Gerry Wood Honda

Set to go on sale in mid-August, the 2011 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe receive significant updates including improved fuel economy, enhanced exterior and interior styling and the addition of a new leather-equipped Special Edition (SE) trim level. Available as either a sedan or a coupe in 4-cylinder and V-6 variations, the Accord offers a unique balance of style, performance, efficiency and value specific to each individual model.

"For 2011, the Accord evolves again with sharpened styling inside and out, fuel economy gains and a broader application of popular features," said Erik Berkman, vice president of Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Accord is designed to deliver a consistently rewarding ownership experience in the areas that matter most to sedan and coupe drivers."

Improvements to vehicle aerodynamics, engine friction and transmission gear ratios all contribute to fuel economy improvements. The EPA fuel-economy ratings¹ for Accord 4-cylinder sedan models equipped with an automatic transmission improve by 2 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 3 mpg on the highway, for a city/highway rating of 23/34 mpg.

The 2011 Accord Sedan's exterior expresses a more upscale and powerful presence with a new style for the front grille, front bumper and rear deck lid, along with a new wheel design.

Building on the sedan's design character, the Accord Coupe's unique muscular stance is enhanced with a bolder front grille design, new front bumper shape, enhanced brakelight appearance and a new wheel design for V-6 models.

Striking a balance between value and luxury, the Accord SE Sedan offers the additional features from the popular Accord LX-P with the added luxury of leather-trimmed seating, heated seats, driver's power-lumbar support and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

New features on certain models include steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe, a USB Audio Interface on all coupe models and Accord EX and EX-L Sedans, and a rear view camera on sedans equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation² System?. Additionally, Accord EX-L V-6 models receive a two-position memory system for the driver's seat. Additional interior updates on all models include new seat fabrics on models with cloth seats, an updated instrument panel design and more-refined accent points throughout the interior.

Interior styling on all models provides attainable luxury with generous standard equipment, world-class ergonomics and intuitive vehicle controls. The front seats are designed to provide generous lateral support and to complement the Accord's sporty side. The fold-down, rear seatback offers cargo-carrying versatility and also includes a lockable pass-through for long items like snow skis.

New for 2011, the most frequently used climate-control buttons are now positioned on the left side of the control stack, closer to the driver for ease-of-use, and less-frequently used buttons are now positioned on the right side. Vehicle clock adjustment is also made easier by more prominent control lettering.

A 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is standard in the Accord  EX and EX-L Sedans and Accord  LX-S, EX and EX-L Coupes. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine in the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedans produces 177 horsepower.

The available 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine produces 271-horsepower and takes advantage of Variable Cylinder Management? (VCM®) technology that can deactivate up to half of the cylinders while cruising to improve fuel economy. Preliminary EPA fuel-economy ratings³ for the 2011 Accord V-6 Sedan are 19 city/30 highway mpg, an improvement of 1 mpg in highway driving.

The performance-oriented Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission has a unique 3.5-liter V-6 VTEC engine (without VCM) that provides a performance-tuned valvetrain, intake and exhaust system to broaden the torque curve in the low- to mid-rpm range for enthusiast-level performance.

A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on 4-cylinder models and a 5-speed automatic is available. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on V-6-powered models. A 6-speed manual transmission is available exclusively on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe.

For safety, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering? (ACE®) is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE? design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment.

The double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension inspire confident handling performance while also providing a comfortable ride. The 2011 Accord Sedan comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, or 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the model.

Three audio systems are available - all with MP3/Windows Media® Audio (WMA) playback capability and an auxiliary input jack. The standard system provides a single-disc CD player, six speakers and 160 watts of power. Radio Data System (RDS) displays information broadcast by participating FM radio stations that often includes call letters, station type (searchable by genre) and programming information. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls come standard on every Accord. The Accord EX Sedan and LX-S Coupe add a 6-disc in-dash changer.

A premium 270-watt audio system comes standard on Accord EX Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models, and includes a six-disc CD changer and seven speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer. XM Radio® is standard equipment on all Accord EX-L models.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System (available on Accord EX-L) uses an 8-inch screen and an interface dial for user input. Features include the Zagat Survey® guide for restaurants, nightlife, hotels and attractions. Accord EX and EX-L Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models include Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard equipment for connecting wirelessly with compatible mobile phones.

The Accord Coupe (4-cylinder) has 17-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment, with 18-inch alloys standard on the Accord V-6 Coupe. All Accords feature four-wheel disc brakes.

Currently more than 95 percent of the Accords sold in the United States are produced⁴ at Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.'s Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio, and at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama. The Marysville plant is the sole global source of the Accord Coupe.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour body, interior and powertrain (4WD model shown)

The Honda Accord Crosstour combines the sophisticated refinement of a premium sedan with versatile aspects from an SUV to create an entirely distinct concept within the Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) segment. Leveraging the many benefits of a car-based design, the Accord Crosstour starts with the top-level refinement of the Accord V-6 Sedan and further expands utility with a sleek-yet-functional profile for increased cargo space.

Taken in its entirety, the Accord Crosstour is designed to fulfill multiple roles with a stylish exterior and premium interior appointments from the passenger cabin to the cargo area. Yet it can also deliver elevated levels of utility with accommodating under-floor storage and reversible cargo area floor panels for dirty objects. Cargo area access is further enhanced with a large-opening tailgate and a low lift-over height.

All Accord Crosstour models come standard with a 271-horsepower i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) designed for power and efficiency. A technologically advanced 5-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment. For CUV capability, the Accord Crosstour provides 6.0 inches of ground clearance and Real Time? 4WD drive is available.

Accord Crosstour Highlights

• Five-door, five-passenger premium CUV
• Unit-body construction with double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension
• 271-horsepower, 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC® V-6 engine with VCM
• Standard 5-speed automatic transmission
• Available Real Time 4WD
• Standard safety: Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure; Vehicle Stability Assist? (VSA®); dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; driver's and front passenger's side airbags; and side curtain airbags

The double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension system is tuned to respond with engaging and refined dynamics. Active Sound Control (ASC) uses the audio system to acoustically minimize certain types of engine noise for a quiet cabin. The two available audio systems offer a powerful sound experience with seven speakers including a subwoofer and 360 watts of amplification.

Key Specifications

• Horsepower / torque: 271 hp @ 6,200 RPM / 254 lb-ft. @ 5,000 RPM
• EPA-estimated fuel economy (miles per gallon)¹ : 18 city / 27 highway (2WD)
• Emissions: ULEV-2 (CARB) / Tier 2, Bin 5 (Federal)
• Length x width x height (inches): 196.8 x 74.7 x 65.7
• Wheelbase (inches): 110.1
• Passenger / cargo volume (cubic feet): 101.4 (2WD) / 25.7

The Accord Crosstour introduces multiple innovations for Honda in different parts of the vehicle, most notably in the standard 5-speed automatic transmission and in the available Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System?². New technology in the transmission includes enhanced gear holding capability that takes into account cornering G-forces, plus a more sophisticated downshift capability that more closely matches engine revolutions during manual downshifts for refined transitions to lower gears. The navigation system incorporates voice activation with a greatly expanded recognition vocabulary totaling 100,000 words and greater sensitivity to more casual and varied commands. The rearview camera included with the navigation system also incorporates guidance lines.

Summary of New Technology and Exclusive Equipment

• Automatic transmission lateral G-force gear hold control (Honda brand first)
• Automatic RPM rev-matching when downshifting (Honda brand first)
• Front shock absorbers with internal rebound springs
• New type of reflection minimizing coating on navigation screen (Honda first)
• Expanded VCM engagement range for improved overall fuel efficiency (Honda first)
• Active Sound Control for cancellation of certain types of engine noise (Honda brand first)

Smart Details

• Carpeted lids in cargo area reverse to create a plastic, easy-to-clean surface
• Dual-zone automatic air conditioning with humidity sensitivity control
• Reverse-linked side mirror control
• Projector-beam headlights
• Kevlar® cone speakers (exclusive to Accord Crosstour EX-L)
  

Exterior Styling
The Accord Crosstour integrates a sleek and aerodynamic shape that blends sporty, low-profile contours with versatile CUV functionality. The exterior styling builds on the Accord's familiar character lines and adds a bolder front grille complemented by a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped D-pillars and an aggressive rear stance. The flowing roofline narrows smoothly into the rear of the vehicle to create an aggressive-looking design, concealing a unique cargo area that can adapt to large objects that exceed the capacity of a normal sedan. An inwardly sculpted beltline starting at the front fenders smoothly transitions to an outward facing character line at the rear fenders, resulting in a visually dynamic effect.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour styling

Interior Styling and Functionality
"Premium and active" represents the dual role functionality of the Accord Crosstour's interior design. Consistent with all Accords, a variety of design techniques were used to enhance the feeling of width and space in the passenger cabin to express premium and accommodating quality. The inset sculpting of the instrument panel along with a wide center console increases the sense of roominess. Intuitively grouped controls for the audio, climate and available navigation system are designed to operate with solidity and precision. Attention to craftsmanship can be found in details like double stitching on the available leather surfaces, plush floor carpeting and the presence of features like rear ventilation outlets built into the center console.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour interior layout

Two available interior color combinations create distinctly individual environments for different customer preferences. The charcoal black interior is intended to convey a chic and sporty environment and features a monochromatic black instrument panel divided with wood trim-appearance highlights. The ivory interior is intended to create a sophisticated and bright ambiance and features a two-tone instrument panel with a black upper segment and tan lower segment. Wood trim-style accents divide the upper and lower portion of the instrument panel. Premium craftsmanship can also be found in the selection of high-quality materials in the cargo area. Durable level-loop carpet occupies the cargo area to help cushion contents. A polished metal kick plate at the base of the cargo area opening resists scuffing and appears upscale yet durable.

Designed for people with active lifestyles, the cargo area incorporates useful and versatile features that make configuring the vehicle for people or large items a simple operation. Levers near the interior fender wells, conveniently accessible from the tailgate opening, allow for one-touch conversion of the seats into the floor and create 51.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the process. An 8.4-inch deep under-floor Hidden Removable Utility Box creates 1.9 cubic feet of storage space and includes a durable removable tray that can be used for the temporary storage of wet or dirty items. Two additional side trays provide additional space for smaller items. The carpeted lid of the cargo box can be flipped over to the plastic side to protect the carpet from dirty items. The rear cargo area measures 41.7 inches long by 55.7 inches wide (at widest point). Maximum cargo length measures 75.5 inches with the rear seats reclined. The Accord Crosstour EX-L model is equipped with a cargo cover that allows for valuables to be stored out-of-sight. The cover is specially designed to open and shut in tandem with the tailgate for convenient one-motion access to the cargo area.

Chassis
The Accord platform is recognized for its refined dynamic performance and a fun-to-drive feel that can be engaging on twisty roads yet relaxed on long stretches of freeway. The fully independent design of the double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension allows the tires to maintain a superior contact patch through a broad range of suspension travel and steering inputs.

2010 Honda Accord Chassis Layout

The Accord Crosstour adds exclusive chassis features and tuning to further refine and enhance the platform's inherent qualities. Exclusive features include front shock absorbers with internal rebound springs for enhanced responsiveness and comfort, along with a steering system with a constant gear ratio instead of the Accord's variable steering gear ratio setup. Additional unique tuning compared to the Accord includes Accord Crosstour-specific spring rates, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars. Weight distribution on front-wheel-drive models measures 59/41 percent front-to-rear. Weight distribution on four-wheel-drive models measure 57/43 percent front-to-rear.

Powertrain
The Accord Crosstour's standard i-VTEC SOHC 3.5-liter engine can deactivate up to half of the engine's cylinders when less power is needed while cruising or decelerating. The system provides V-6 power when accelerating or climbing, as well as the fuel efficiency of a smaller engine while cruising. The engine produces 271 horsepower at 6,200 RPM and 254 lb-ft. of torque at 5,000 RPM while achieving an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 18/27 mpg1 on 2WD models. The VCM cylinder deactivation system is programmed to run on 3, 4 or 6 cylinders, based on current power requirements. Powered by the intelligence of i-VTEC technology, VCM quickly and seamlessly activates or deactivates 2 or 3 cylinders by closing an individual cylinder's intake and exhaust valves at the same time while also shutting off the fuel injectors on the closed cylinders.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour (4WD) driveline and related components

A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment and integrates a new downshift rev-match feature for smooth and sporty manual downshifts. Available exclusively on the Accord Crosstour EX-L, the fully automatic Real Time 4WD system enhances all-weather and light duty off-road capabilities when driving in rain, snow, dirt roads and sandy conditions without the significant weight, fuel economy and handling performance drawbacks of a conventional four-wheel-drive system. The efficient dual-pump system sends power to the rear wheels only when there is insufficient traction for the front-wheel-drive system.

Safety Technology
Safety technology includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering? (ACE?) body structure, a Honda-exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist? (VSA®), commonly referred to as Electronic Stability Control; anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist; side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; driver's and front passenger's side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); dual-stage, multiple threshold front airbags; and active front seat head restraints.

Trim Levels
The Accord Crosstour is available in two model choices, the EX and EX-L. Highlights of standard features on the Accord Crosstour EX include: dual-zone automatic air conditioning with second row ventilation, 360-Watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with 7 speakers, easy fold-down 60-40 split rear seat back, 17-inch aluminum wheels with 225/65 R17 all-season tires, hidden removable utility box, cruise control, moonroof, auto up/down driver and front passenger side windows, rear privacy glass, steering wheel-integrated audio controls, compass and outside temperature indicator, projector beam headlights with auto-off, fog lights, chrome door handles, body-colored power side mirrors with defrost, and more.

The Accord Crosstour EX-L adds or upgrades: leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats, leather steering wheel, leather gear shift knob, auto day/night dimming rearview mirror, 18-inch aluminum wheels with 225/60 R18 all-season tires, auto on/off headlights, memory driver-side seats, memory side mirrors with reverse tilting capability, cargo privacy cover, HomeLink? transmitter, cargo privacy cover, Kevlar® cone speakers, aluminum dome-type front tweeter speakers and a USB audio interface.