The world famous Honda Accord sedan enjoyed a special position in the premium Indian sedan market. It was the bestselling model in its own class and was also a highly revered sedan model in India. The Accord offers all the patent qualities of Honda from its premium quality, elegant style as well as engaging drive. However, growing competition and falling sales forced the company to withdraw the very capable sedan model from the country’s market in 2013.

With the advent of the compact sedans and the growingly popular premium mid-sized sedan segment in India, the full-sized sedan segment has been getting pretty dull in India. Moreover, the Indian car buyers are rather opting for entry level luxury cars over the expensive full-sized sedans. This ensured the death of the popular Honda Accord in India.

However, now the Japanese car major is again contemplating resurrecting the Accord brand in India, as the full-sized sedans are again slowly finding more prominence than before. Premium full-sized sedan models such as the Toyota Camry have been getting very popular in the recent years. Toyota has been particularly happy with the high popularity of its Camry hybrid model, while Volkswagen’s Passat and Skoda’s Superb sedan models are also getting ready to come in their new generation avatars in order to increase their appeal for the prospective customers. Thus, the new generation Honda Accord is also on its way to India along with its hybrid version.

Now, the new generation or the 9th generation Accord model is not really new, as it has been on offer for sale in the international car markets for about 3 years now. The facelift model of the current Accord has also been unveiled recently by the company unveiled too, and it is this new refreshed car model that will be offered for sale in India next year. Going by past tradition, the US-spec Honda Accord is expected to come to India.

The new Honda Accord will be unveiled at the 2016 India Auto Expo in February, and is expected to launch by the month of April. Honda Cars India is also expected to focus on the hybrid Accord, as India is slowly opening to the eco-friendly hybrid vehicles backed by the government.

Under the hood, the new Honda Accord hybrid model packs in a 2 liter i-VTEC petrol engine coupled with an electric that draws power from a lithium-ion battery pack. The combined powertrain of the car offers 196 bhp of power and an impressive 306 Nm of torque. Transmission duty is handled by an electronic CVT gearbox.

The new Honda Accord is expected to be competitively priced in order to beat market competition which will come primarily from the Toyota Camry range. Thus, it can be expected that the premium sedan will be priced in the range of around Rs. 28 to Rs. 32 lakhs in India. Going by its great style and the already revered positioning of the past, the new Accord should be a lasting success in India.

The awareness about eco-friendly vehicles has flourished in recent times; there have been numerous reports about green cars in many automobile websites and newspapers. The alertness coincides with the rapid increase in pollution witnessed in many parts of the world, contributed by massive industrialization that has taken place over the years, mainly caused by the vastness of the IT sector.

2015 Honda Jade hybrid MPV

It is a known fact that Honda, an esteemed automobile brand is building an innovative hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. What is unknown is its signature hybrid multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) development and the car is called Jade and it will soon launch in the parent headquartered firm, Japan. Not many people would have heard of Jade, it however surfaced a couple of years ago and was portrayed in grand style at the prestigious Shanghai Auto Show.

A new Jade hybrid MPV car sounds intriguing, and it is mysterious indeed, the vehicle emerged in China with Concept S badge, and it was an instant best seller. Honda then decided to introduce the vehicle in its home town Japan, and for some intriguing piece of information, the Japanese and Chinese spec car is different, and Honda has decided to unveil the vehicle sometime in February.

There can’t be anything more fascinating than a six seat Jade MPV car developed by Honda; it is extremely fascinating and unheard of. The inner development is one of a kind as well, it will have three rows and the seating configuration is 2-2-2 type. As mentioned earlier the Jade for Chinese markets is different and here it is a four seat car and the styling is minimalistic but trendy.

Along with design, the mechanical details of Japanese and Chinese spec Jade is varied, the Japanese car will move on an efficient 1.5 liter direct injection engine and the hybrid unit will function on an advanced lithium ion battery, and it will yield fierce energies of 160Nm and 29.5PS.  Jade on Chinese soil will maneuver on a potent 1.8 liter i-VTEC mill, and the transmission options are the high tech Sport Hybrid dual clutch and Sport Hybrid i-DCD system.

It is interesting to learn of Honda’s Jade hybrid MPV project, and an image of it is on the web, and its design architecture is splendid and sophisticated, parallel to other lush Honda cars in the market. If Honda decides to introduce the car in India, the public will most certainly be immensely fascinated by it. The company has marveled the Indian crowd with its classic Mobilio, it is among the key profit players of the strong December 2014 sales. Honda Cars India made hallmark 163% profits.

The arrival of Jade hybrid MPV into Japan is a grand surprise all around the globe, and it is a sudden mystery indeed. It will be interesting to witness many more exciting details of the car, and the customer response levels in Japan, and later on Honda might surprise the crowd again with its aim to release the vehicle in many other countries. It is a must buy product for lucky ones in Japan.

Honda has developed a hybrid model of its highly popular and successful City car called Grace. The phrase Grace sounds catchy and is in tune with the vehicle’s high-tech mode of development, the car is fitted with the innovative i-DCD Sport hybrid technology, and it is a one cylinder hybrid system.

Honda Grace Hybrid

The principle behind the operation of Sport Hybrid i-DCD technology is, when the driver turns the ignition on, the vehicle starts at the full EV mode and only after a while it switches to the internal combustion mill system. Grace operates on a hybrid and conventional engine system, the combustion runs on petrol fuel and it is equipped with a 1.5 litre four cylinder engine that yields spark energy efficiencies of 134Nm and 110PS, and the energy emission output from the electric motor is 160Nm and 30PS. The vehicle is high on fuel efficiency and certainly convenient to travel endless kilometres, the mileage output of the electric and combustion engine together reaches a maximum range of 34.4kmpl, and the all-wheel drive system renders 29.4kmpl.

The exterior architecture of Grace is similar to the regular car, the feeling of owning a Grace is acquired through the amazing accessory package offers. Honda has introduced a package with new alloy wheels and LED light package. The revamped wheel are built with superior road gliding engineering theories and has a low drag coefficient, and is moulded into a neat diamond cut structure that builds the aesthetic value of the car.

The details and development of Grace sounds intriguing, the excitement lies in the fact that one can actually get to drive a hybrid Honda City car, which is certainly a dream come true package. According to the buzz, an Indian launch is not imminent, and in Japan where it was recently launched, it is sold at a price of Rs 19, 50,000 Yen which is Rs 10.16 lakh.

A Honda City hybrid car will work really well in India, and it is a practical statement, analyzing the massive contributions of the all new City. It is the highest profit contributor that enabled Honda to clock remarkable 64% gains, and it is an overnight success since inception in early 2014. The 2014 City is an evolutionary variant of its predecessor and covered with Honda’s signature ‘Exciting H design’ technology.

Grace has the potential to yield admirable global sales, because it is a cost-effective hybrid variant of all new City, which is a trigger to draw a vast customer network and also an effective means to impart knowledge on the beneficial and eco-friendly power of hybrid cars. The car will be strikingly similar to City and owners will get the feel of a typical City ownership.

Grace hybrid will come in handy in India, the pollution level in the country has risen considerably, and the task to curb it is the need of the hour. It will be interesting to view the futuristic power and pollution hindering capacity of the car, and Grace may be one of the first platforms through which the spark beneficial outcomes of hybrid cars will pass around to the bulk public.

The all new Honda City became an overnight hit, since its arrival in early 2014; it is among the prime profit contributors of Honda India in 2014 November, enabling it to clock 64% gains. Now a hybrid variant of the model is unveiled in Japan, with the name tag ‘Grace’, how exciting would it be to drive a hybrid model of Honda City called Grace?

Honda Grace City Hybrid front

Grace is engineered with innovative hybrid technology, and is equipped with the company’s novel Hybrid Sport i-DCD one cylinder engine. There are two drive switches that power the City hybrid; one is the EV mode and the other, a conventional combustion engine. The car is engineered in a manner that the driver will have to start the vehicle in the full EV model and later switch to the combustion system.

Grace is fitted with an innovative 1.5 litre four cylinder petrol engine, also used in the all new City that emits fierce energies of 134Nm torque and 110PS power. The electric engine churns equal thrust of energies, and generates maximum 160Nm and 30PS torque and power energies. A combination of a potent electric and conventional petrol combustion engine should yield exemplary mileage figures, and the trend follows with Grace, the fuel efficient power from the combination of electric and petrol engine is 34.4kmpl, the maximum value, taking the lane conditions of US into consideration. The car is fitted with all wheel drive system as well, and yields admirable mileage powers of 29.4kmpl.

The design dynamics of Grace is not very different from the all new City, but one can spot few major differences. Honda has introduced upgrades to the design, to highlight the outline of a hybrid vehicle. The car is fitted with refreshed alloy wheels, and revised LED light package. The refreshed wheels are moulded into glossy diamond cut structures and run on low drag coefficient. The diamond cut wheels provide the additional glow to the overall picturesque nature of the vehicle, and the entire package is now more awe-inspiring than before.

Grace has hit Japanese shores, what about an Indian launch, and sources state that it is not yet imminent. Viewing the robust impact of the power of luxury cars in India, Grace is surely expected to overwhelm the crowd on a grand scale, grander than before contributed by the addition of a hybrid system. The new City is the biggest plush sedan in the country, and the expected price range in Japan is 19, 50,000 Yen which is Rs 10.16 lakh INR.

The demand for the new Honda City has been sky rocketing since inception, a few months ago, the request for the vehicle was so magnificent that Honda had to construction another production unit, to accommodate demand with supply. Grace is an all new City car inserted with a hybrid engine, and it is a pioneering initiative of the company to build a hybrid model of all new City. Let’s hope within a few days from now, news of an Indian launch will be mentioned.

The Japanese car majors seem to be all having major trouble handling the recall shame; special thanks to the Japanese car component suppliers or the real trouble makers. While the recall chart is always headed by the world’s highest selling company and Japanese auto leader Toyota Motor, its Japanese fellow car makers are not far behind, especially Honda and Nissan.

2014 Honda Civic Si Sedan

Honda is probably the closest competition to Toyota when certain popular car models in the world are concerned. The Honda Hybrids are also the stiffest competition to the hybrid pioneer Toyota. Now, the Japanese car major Honda makes a massive recall for its hybrid vehicles as if to get equal with its primary Japanese rival.

This time around, the Japanese car maker Honda Motor Co. is going to recall its hybrid models due to some software glitch. Honda has revealed in a company statement that it is preparing to call back a massive 175,000 hybrid vehicles in its home market Japan. The Japanese car maker has stated that the faulty hybrids have some potential serious problems that could be really dangerous for the passengers as well as overall road safety. Honda has revealed that the hybrid models could have some severe software issues in the vehicles’ electronic control units that could cause the cars to accelerate all of a sudden, forcing the drivers to take emergency measures in order to prevent a road accident.

Honda Motor has stated that the affected hybrid vehicles comprise of some of the hybrid models of the popular Fit hatchback (also known as Jazz) as well as the Vezel sub compact SUV, and these vehicles could suddenly accelerate with no prior notice.

A Honda spokesperson in Tokyo has told the media that some incidents regarding the hybrid software glitch has been reported. The reported incidents involved unintended acceleration that has caused property damage so far with no injuries or deaths as yet. The company is recalling the affected vehicles only and the recall is going to happen only in Japan.

A technical expert has revealed to the media, that the recall made by Honda is really a unique one, as he thinks that this recall is most probably the first one which involves a car manufacturer admitting publicly that a software malfunction can be linked to sudden acceleration and involves the fixing of the software.

Interestingly enough, Toyota Motor is busy settling hundreds of lawsuits that involve its vehicles unintentionally accelerated. However, Toyota has never acknowledged of any software issue so far and always blamed other factors such as loose floor mats, driver error or sticky accelerator pedals for lots and deaths.

This is probably where Toyota and Honda defers, and this should actually benefit Honda as well as its consumers in the long run.

The market expert further added this acknowledgement of Honda of its mistakes and its acceptance of software issues are expected to safeguard the company’s reputation and save lives. The company has done a great thing by accepting its faults rather that pushing problems under the floor mat to avoid future problems.

The current environmental situation is quite grave with rising pollution, expanding ozone layer breach, and the broad spectrum ill-effects of global warming. Though the thinking heads of the world are trying to find out a solution for these gigantic problems, the situation seems to be out of reach and make us think of the impending doomsday. In such a condition the car majors of the world are trying to lower the pollution levels by pushing greener cars that will burn less or no fossil fuel and release minimal or zero emissions into the atmosphere. As a result, we have an array of electric and hybrid vehicles. The governments of various nations across the world are also promoting the green cars in order to tame the situation and ensure cleaner air for the populace.

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Front

At the 2014 Green Living Show held in Toronto, the Canadian Green Car Award crowned the Honda Accord Hybrid as greenest car for the year 2014. The Honda Accord Hybrid competes with other very efficient green cars in its own category but was able to win the 2014 Canadian Green Car Award by beating its rivals that include Mazda3 2.0-litre, Mazda5, Ford C-MAX Energi, Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid and the Nissan Leaf.

The Canadian Green Car Awards gracing the occasion of the Green Living Show also honored several other vehicles with awards for being very efficient, cleaner and greener to help curb the pollution levels, while the Honda Accord Hybrid walked away with the title of the top green car for the current year.

The Honda Accord Hybrid was determined as the winner by a panel of 19 jury members all of whom are Canadian automotive journalists. The jury based their decision by closely studying various factors of the vehicles including performance, fuel economy, several “green” qualities, features, and consumer appeal.

The 2014 Top Green Car Award was handed over to the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Honda Motor Canada, Dave Gardner by the Former mayor of Toronto and present president and Chief Executive Officer of WWF Canada, David Miller.

During the occasion, Dave Gardner said that it is an honor to have the Honda Accord Hybrid recognized and chosen by a panel of Canada’s most esteemed journalists. The Accord Hybrid is a no-compromise vehicle for the intense fuel saver, which joins the respected and highly acclaimed Accord family offering the same fun drive performance, elegant styling and premium features that are patent characteristics of any Honda Accord sedan.

The eco-friendly vehicles have become intensely important over the past few years and their popularity has grown immensely. The league was started by the gas-electric hybrid car Toyota Prius. The hybrid pioneer Toyota actually showed the way to these great efficient cars, and resulted into the present all important fuel economical criteria for the global auto majors.

The 2014 Canadian Green Car Award is in its second edition, which presented the top honor to Ford Fusion Hybrid in 2013.

Japanese auto major Honda has great plans of expansion for forthcoming years in two Asian giants comprising China and Asia. The carmaker like its compatriot Toyota has production units in China and India which are used to service local demand and export order too. After reporting an increase of nearly 83 percent in India’s markets by launch of Honda City and Amaze, Honda has announced launch of new Concept B model at Beijing Auto Show to be held this week. The concept being presented is a five door model with sleek sporty exteriors and attractive steel design on its wheel covers. To expand its base in China, Honda has designed this car exclusively for local markets with a hybrid engine.

Though Honda has not given complete details of its hybrid engine it has stated that first production model of this car will be ready for delivery by 2016. The car will also be introduced as a mass model and will be launched with new models of Vezel and Jazz models in hatchback and sedan categories. Industry experts state that since Honda is an expert in making hybrid cars it can power the Concept B car with an engine similar to compact sports car CR-Z since it is non-polluting and also provides great mileage and power. With growing concern in China for pollution free vehicles Honda like Toyota will be concentrating on producing and selling cars hybrid cars in China.

According to details on Honda’s website this model will be launched with lithium battery powered engine and direct ignition system with immobilizer and DC brushless motor. It will be fitted with latest safety features comprising ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, vehicle stability assist and traction control. Besides these safety mechanisms, Honda will also provide provided passive safety gadgets like multiple airbags, three point tether seat belts and child proof door locks in the rear.

This Intent Concept Sports variant will compete with hybrid models from leaders like Toyota to create a niche in this limited players market. To make it a benchmark model Honda has designed the car’s exteriors with slightly curved rear wheel arches and attractive projector beam halogen headlights cluster which have chrome bezels with blue tint for a bright glow.

This sedan type car has wide air dam and black radiator grille which cut into body colored bumper creating an open mouthed design with edgy LED fog lamps built into neat groves on either side of air dam. The roof bends backward into boot section without support of pillars giving it a curvaceous rear which is made more attractive with unique rear lights design stretching across entire rear section in a wide arc with LED lights in its center on either side of boot. There is also a wing shaped rear spoiler on rear windshield spanning across its entire length on lower section. Interiors of this Intent Concept B Sports Hybrid are likely to be fitted with latest navigational features and climate control features along with leather seats to comfortably seat four adults with sufficient leg-space.

Image Source: Carscoops

Accord is a premium four door sedan, designed by Honda, and was first launched in 1976. The car continues to live till now with the launch of 2014 Accord Hybrid. 2014 Accord hybrid is an impeccably stylish car, there are a couple of arty cuts on the side, the grille is neatly sketched out and the headlights take on a well proportioned rectangular sculpt.

The specialty of 2014 Accord lies in the fact that is a hybrid model, and is inserted with hybrid engine that emits minimal emissions of 45mpg on highways and 50mpg on cities, and complies with stringent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Hybrid cars were developed a while ago and dates back to well over ten years. A great amount of research is still carried out in this segment, and Honda has chosen the new Accord, a mid size sedan. The combination of new Accord and hybrid power train is amazing to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Exteriors:

2014 Honda Accord is a well styled model, but the body dimension is smaller than the earlier car by 3.5 inches. The loss in length measurement comes with a silver lining which is an increases cabin room. By just a mere glance at the car, the thought that will be embedded is the ideal family car projection, and Honda has built the car to enable families to have a time of their life. The flat roofline is the brainwave behind the enormous comforts of vast head, and rear legroom, and the arrangement of seats is done in a way that there is sufficient space to store additional baggage. The windows are sturdier and bigger, and perfect to allow fresh breeze and sunlight to enter.

The hot topic of discussion would be how different is the new hybrid Accord from the non hybrid variety. Sources reveal that the variations are rather minimal, but if you observe closely you can spot classic differences, which lie in design of wheels, rear spoiler, headlight lenses, chic blue accented grille, and the most obvious difference is hybrid badge.

Interiors:

The cabin room is luxuriously spacious and the mystery behind its endless room is the flat roofline. The interior décor is phenomenal, and every nook and corner looks grand, the materials are sturdy and eye catchy, and the dashboard and instrument panel are neatly sketched out, and the feature to look forward to is 8 inch diagonal information screen fitted at the center. 2014 Accord hybrid is a high tech car, and the interior arrangement is sophisticated, with buttons all over the dashboard. The speedometer is draped in fine matte black finish, and there is a power flow meter, that depicts the source of power origin, whether it is the electric motor, power engine or both.

2014 Accord Hybrid is inserted with advanced Earth Dreams Technology, and there is significant improvement in the efficiencies of internal combustion engine which includes electric motor, transmission and engine. The hybrid system is called Two Motor Hybrid Intelligent Multi Mode drive. The car is equipped with potent four pot 2 liter iVTEC engine. The base model costs $29,945 and high end model is priced at $35,695.

The new Accord is an epitome of grandeur and luxury.

Japanese carmaker Honda has a loyal following in United States for both its conventional fuel and hybrid cars. However sales of its recently launched Accord Hybrid variant have been hampered due to limited stocks and also lack of spare parts. However customers are willing to wait for their chance to buy this vehicle.  This has led to fall in sales of this model accounting for mere 2414 units between October 2013 and Feb 2014 in United States alone though it managed to supply around 6000 units in Japan within first three months of launch. Honda is struggling hard to meet demands of potential buyers in United States who are keen on Hybrid Accord after test drive.

According to Honda, the Accord Hybrid is in short supply within United States Honda is concentrating on meeting demands of home market first as spare parts like electrical components, batteries, engine parts etc. are easy to source when compared to United States. Its technological competence has won the Honda Accord Hybrid coveted award of “Best Car to Buy” beating strong competitors Chevrolet Spark electrical vehicle, Chevrolet Cruze diesel along with BMW i3 electric vehicle. The style and comfort level of Honda Accord Hybrid is far above its closest competitors therefore buyers are keen on waiting for their personal cars.

This 2014 Honda Accord now available in United States is its seventh generation model while hybrid variant is third generation model with modification made to suit local requirements to increase popularity. The Honda Accord hybrid is being built exclusively in its Sayama production unit at japan therefore there is delay in supply to United States. It is powered by iVTEC engine with five speed automatic transmission that collates power of integrated motor assist electric engine which provides torque of 315 Nm. The exterior of new hybrid model have been lightly modified to include amber colored turn signals instead of previous red turn signals. The Honda Accord Hybrid in United States is being offered in three trims with varied power combinations and comfort features thereby increasing its popularity more than Toyota.

Honda has designed the latest Accord Hybrid based on Earth Dreams concept which favors improving efficiency of internal combustion objects like engine and transmission along with electric motor therefore this 2014 model consumes less fuel and also has lesser carbon emissions. The elegant power mechanism of Accord Hybrid is referred to as Motor Hybrid Intelligent Multi Mode Drive by Honda’s engineers, which is powered by Atkinson cycle operation implemented for first time by Honda. The mechanism of Accord’s hybrid car is a little similar to Chevrolet Volt wherein gas engine powered motor delivers power to propulsion motor which turns front wheels. Due to unprecedented demand for this model in Japan, Honda is unable to meet demands of American buyers and sold only around 3000 units since launch. According to company sources a major reason for the slowdown in deliveries to locations outside Japan is because the manufacturer did not build up inventories before official release. The production of Honda Accord Hybrid was on rolling release i.e. cars were being made in a cyclical manner therefore the shortfall in supply.

The Honda Accord Hybrid is a very capable hybrid car that meets up to everyone’s expectation of efficiency, performance and technology. It also flaunts impressive styling which is patent to Honda and makes for an even more impressive hybrid model that comes with good looks which is not a general feature of most of the quality hybrids. The hybrid cars are made for fuel efficiency, cost saving benefits and ecological benefits. However, the Honda Accord offers more than these three and this car really knows how to impress its owner over time with its various advantages.

The same thing happened when we test drove the ne 2014 Accord Hybrid. Now, being used to test driving snazzy cars with satellite radio and navigation systems, we didn’t find the base Accord Hybrid test model to be a great charmer. However, over a week of driving the car did manage to change our judgment on the car. The primary reason for this is the great return of 44 mpg. Accord Hybrid surely knows how to compensate its lack of few contemporary features with that of sheer brilliance of performance and fuel efficiency. Certainly the very impressive 44 mpg was also falling short of what Honda claims the car can deliver. The claimed combined return of the new 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is 47 mpg. Nevertheless, the 44 mpg rating is also fabulous for a spacious and family sedan, where it again defers from the usual compact hatchback hybrids.

Moreover, one also wonders how this amazing 44 or 47 mpg is delivered by the new Honda Accord Hybrid considering its rather compact powertrains. The Accord Hybrid packs in a very efficient 2 liter gasoline I-4 engine that is coupled with the potent 124kW electric motor that draws power from a light and proficient 1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery. This hybrid powertrain is surely revolutionary when it comes to efficiency.

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid also debuts the company’s Atkinson cycle gas engine that does the duty under the hoods of Toyota and Ford hybrid models. In short, Atkinson makes for enhanced hybrid performance. However, Honda offers a unique package by adding its VTEC valve along with Atkinson. This ensures that the loss of power inherent to Atkinson is effectively compensated, making the Accord a winning hybrid.

The revolutionary technology of the new Accord hybrid does not end here, as the car efficiently operates in 3 various drive modes and does not conventionally use a transmission and is rather operated by fixed drive ratios depending on the vehicle’s current driving mode.

All these superb innovation and smart usage of technology by Honda makes of the Accord Hybrid’s superb EPA rating of 50 mpg on city roads, 45 mpg on highway and 47 mpg on combined driving.

Apart from all the added benefits of the superb quality hybrid vehicle, the new Honda Accord Hybrid is essentially an Accord sedan, which is known for its comfortable and spacious interiors. Only its cargo space is a tag lesser than the regular Accord, but that is hardly noticeable.