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LOS ANGELES – American Honda will release in December, the world’s first
hybrid vehicle to combine the power of a V6 and the fuel economy of a small car.
The Accord Hybrid’s power and fuel economy is better than the regular Accord,
thanks to Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid and Variable Cylinder
Management (VCM) technologies. The Accord hybrid 3.0-litre engine and IMA system
has 190kW – up 13kW over the standard Accord V6 – while having the fuel
consumption of a four-cylinder Civic-sized car. By using the ouput from the IMA
electric motor, overall torque peaks at 314Nm.
“The Accord Hybrid is the first hybrid vehicle that combines superb fuel
economy with truly exhilarating performance,” said Tom Elliott, executive vice
president of American Honda. “By applying hybrid technology to two of America’s
most popular vehicles, first the Civic and now the Accord, we are taking hybrids
even further into the mainstream.”
The Accord Hybrid achieves an estimated US EPA fuel economy rating of 30mpg
(7.8 litres per 100km) in the city and 37mpg (6.3 litres per 100km) on the
highway, an increase of 43 percent over the current Accord V6 in city driving
and 23 percent in highway driving.
The Accord hybrid covers the 0-60 mph dash in just 7.5 seconds, a full
half-second better than the regular Accord V6.
The Accord Hybrid’s instrument panel incorporates an exclusive meter display
that shows key operating indicators of the IMA system, including the state of
the IMA battery charge, the level of IMA motor assist or charge, and a light to
indicate Idle Stop mode. There is also an “ECO” light to indicate that the
vehicle is achieving a high level of fuel economy and the VCM is operating in
3-cylinder mode.
To further improve overall fuel efficiency and maintain precise and
responsive handling, the Accord Hybrid utilises a number of exclusive weight
saving features including a lightweight aluminium bonnet and bumpers, along with
a magnesium engine head cover and dual-stage intake manifold. Other fuel saving
features include an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system – like the one used on
the high-performance S2000 sports car – and a new more efficient dual scroll
“hybrid” air conditioning compressor.
New to the Accord engine is the implementation of the advanced version of
Honda's variable valve-timing and lift electronic control (VTEC) system or
i-VTEC. i-VTEC adds a level of "intelligence" to the legendary VTEC system by
adding a Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system that switches between six-
and three-cylinder combustion. When high output is required, such as during
startup and acceleration or when climbing hills, the engine operates on all six
cylinders to deliver superior performance. During cruising and at low engine
loads, the system idles the rear bank of three cylinders for improved fuel
efficiency and reduced emissions. The idled cylinders also remain sealed,
alleviating the pumping losses associated with intake and exhaust and giving
fuel economy a further boost.
The Accord Hybrid is set to go on sale at Honda dealerships in the US on
December 3. Honda Australia has no plans at this stage to introduce the Accord
Hybrid in Australia.
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