On the surface of things, the Honda Accord Coupe Concept looks like a mild refresh of the current-generation model.
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However, a second look reveals subtle new arches, creases and curves that give the Accord Concept more flair.
The Accord concept doesn’t look significantly different from the current Accord until you give it a second glance, where details like rounded curves and flowing design replace a fairly bland profile. New arching lines over the rear fender, along with larger grilles and a hood that bulges at the front, make the coupe look more muscular.
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Honda’s concepts are usually a clear indicator of what the production version will look like, though some of the wilder pieces on the concept car, such as the multi-reflector headlights and chrome-surrounded fog lights, won’t likely make production.
Hot on the heels of Honda’s debut of the Accord Coupe Concept at the 2012 Detroit auto show was Accord sedan news. Honda plans to add a gas/electric plug-in hybrid version of its best-selling car to the lineup for model-year 2013. The automaker last offered the Accord in V-6 hybrid trim for the 2007 model year; it was dropped because of slow sales and subpar fuel economy.
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Honda also announced that the new Accord sedan will be lighter and shorter. Honda hasn’t released specs but says the sedan’s new dimensions will improve the car’s driving dynamics and increase fuel economy.
The Honda Accord Coupe Concept is a preview of the next-generation Accord that goes on sale this fall. Honda typically stays true to its concepts, so we don’t expect the coupe to look too different when it hits dealerships. This concept is so close to production that Honda announced detailed engine and transmission options.
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The overall size is unchanged from the current coupe, but the trapezoidal shapes and hard edges are toned down and replaced by a more curvaceous style in the hood and fenders. The front end is more upright with larger grilles for a more aggressive look. The concept’s profile isn’t too different from the 2012 coupe, with a similar raked body line that climbs upward toward the rear. Around back, the lip spoiler molds into the body, and the exhaust dumps out mid-bumper instead of underneath, a style with a lesser chance of making it to production.
The 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid is all-new for the model year, and it now ekes out 3 mpg better fuel economy than the 2011 model. Even so, not everything is rosy with the Civic Hybrid, starting with its unrefined hybrid system, which shutters off-the-line, according to Cars.com Managing Editor David Thomas. The Civic Hybrid's pricing also might be hard to swallow since there are competitors (including other Civic trims) that get similar gas mileage and are more affordable.
The automaker known for its high-mileage vehicles is being sued for not delivering advertised fuel-economy figures. Honda is being taken to California small-claims court by an owner of a 2006 Civic Hybrid, according to USA Today.
Former corporate attorney Heather Peters is circumventing an ongoing class-action suit against Honda that alleges similar claims. The pending lawsuit involves owners of 2002-09 Civic Hybrids and could net each one $100 to $200. Peters’ individual lawsuit, however, could pay her as much as $10,000.
In the lawsuit, Peters alleges her Civic Hybrid never delivered the fuel-economy figures publicized by Honda. She says it initially got 20% less than the 49/51 mpg city/highway rating advertised on the Civic Hybrid’s window sticker. She also alleges that a deteriorating battery and software update only worsened the car’s performance.
Peters bought the car for $25,400 and is seeking compensation for the premium she paid over the gas version, the extra gas her Civic Hybrid has been using since she bought it and its depreciated resale value. In the lawsuit, she contends that Honda owes her a total of $122,112.
The judge has not yet ruled on the lawsuit.
Honda Goes to Small-Claims Trial Over Gas Mileage Claims (USA Today)
Honda issued a recall of just nine Odyssey minivans to address a faulty nut, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
On certain 2012 Odysseys manufactured from Oct. 31 through Nov. 30, the retention nut for the front right lower suspension damper bolt may not have been properly tightened. If the nut loosens, the wheel assembly may shift, and a loss of steering might result.
Honda notified all affected owners on Dec. 19, and dealers will fix the nut free of charge. Owners with questions can call Honda at 800-999-1009 or NHTSA’s safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Parents are often searching for the automotive holy grail: a car that's not a minivan and can fit three child-safety seats across the backseat. It's a short list. In the nearly two years that Cars.com editor Kelsey Mays, Cars.com photographer Ian Merritt and I have been installing car seats into test vehicles, we've come across only a handful of cars that can hold three car seats across a backseat.
We recently tested the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class and it fit three car seats in it. To be considered a fit, there must be enough room between the booster seat and infant-safety seat for a child's hand to reach the seat belt buckle.
Parents, grandparents and caretakers know what a pain it can be to install child-safety seats into a car. Imagine doing it over and over and over again. That's what our Car Seat Check team does nearly every week as it tests new cars to find out how easy it is to use the Latch system.
Car Seat Checks are performed by Cars.com editor Kelsey Mays, Cars.com photographer Ian Merritt and Cars.com editor and certified car-seat technician Jennifer Newman.
The 2012 Honda Crosstour (Honda dropped the “Accord” moniker from the nameplate for 2012) has been on sale since last summer, but now the automaker is adding a more fuel-efficient powertrain to its lineup.
One of the few V-6-only Hondas available, the Crosstour can now be equipped with a 192-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The motor will be available on EX and EX-L trims, just like the 271-hp V-6 powertrain. The four-cylinder is capable of 21/29 mpg city/highway and 24 mpg combined. That compares favorably to the front-wheel-drive V-6 Crosstour, which gets 18/27 mpg and 21 mpg combined. The four-cylinder is only available with front-wheel drive, while the V-6 has an all-wheel-drive option.
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