Honda’s 2013 Accord – The Engine and Transmission

[xcel]

Just enough there to tickle our fancy

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug. 12, 2012

2013 Honda Accord – We looked at the exterior just days ago in the following: New 2013 Accord Exterior: Exciting or Boring?

Now a scant few more details on the drivetrain.

Honda let a little more out on the new Accord late yesterday and they are not screwing around.

According to the release, it appears as if Honda is set to start producing its latest fuel efficient engines and CVT based automatic transmissions (ala Nissan) for the all-new 2013 Honda Accord.

Honda America will start mass production of its new “Earth Dreams” engines and continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) for the all-new 9th-generation Accord this coming Thursday.

This will be the first opportunity to see production of Honda’s next-generation CVT on a new assembly line at Honda Transmission Mfg., which resulted in more than 100 new jobs.

In addition, the Anna plant is starting production of a new direct-injection I4 engine and its next-generation V6 for the 2013 Accord models.

The all-new 2013 Honda Accord unveiling ceremony will commence on Monday, Aug. 20 at the Marysville, OH manufacturing facility.

Launch of the new Accord is taking place as Honda prepares to celebrate 30 years of Honda auto production in North America, which started in Ohio at the Marysville Auto plant on Nov. 1, 1982.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

I'm not too thrilled with a CVT , but I recognize that it may be the most efficient of any automagical transmission. Are they still offering a manual trans in the 2013 four-cylinder car ? Toyota reckoned that Camry buyers are the shiftless kind , and maybe Honda will do the same. The direct injection is/could be a good step forwards , and it could return numbers similar to the 2013 Altima.
Bottom line, I like this car but would never need/buy anything so large.

[Mendel Leisk]

Originally Posted by EdwinTheMagnificent

...Bottom line, I like this car but would never need/buy anything so large.

^ Same here.

Funny, we had 4 of the buggers over the years. The last we kept the longest, and it's mpg just kept getting worse. Not sure what it was, maybe oxygen sensor?

Considering the problems with the Civic Hybrid CVT, I'd be wary, wait-and-see. To be fair, ours was fine.

[WriConsult]

I would think Toyota would drop the MT on the Camry long before Honda would drop it on the Accord. Then again, Toyota kept offering MT on the Camry for MANY more years that I would ever have expected, and Honda seems determined to kill off the MT by crippling its FE, so who knows.

Crossing fingers for a decent 6MT in the new Accord, available with the DI 4.

[xcel]

Hi Dan:

Oh how I hope this new 2013 Accord is lighter, the DI I4 is more efficient and it arrives with a proper 6-speed stick. While there are mid- and large full hybrids (HSH and KOH) and turbo diesels (Passat TDI) that can beat the best of the best conventional gasoline powered sticks, nothing of its size in the world could touch the current generation 2011 and 2012 Sonata when it was available with the 6-speed MT.

2011 Hyundai Sonata “Challenge” - One day, 1,000 miles and just one tank of gas…

And it was affordable too!

Let us hope Honda provides for a competitive price. That $21,500 CVT equipped 13 Altima has set the bar for the entire segment in terms of cost, performance and fuel economy for the average Joe. The Altima's interior/exterior design is as bland as white bread but its drivetrain provides exactly what it is says it will.

Wayne

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Any news on the hybrid model?

[xcel]

Hi Sean:

Not a peep

If I had the $'s, I would make my way to the launch in Marysville as Honda is offering a number of its Exec's to speak with at the Accord's intro.

Wayne

[Right Lane Cruiser]

That's too bad. As far as I'm concerned, that new hybrid system is really the indicator of what Honda's future will be and how well it will fare in the market place. If they have something that really leapfrogs the competition, we can offer them a hearty "Welcome back!" Otherwise...

[civic94coupe206]

right now, its 34 mpg highway, and with the direct injection upgrade, I read somewhere that having it DI will boost FE by 10%, so its going to be about 37-38 mpg highway.

I think with the altima setting the bar at 38, the accord has to match it or beat it.

[seftonm]

Does the Altima have DI? I think the Accord has a good chance of beating it.