Accord Plug-in Hybrid Slated to Launch Early in 2013

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Already one of the most popular cars in the country, the Honda Accord has been completely redesigned to attract even more buyers for the next generation, which will include the Accord’s first plug-in hybrid model—set to debut in the beginning of next year.

In fact, the car will showcase a full slate of advanced powertrain technologies: Beneath the hood is a new “Earth Dreams” I4 engine that squeezes 137 hp out of 2.0 liters of displacement, and it will be complemented by Honda’s first two-motor hybrid system to deliver a system total of 196 horses. But thanks to a 6.7-kWh lithium-ion battery, the Accord plug-in also will be able to provide up to 15 miles of all-electric, zero-emissions travel, with a charging time of under an hour using a 240-watt charger (or less than 3 hours with a standard 120-volt outlet). 

All told, the new Accord will be able to travel more than 500 miles without refueling, while combining three separate driving modes:

• In EV mode, the car will run only on electrical power and provide an estimated efficiency rating of more than 100 MPGe.
• In HV mode, drivers will enjoy the same functionality—and fuel-economy marks—as in a “traditional” hybrid, with the car blending electric and gasoline power for optimum performance depending on driving conditions.
• In HV Charge mode, the Accord plug-in hybrid will still mix the two power sources, but also work to recharge its lithium-ion battery pack

Distinguished from the other members of the 2014 Accord family by a lightweight aluminum hood, a model-exclusive front bumper, improved aerodynamics and 17-inch forged-alloy wheels, the plug-in sedan also takes a high-tech approach to creature comforts. As a result, standard content includes Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, Honda’s satellite-linked and voice-controlled navigation system, a lane-departure alert feature, a display audio system with touchscreen and Pandora Internet Radio compatibility, heated seats, LED exterior lighting, bio-fabric seating surfaces, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

However, drivers actually won’t have to wait for 2013 to get into the next-gen Accord sedan: The non-hybrid models, with a choice between a 36-mpg, Earth Dreams 2.4-liter I4 or the most powerful V6 ever offered in an Accord, are due in dealerships later this month.

Courtesy of HondaInTheNews.com