Photography by Hans G. Lehmann/Hidden Image
Honda Reinvents The Accord CoupeHonda will roll the sixth generation of its popular Accord lineup into showrooms this fall. While the sedan is destined to retain a good deal of its existing, fairly conservative styling cues, the new coupe model-seen here in an exclusive factory authorized illustration-promises to be one of the sharper automotive shapes of the '98 model year. Aggressively chiseled with flat surfaces, severe creases, and a steeply raked windshield and beltline, it stands in marked contrast to the soft, aero-balloon designs that dominated the early '90s.
Why a cool-looking coupe? Honda research indicated that high fashion counts heavily with the profiling singles who make up the majority of coupe buyers, and that this group simply wasn't interested in a mere two-door version of the staid Accord sedan. Designed in America, the new Accord coupe shares only its headlamps and door handles with the styled-in-Japan four-door. All other exterior pieces are exclusive.
Moving from an EPA compact to a mid-size offering for '98, the coupe's interior offers greater room in all seating positions. Specific front buckets have more aggressively contoured bolsters than those in the sedan, and the reasonably spacious aft quarters afford decent shoulder- and headroom plus a welcome extra inch of legroom. Although belted for three, the rear bench is only "bucketted" for two posteriors.
Further improving overall utility, the coupe's trunk capacity has been stretched from 13.0 to 13.6 cubic feet and is complemented by a long, flat load floor. Although the decklid cutout is still smallish, this is the first car we've seen to offer an optional "apron" that pulls out of the trunk opening like a spring-wound window shade to protect the bumper from scratches and clothing from road dirt during the loading and unloading of cargo.
Buyers of this flashy newcomer can expect to find significantly more performance than in any previous Accord coupe as well, courtesy of either a cleaner-burning ULEV version of the current 2.2-liter/145-horsepower VTEC four (in LX models) or the same smooth-spooling 3.0-liter/120-horsepower V-6 (in EX versions) presently used in the Acura CL. A five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic will be available with the four-cylinder, but the V-6 will require a mandatory autoshifter.
To further separate it from the Accord sedan, Honda has created a specific suspension tuning package for the coupe. Quicker steering and higher-rate shock damping should ensure a firmer, more responsive overall feel; and the EX will offer a more aggressive 16-inch wheel and tire package. Braking in the EX is provided by a four-disc system with standard anti-lock, while the LX version carries big, vented discs in front and drums in the rear.
The only potential downside? With more room, more power, and a decidedly more sporty persona, one can't help but wonder what kind of impact this reinvigorated Accord coupe may ultimately have on the relatively low-volume Prelude.-Jack Keebler