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| Let me introduce you to my friend Manual... |
Our spy shooters have once again snared the 2013 Honda Accord in their sights. Though we’ve seen the car’s exterior several times by now, our photographers managed to get a look inside the new Honda midsizer this time.
We’ve already seen the sedan with its roofline exposed, spied the plug-in hybrid version, and even caught a Honda Accord coupe out testing. This time, however, our spy shooter finally got a peek inside the car.
The first interesting item to notice is the manual transmission used in this prototype. Although the Accord has long offered the option to shift for yourself, we’re pleased to see visual confirmation that option will continue in the latest generation of Honda’s midsize sedan and coupe. As is the case now, though, manual-transmission Accords will likely be extremely rare.
The next change is an interior revamp, starting with a new instrument cluster matching that of the 2012 Honda CR-V. Instead of the old Accord’s pair of dials, the 2013 model gets a large central speedometer, with a digital display in its center. At the left is a smaller analog tachometer, while the right-hand edge of the cluster appears to hold a fuel gauge. In addition, Honda has thankfully simplified and tidied the new car’s center stack. As on the 2012 CR-V, air vents now flank the audio and climate controls, which are arranged in tidy straight rows. The current Accord’s center stack has a glut of buttons arranged on a convex piece of plastic.
The important piece of news for audiophiles is the presence of a new infotainment system that has Pandora internet radio capability. A larger screen is mounted atop the dashboard clearly shows that Honda’s test drivers were enjoying the Celine Dion station on Pandora. Small icons at the top of the display indicate that, as is the case on almost any new car, Bluetooth connectivity is included.
The 2013 Honda Accord bowed in concept form at the Detroit auto show in January. The automaker has so far divulged that the base engine in the 2013 Accord will be a revised 2.4-liter inline-four with 181 hp, which can be mated to a continuously variable or six-speed manual transmission. An optional 3.5-liter V-6 will produce at least 271 hp, and can be coupled to a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
The 2012 Honda Accord is offered with two engines: a 177-hp, 2.4-liter inline-four that could be mated to either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission; and a 271-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 available with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic.
The 2013 Honda Accord is expected to launch this fall.
