror indicator will be applied across the board, now looks like only the 3.5L will have it as standard option.