Honda Cars : Honda sees 2013 Accord powering revival from troubled ’11 | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By Dan Eaton

Honda has high hopes its signature car is ready to make a new mark.

Honda of America Manufacturing Inc. on Monday started production of the 2013 Accord, the automaker’s flagship sedan that has been assembled at the company’s Marysville plant for the past 30 years. In that time there have been eight generations of the Accord.

“Many people doubted Honda in the last few years,” Honda of America CEO Hide Iwata told a group of workers and visitors at the launch. “Many wondered if we would overcome the many challenges.”

Honda encountered a turbulent 2011. It dealt with production and supply problems caused by a March earthquake in Japan and flooding later in the year in Thailand. Sales have rebounded in 2012, and the newest Accord is expected to further drive that improvement.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich attended the launch and praised Honda for its commitment to the state and its $8 billion in investment in Ohio since opening its motorcycle plant in Central Ohio in 1979.

The new Accord is scheduled to reach showrooms next month. Pricing hasn’t been disclosed, but it is expected to be comparable to the 2012 model, which starts at $21,480.

The 2013 Accord has a more sculpted exterior, in auto industry speak, and though most details about its interior remain under wraps, the company made public a few of the technological elements, including a standard-feature Bluetooth phone interface, Pandora Internet radio and a variety of voice controls. Safety features include a driver’s view mirror, lane shift warning and front collision warning systems and a blind-spot camera mounted in the sideview mirror and activated by using the turn signal.

Accord Model Leader Mike Fischer said that feature is exclusive to Honda and gives the driver an 80-degree view of their blind spot compared with a normal 20-degree view.

Fischer said the interior has more space but the exterior dimensions are smaller than the eighth-generation Accord.

It also is the first Honda to get the company’s next-generation engine and transmission, dubbed Earth Dreams. Denis Kovacs, engine model leader, said the newest powertrain gives the vehicle improved fuel efficiency and better performance.

“That’s a balance our customers like,” he said.

Fischer said the powertrain provides 10 percent more output; fuel economy is improved by 4 percent. The engine is made at Honda’s plant in Anna, and the transmissions are manufactured in Russells Point.

Spokesman Ron Lietzke said Honda is not disclosing production projections but said the Marysville plant is running above capacity with overtime work. The facility, which is the sole producer of Accords for North American market and some exports, has an annual production capacity of 440,000 vehicles. It also produces the Acura TL sedan.

Source;
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2012/08/honda-sees-2013-accord-powering.html?page=all