BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Development aim: The performance of a BMW M Car and a highly emotional character combined with the fuel economy and emission management of a modern small car in the premium class. As a result, this unique sports car offers the most consistent rendition of the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy. Innovative approach in the context of BMW EfficientDynamics: The exceedingly good balance of CO2 emission management and driving pleasure results from a revolutionary vehicle concept developed all in one from the ground up, achieving a new level of efficiency combined with a unique driving experience. The overall result goes far beyond the sum total of the individual features and components in this concept car. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics offers a realistic impression of the unique potential of BMW ActiveHybrid technology and the great innovative thrust of BMW EfficientDynamics.
Technology:
Offering a full-hybrid concept, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car is powered by a three-cylinder turbodiesel and two electric motors. Overall system output is 262 kW/356 hp, maximum torque 800 Newton-metres/590 lb-ft. All-wheel drive featuring an electric motor on both the front and rear axle. Anticipated performance: Acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, top speed 250 km/h (155 mph) (electronically limited) , fuel consumption in the EU test cycle 3.76 litres/100 km (equal to 75.1 mph imp), CO2 emissions 99 grams/kilometre. As a plug-in hybrid, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is able to cover the entire fuel consumption drive cycle under electric power alone. Taking the sources of energy used for generating the electric power consumed into account (EU electricity mix), this reduces the CO2 emission rating to just 50 grams per kilometre.
Electric power is generated without the slightest increase in fuel consumption through a particularly efficient concept of Brake Energy Regeneration. Energy is stored in 98 lithium polymer cells. The car is able to cover a distance of approximately 50 km/31 miles in the electric mode alone. Aerodynamics developed with know-how from Formula 1. CX drag coefficient optimised to just 0.22. Forward-looking energy management uses the maximum potential available in each case to minimise fuel consumption.
Design:
Technology-oriented body design as a clear expression of consistent lightweight technology and aerodynamic quality. Design language typical of the brand, setting clear signals in terms of sporting performance and optimum efficiency. The 2+2-seater concept combines dynamic performance and supreme efficiency with an enhanced level of all-round function. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics symbolises BMW’s commitment to offer an unprecedented driving experience for up to four occupants. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics comes with gullwing doors opening up to the side. Innovative, weight-optimised door kinematics makes entering the car at both front and rear convenient and very easy.
The interior of this unique 2+2-seater intentionally demonstrates the very latest in modern technology. At the same time the use of natural materials underlines BMW’s strategy of sustainability borne out through this concept car. The roof and door inserts made of polycarbonate glass automatically become darker as a function of incoming light.

MTM Audi S6 and Audi S8

Although both these models have the same engine – the powerful 5.2-litre FSI V10 – the S6 does not come off the Audi production line with the same power output as the S8. For those who are troubled by the lower power output compared with the car’s big brother, MTM ups the S6’s horsepower by the missing 15, to match the 450 of the S8. And then of course the driver of the S6 can also look forward to better performance.
Customers have even more reason to be happy if they can drive faster. Limited to 250 km/h in standard form, the S6 and S8 cause a few long faces. The motorway is empty … why can’t I drive any faster? So the MTM engineers have fixed it so that the S6 and S8 now reach the 300 km/h mark. At that point MTM puts an electronic stop to the unbridled forward rush.
MTM can also equip both the S6 and the S8 with a beguiling sounding sports exhaust system. The stainless steel, dual-branch, in-house creation with sports exhaust flap control, and with its powerfully impressive 4-pipe look it gives the S6 and S8 a significantly sportier image.
MTM has developed a particularly appealing suspension system for the S8. In place of the standard air suspension system, there is now one from MTM. The trick is, it is individually controllable and it operates with speed-dependent compression and rebound settings. When equipped in this way, the luxury saloon sweeps through the corners in a much more agile manner. For the S6, which Audi does not supply with air suspension, MTM has a KW coil-over system Variant 3 on offer, on which the Bavarian specialists carry out the fine tuning. Bring on the next corner!
Tuning without wheels? At MTM they believe that a car should at least have some sporty footwear. For the S6/S8 models, the specialists from Wettstetten offer their own 9-spoke creation, the “Bimoto”. This wheel achieves the balancing act between looking powerful and looking sportily elegant with considerable style, and is available for both the Audi models as a 10.5 x 21-inch version in “Polished Titanium” and “Shiny Silver”. Contact with the road is taken care of by 285/30-21 tires. Article originally posted on Babez.de! MTM’s conversions can also accommodate particular customer requirements and vehicle constructions to customized specifications.

Lexus LF-Ch

It reflects the growing demand for cars that are smaller and more fuel and CO2 efficient, but with no compromise in levels of refinement and driving pleasure. By next year the compact segment is expected to claim the largest share of the European premium car market. The LF-Ch concept reaffirms Lexus’s commitment to Europe, combining compact dimensions, stylish five-door, full hybrid technology and low emissions to satisfy the most demanding customer requirements and to appeal to a new, younger generation of customers.
Exterior design
The LF-Ch concept presents a powerful evolution of Lexus’s L-finesse design philosophy. Rooted in Japanese culture, L-finesse is expressed in every aspect of the car, not only in the visual harmony between the interior and exterior design, but also in the combination of leading-edge engineering and technology with a user-friendly simplicity of function. The designers focused on the careful juxtaposition of opposing major and minor elements. Intriguing contrasts are created between the powerful, machine-like overall surfacing of the bodywork and the painstaking detail of even the smallest elements, creating a synergy between technologically driven design and a fluid, hand-sculpted quality.
A new, bolder Lexus grille design sits above a deep, full-width bumper and air dam, giving a perfect balance of precision and power. The sharply sculpted, aerodynamic front wings overlap the front bumper to create deep, front brake-cooling air intakes and give the LF-Ch a powerful and purposeful wide-track stance. In profile, the tapered side glazing, a muscular, rising beltline and a sharply truncated rear overhang project the car’s premium compact character. The steeply raked windscreen, long flowing roofline, blacked-out B-pillars and rear doorhandles integrated in the C-pillar window trim combine to give the appearance of a sporting pillarless coupe.
At the rear the trailing edge of the roof overhangs the rear window to create an integrated rear spoiler. The tailgate section has a pronounced step, which flows from the muscular wheelarches and is anchored by the wraparound tail lamp design. Aerodynamic detailing of the lower bumper smoothes airflow from beneath the car and feeds ventilation to the rear brakes. Subtle finishing touches include discreet Lexus hybrid blue badging and sharply tapering chrome mouldings. The harmonious synergy of the design is further expressed in the contrasting, lively yellow exterior finish and calming blue interior illumination.
Interior design
The principles of L-finesse are carried through to the interior where again a powerful simplicity harmonises with hand-crafted quality in the detailing to create a calm, efficient and elegant design.
The cabin features a strongly asymmetric dashboard that is firmly driver-focused with outstanding ergonomics. The driver’s needs are seamlessly anticipated in several surprising elements, for example, when the car is started a greeting is presented on the navigation screen and an ambient lighting pattern appears in the headliner, creating a sophisticated lounge feel.Extensive use of semi-aniline leather, polished aluminium, wood and soft-touch materials reinforces the theme of harmonious contrast in the dashboard, door panels and seating. The design of the seats is inspired by high quality furniture, with exposed metal frames, lightweight leather and grained black wood used in inter-related layers, shaped to reflect the intrinsic nature of each material used. The driving position is low and well-supported, with a wide-grip steering wheel with paddle shift controls and an instrument binnacle housing large twin dials embellished with a turbine motif.
To help keep the driver’s focus on the road ahead, distracting instrumentation and switchgear has been kept to a minimum by using Lexus Remote Touch controls, as first seen in the new RX 450h. Using a multi-information display on top of the dashboard, Remote Touch works like a computer mouse, letting the driver access control and customise a range of information, entertainment and vehicle set-up programmes. As with every Lexus, hospitality is at the heart of the ownership experience. To this end, the LF-Ch’s comprehensive on-board entertainment package includes iPhone docking for rear seat passengers.
Powertrain and driving performance
Allied to a wide track, long wheelbase and low centre of gravity, the LF-Ch’s full hybrid powertrain is engineered to deliver all the performance customers expect from a premium compact hatchback, while at the same time returning low fuel consumption, CO2 and NOx emissions.
With the benefit of the full hybrid technology of Lexus Hybrid drive, the car can be driven in a fully electric EV mode, a power option that is not available to drivers of mild hybrids. This allows for urban driving with minimal noise and zero emissions.

Mazda Ryuga Concept (2007)

The experimental 'floating' center cluster allows a high level of interface between the driver and the multi-function touch panel without having to take one's eyes off the road ahead. Information necessary for safe and dynamic driving is available to the driver with RPM and speed (which is shown in both analog and digital format s ) being displayed on the same axis.

Flowing upwards, the center cluster dynamically penetrates the front information panel which reflects Zoom-Zoom futuristic and sporty design craftsmanship, as well as an integrated interface between man and machine. Elongated pods give the cockpit depth while bringing information closer to the driver's eyes. An open-top steering wheel provides enhanced sight lines to the instruments and the road ahead .

Flow textures are emphasized in the door trim with lines that begin at the center of Ryuga's Mazda-trademark five-pointed grille and sweep rearward through interior surfaces. The artistic combination of leather, polished aluminum and translucent plastic give the interior a warm glow reminiscent of illumination themes already in use in current Mazda products.

DRIVING PERFORMANCE - ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES TO SUPPORT ZOOM-ZOOM

Mazda is working on various technologies to deliver Zoom-Zoom driving in the future, including earth-friendly environmental technologies and people-friendly safety technologies. As part of the initiatives, an E85/Gasoline FLEX FUEL engine which runs on sustainable bio fuel could be used in Ryuga. This engine delivers torque and power, balancing driving and environmental performance. Other important features that will support safe driving are the Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) cameras installed for the rear monitoring system and the blind-spot monitoring system. These help ensure safe driving while changing lanes and allow easy identification of potential obstacles.

In order to ensure the car provides a Zoom-Zoom driving experience, which is the basis behind all the other features, an open top steering wheel is employed with highly sensitive settings to respond to the driver's smallest input. The car also features steer-by-wire technology and gauges that deliver superbly clear information to the driver. The dramatic wheels with TOYO PROXES 245/35R-21 tires complete the driving experience, and the sophisticated original tread pattern perfectly suits the Ryuga's design concept.

FLOW, AS A STATE OF MIND

"The real significance of both Nagare and Ryuga," notes van den Acker, "is that it's the first time Mazda has ventured forth in search of a design motif that is undeniably new. Both concepts are exploratory studies and neither is planned for production. While Mazdas of the past and present have embraced flow in various ways, it's our intention to greatly intensify that character in the future."

Mazda Kiyora Concept 2008

Mazda revealed the direction its new technology development would take when it announced the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan in 2008. In line with this plan, Mazda is focused on making cars that achieve harmony between Mazda's hallmark driving pleasure and environmental and safety performance. Mazda Kiyora demonstrates how Mazda will achieve a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy in the near future and introduce new vehicles that are exciting to look at and drive. Featuring next-generation environmental technologies, Kiyora was envisaged as a fun and cool concept for young European urbanites, and one that only Mazda could produce.

Mazda Kiyora gives an indication where Mazda could go with a small, eco-friendly city car in the near future. It is highly fuel efficient, with a very small CO 2 footprint, delivering Zoom-Zoom driving fun and high levels of safety. The car achieves this by taking Mazda's acclaimed lightweight strategy to a new level by employing an extremely rigid and lightweight carbon-fibre body structure beneath a small, aerodynamic outer skin and a spirited, small-displacement 1.3-liter direct-injection engine. Mazda Kiyora also features Mazda's unique Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) and a newly developed six- speed automatic transmission with direct feel and fuel efficiency similar to that of a manual. With these technologies, the Mazda Kiyora concept would produce CO 2 emission of under 90g/km.

Themes for the Mazda Kiyora concept include cleanliness, health and safety. These key aspects are essential for young city dwellers as well as any compact car in the current global environment. The concept was based on Mazda's sustainable technology vision, which aims to ensure customers can continue to enjoy a Zoom-Zoom experience in the future. Water was also selected as a theme for this concept, due to its association with the aspects mentioned above, and the car was named Kiyora (meaning 'clean and pure' in Japanese) to reflect this. It features next-generation technologies clothed in a friendly and cool design that is as functional as it is beautiful. This is the first concept to express Nagare 'low' in the patterns and colours of water.at protects you from the outside environment, and lets you be opened and linked to it at the same time, thanks to the transparency of the top and the side windows, which also gives a lightweight feeling."

About 10 cm shorter than the new Mazda2 sub-compact, Kiyora is also an environmentally friendly city car that is cute and agile, and invites you to climb in for a ride. It uses a soft design language and lowing lines, while retaining an overall style that is really expressive and sporty. Here is the expressive five-point grille first used on the Mazda Sassou concept three years ago - backlit when the car is on with soft, red lighting - but now further developed with Nagare low lines that are carved and more three-dimensional. They are formed to guide air into the interior of the car without the use of fans, which saves weight. Its silhouette features character lines that are sleek and smooth, and move upwards and rearwards, fusing into the rear spoiler. Combine it all with 18-inch alloys and extremely small overhangs, and you have a truly sporty look in a small package.

Though small, Mazda Kiyora has a rear boot big enough to carry a large suitcase, a briefcase and a notebook. It is accessible via a liftgate that opens very high (with a low load floor level) for easy loading and unloading, and it's flexible. When the rear seats are not in use, you can push your luggage forward and stow even more, while the strong yet flexible seat material stretched over the seats holds the luggage in place. This system also has the advantage that it hides whatever is stored in the boot from prying eyes outside the car.

The roof of the new Mazda Kiyora is another example of how Mazda designers were able to combine functionality and design aesthetics. It is transparent, for an open-air feeling on the inside, and has photovoltaic solar cells which provide electricity for the car's interior systems.

"Kiyora is about water fluidity and transparency," says Mr. Loyer. "It's all about layers of perception. You start with a shape and there is a shape behind and another one behind that. It's like water; the deeper you go the more details appear. Nagare low here has different layers lowing into each other. Repeated layers lead you into the car. And because the inside of the car is visible, it becomes part of the exterior design."

The doors and side windows of Mazda Kiyora are fused into a single unit and function as both. These 'windoors' are made of plastic, which provides the same transparency and refraction properties as glass, and the strength of a thin-panel door, but with far less weight. They are also easy to use and practical. Touching the surface of the front tip of the door activates a sensor, which opens the doors up and away from the car, a plus when parking in tight city spaces. They also allow a view into the interior when the doors are closed. But looking into Mazda Kiyora is more than just looking through glass.

"Using various layers of materials, combined with forms and colours on the inside, gives the impression of looking into water with its depths and lowing shapes below the surface," says Luca Zollino, who assisted Mr. Loyer in creating the exterior. "For instance, there is a body shell side member shaped like sea grass that is visible just behind the surface of the doors and, when you look deeper into the car, there are the lowing shapes of the dashboard and centre console."

The design of the wheels also supports the water theme. Its front spokes are convex and shaped like the blades of a boat propeller, while the concave back spokes are joined to the wheel rim and have a reinforcement that seems to grow out of the spoke itself. Kept very smooth, the wheels of Mazda Kiyora give a twirling, twisting surface articulation.

Interior Design - Visualised 'Nagare' Design and an Expression of Lightness

The interior shapes not only provide aesthetic motifs, they also function to stiffen the passenger compartment with minimal weight. Mazda's strategy of shedding excess grams wherever possible in its production cars was taken to a new level in Mazda Kiyora. The visible body structure is a real structural element of the car - stiff and crash-resistant. It is indicative of Mazda's approach to conduct a thorough structural analysis to solve complex issues such as safety and rigidity requirements instead of simply replacing materials with more expensive ones. The rear seats that are integrated into the body framework are also examples of this approach. Lightweight materials such as aluminium and a special resin foam, which is under development at Mazda, would be used not only for interior parts such as the instrument panel, but also for the bonnet, tailgate and sections of the chassis. Their effective usage contributes to improving the yaw moment of inertia and reducing the unsprung mass, and leads to superb handling.

The Mazda Kiyora concept has interior shapes that express Nagare 'low' by looking as though they are floating in a current of sea water that is moving from front to back. The instrument panel starts at a single point and lows around the driver and to the right of the front passenger as if it were several blades of sea grass growing out of a rock underwater. The front seats seem to float above the floor, and the arms of body structure twist like sea weed at the sides and top of the cabin. As well as being an integral design element, the door structure also functions as a side member and, in combination with the side sills, would effectively protect occupants in the event of a side impact.

"Rapid prototyping was used for most of the natural shapes," says Jo Stenuit, Assistant Chief Designer and Project Leader. "We have a very natural design with complex lowing shapes. Normal moulding processes would not have allowed us to produce such elaborate designs."

New Liquid-Skin Display IP Concept

This display would be a simple yet very practical type of instrument panel that uses advanced touch-screen technology with tactile feedback. Using liquid-skin display technology, it would mimic the rippling that water makes when you touch it with your finger. When the car is off, the IP looks like ice, frozen and hard. When the car is switched on, the display appears to turn into water. Information icons would appear and float downwards to pre-programmed positions in front of the driver. The driver would be able to move the icons around with his finger and could even organise them however he wished. He could lip through menus, select settings for temperature, and even send an email.

"We call Kiyora's IP a liquid-skin display," said Gergory Vera, who designed the interior, "because it is conceived to ripple like water when you touch it. Icons bounce off each other as if they are floating in water. This would be a logical next step in intuitive-feedback, flexible-screen displays and is a natural and easy way to operate the systems of a car."

From this touch-screen display, you could also control a hard-disk drive with advanced sensors that would provide environmental information like how much fuel you used and how many grams of CO 2 you released into the atmosphere on a particular day. It could also calculate how many toxins the car filtered out of the air and water during the same period.

Considerations for the Cabin Environment

Mazda Kiyora concept would be able to filter out toxins from the outside air and use it inside the car. The right side of the dashboard consists of a large, single piece of thick activated carbon, which is a natural resource that has been used for centuries in Asia as a purifying material. The above-mentioned Nagare low lines at the front of the car guide outside air into the car and through this charcoal, which filters out and captures toxins better than most filter systems, without the need for an electric fan or inorganic materials. Taking advantage of rain as a natural resource the roof of the Mazda Kiyora channels rainwater firstly through an activated carbon filter and then into a specially commissioned drinks bottle designed for Mazda by LIFESAVER® systems. The LIFESAVER® bottle citi™ is located between the front seats for easy access, and uses state of the art ultra filtration hollow fibre membranes. With a pore size of 15 nano-meters these membranes remove microbiological contamination including bacteria and viruses without the aid of chemicals, delivering safe fresh drinking water to the user any time.

The bottle is removable so can be taken out of the car and used to gather water from other natural sources such as rivers, lakes and streams.

Colours and Materials - A Triumph of Material Engineering Mazda Motor Europe's Colours + Materials team has distinguished itself in the development of new kinds of materials for its concepts. In Sassou, it was translucent plastic treated in a way to match the body colour and to hide light effects, and in Hakaze it was the brilliant use of surface textures that mimic the feel of natural materials. With the Mazda Kiyora, the colours and materials team faced its greatest challenge yet - to express the theme of 'pure water' in visible and touchable ways.

"Based on the extreme requirements of Kiyora, as a new eco-friendly car with a fully lexible interior, we needed to research in unusual fields," said Maria Greger, Senior Designer at Mazda Motor Europe and head of the Colours + Materials team. "We looked for materials and processes that are not yet used in the automotive industry. We had to find materials that not only work in covering parts, but are directly related to function. The best example is the material used for the floor and rear seats. This is the same textile, but treated differently to best adapt to the function it needs to fulfil."

The exterior of the Mazda Kiyora is blue-green and has transparent, polycarbonate doors, chosen to underscore the purity of water. On the inside you can see forms - like the wavy side member of the body structure - that look like lowing sea grass. These were given a colour scheme that, when seen through the doors from outside the car, makes it seem as though you are looking into water.

"We chose bluish and greenish colours, which is colour of water," said Luciana Silvares, Senior Designer at Mazda Motor Europe. "The deeper you go, the deeper the colour of water gets. We wanted to give this car the feeling of water and ice, sea or lake (from the surface to depth), showing transparency and gradient."

The interior is a masterpiece of materials engineering. The body shell is visible, like an inner skeleton, and supports the water theme with its wavy, lowing shapes, while functioning as a true body structure. And the interior has a colour scheme that makes the front seats seem to float above a floor that looks like frozen water. For the instrument panel and door inners, soft coatings and light metallic effects are employed to enhance this impression.

The rear seats are one of the concept's most interesting features and a perfect example of how to combine material and design to express the theme of water, while saving weight and losing nothing in functionality. They are made of only two components: a seat skeleton that is part of the body structure at the back of the cabin, and a flexible and robust textile stretched over this. This textile allows a person to sit down into the seat and acts as a irm surface to sit on like a lawn chair, and then to spring back to its original shape when the person leaves the car - effectively hiding the seats. This 'hidden seat' is designed for short trips in town, and is far lighter than traditional car seats.

"The material for the rear seats is an extremely stretchable textile that we developed with the Company Straehle und Hess," said Ms. Greger. "It is made of knitted polyester that has the ability to return to its original shape. With a special construction of two laminated layers, this material is, despite its extreme stretch ability, also extremely stable."

The rear seats also work in conjunction with the floor to contribute colour-wise to the overall theme of pure, watery depths. Both the seats and the floor are made of the same materials, but treated differently to maximise their functionality. Two-dimensional printing was employed for the colours and sea grass graphics on the seats, and a unique, three-dimensional (3D) casting process was used for the floor surfaces. The 3D casting process was inspired by the PU micro-injection printing process used on textiles for sportswear. This allowed the team to give the floor surface the durability and abrasion strength needed to function as a real floor, and to create the image of deep and layered surface to express the image of water and ice.

Technical Specifications

Body type: Three-door hatchback
Dimensions
Overall length: 3,770 mm
Overall width: 1,685 mm
Overall height: 1,350 mm
Wheelbase: 2,495 mm
Seating: 2 + 2
Engine Type: Next generation MZR 1.3-litre DISI petrol with smart idle stop system
Transmission: Next-generation 6-speed AT with manual shift
Suspension
Front: MacPherson strut
Rear: Torsion beam
Tires: 215/45 R18

Honda Accord Crosstour 2010

The all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour evolves the Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) concept by integrating a sleek and aerodynamic shape that blends sporty, low-profile contours with versatile CUV functionality.

"Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Honda Accord line-up by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling while also adapting to dramatic shifts in the light truck marketplace," said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Honda Accord Crosstour accomplishes that by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan."

Derived from the Accord Sedan, the Honda Accord Crosstour maximizes car-like ride and refinement, yet maintains capabilities consistent with a CUV's increased ride height and all-weather potential. The Honda Accord Crosstour's styling builds on the Accord's familiar character lines and adds a bolder front grille complemented by a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped C-pillars and an aggressive rear stance. The flowing roofline narrows smoothly into the rear of the vehicle to create an aggressive-looking design, which conceals a unique cargo area that can adapt to large objects that exceed the capacity of a sedan.

"We know SUV buyers like the commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point and like the comforts of living with an SUV," said Berkman. "This vehicle meets the needs of buyers looking for those attributes yet at the same time want an image that is different from a conventional SUV."

The Honda Accord Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord family when it goes on sale in fall 2009.

Honda Accord (2009)

Aimed squarely at challenging established premium contenders in the D-segment, Honda's all-new Honda Accord saloon and Tourer offer sporty styling, greater refinement and a unique package of safety systems, together with excellent dynamic capabilities and strong environmental credentials in the form of an all-Euro 5-emissions compliant engine line-up.

Significantly wider and slightly lower, the styling adopts a more emotional, sporty motif. The 'sharp-edged' design, with pronounced muscular wheelarches that emphasise the car's wider track, gives the Accord a distinctive, strong stance with a solid, planted feel. The distinctive nose and more flowing lines deliver a tauter, more athletic shape.

The evolution from the previous generation Accord is even more pronounced in the case of the Tourer, where a greater emphasis on load carrying practicality has evolved into a more dynamic expression of its advanced technology, while still retaining a strong degree of versatility and practicality.

Three advanced new engines with some of the lowest emissions in their segment

The new range is one of the first to offer a complete engine line-up that will comply with the forthcoming Euro 5 emissions regulations which aren't due to be introduced until September 2009. Thee exceptional environmental credentials hasn't been achieved at the cost of driving enjoyment, however, and greater frugality is matched by greater performance and flexibility.

Making its debut is Honda's second-generation diesel engine which builds on the outstanding qualities of the award-winning i-CTDi unit to raise the bar in the diesel stakes once again. Its advanced technology and overall capabilities place it firmly at the forefront of diesel development and underpins the Accord's claim to offer one of the strongest combinations of dynamic performance and environmental responsibility in the marketplace.
Like its predecessor, the new i-DTEC engine is compact, lightweight, refined and quiet in operation. It employs the latest piezoelectric multi-stage fuel injection technology, more efficient exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter for significantly reduced emissions. At the same time both power and torque levels have been increased for a sportier driving experience.

Output is 10 PS greater at 150 PS/110 kW at the same 4,000 rpm, while peak torque is now 350 Nm at 2,000 rpm. Improved engine flexibility is reflected in a 9.6 second 0-100 km/h time, yet combined fuel consumption, is only 5.6 l/100km. Equally, CO2 emissions are just 148 g/km.

The 2.0-litre i-VTEC offers similar levels of performance to its predecessor - 156 PS at 6,300 rpm - but builds on its class leading fuel economy. Combined cycle consumption is now 7.2 l/100 km compared to the 7.7 l/100 km of the previous Accord saloon.

Key technological changes include increased diameter intake valves, further optimised valve lift and timing and increased inlet and exhaust air flow volumes.

The 2.4-litre engine is more powerful, delivering 201 PS at 7,000 rpm and peak torque of 234 Nm at 4,500 rpm - up from 190 PS and 223 Nm. Its effortless performance is all the more remarkable given the improved fuel economy - now 8.8 l/100km.

Behind the figures are a compression ratio increased from 10.5 to 11.0:1, larger diameter valves, revised valve timing, and reduced exhaust system pressures.

6-speed manual/5-speed automatic

All three engines are matched to a 6-speed manual transmission, while both petrol engines have the option of a 5-speed automatic.

Manual models feature a 'Shift Indicator Light' or SIL which appears in the centre of the rev counter. 'UP' or 'DOWN' are displayed to advise the driver of the optimum point at which to change gear; Honda tests have demonstrated fuel savings of as much as 5 per cent simply by following these commands.

The 5-speed automatic transmission now has a straight 'P R N D S' gate: using the steering wheel paddles in S mode provides a sequential shift mode, allowing manual shifting and gear hold.

Agile, secure handling

Enthusiastic drivers will also appreciate the new Honda Accord's greater agility. A lowered centre of gravity, a wider track and the all-new front double wishbone and rear multilink suspension with variable rate dampers, plus greater body rigidity mean that the Accord more readily reacts to driver input. Handling is more responsive and confidence-inspiring and body roll is much reduced.

Speed sensitive electric power steering is standard on all models and the new axial system features a high output, low inertia brushless motor which provides excellent steering feel at higher speeds for a sense of stability and confidence. A quicker steering ratio has also been adopted in keeping with the Accord's more agile chassis characteristics.

A comprehensive safety package

Complementing an armoury of passive safety features is an outstanding array of dynamic systems delivering even greater security.. VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) is standard across the range and is designed to assist the driver in maintaining control during cornering, acceleration and sudden manoeuvres by applying braking to the right or left hand wheels as necessary and modulating the engine torque output as required.

Motion Adaptive EPS

The new Honda Accord also features an innovative system in which the capabilities of both VSA and the car's Electric Power Steering are brought to bear. Called Motion Adaptive EPS, it detects instability in slippery conditions both during cornering and under braking and automatically initiates steering inputs aimed at prompting the driver to steer in the correct direction.

The input is barely noticeable and control of the steering remains with the driver at all times. But this supporting steering torque is enough to prompt the driver to act intuitively and the driver's reaction as a result is enough to regain stability or to shorten braking distances, allowing control to be maintained.

ADAS optional across the range

Optionally available on Executive grade on 2.2 i-DTEC and 2.4 i-VTEC is Honda's Advanced Driving Assist System (ADAS), a suite of three ground-breaking technologies that raise safety to a new level. The first of these is the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) which uses a camera to detect the car deviating from a traffic lane and provides steering torque when necessary, thereby reducing the burden of motorway driving while at the same time enhancing safety.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses a millimetre-wave radar to maintain a consistent distance to a vehicle directly in front, for more relaxed, less tiring driving: and Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS) monitors the following distance and closing rate between the Accord and the car directly in front of it, warning the driver when a collision is likely and helping reduce impact when a collision becomes unavoidable.

These systems complement the Accord's passive safety features which include front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, dual stage front airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, full length curtain airbags and ISOFIX fittings and tether anchor points for secure childseat fixture on all models. There are also front seat active headrests which are triggered when the occupant is pushed into the seat in the event of a rear impact, so causing a rigid plate to activate a link to the headrest which pushes it forward to support the head.

Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure

Progressively introduced throughout the Honda range, the Accord's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure provides significantly enhanced occupant protection in a variety of real-world crash conditions.

A front-mounted polygonal main frame is designed to prevent cabin deformation by distributing forces through multiple major load bearing pathways - and away from the passenger compartment. This is particularly important where a frontal collision occurs between vehicles of differing heights, weights or frame construction.

To achieve top level, side impact safety, Honda's engineers have increased the side section of the frame and chosen different material specifications to provide the desired level of stiffness and strength for critical areas, without adding unnecessary weight.

The new Honda Accord also incorporates many of the pedestrian-protection design features already familiar from recent Honda models, including windscreen wiper pivots designed to break away on impact, energy absorbing front wing mounts and bonnet hinges alongside an unobstructed area beneath the bonnet allowing greater space for deformation.

Premium interior with carefully selected materials and outstanding fit and finish

The sporty feel of the cockpit is reflected in a fascia design characterised by a strong feeling of personal space for both the driver and front passenger. Distinctive silver trim sweeps inwards across the fascia from either side before continuing down into the centre console. Stylish and highly supportive front seats have larger bolsters while a new internal structure is designed to reduce any transmission of vibration.

Black with silver trim, the sporty three spoke steering wheel holds a complete suite of controls - including audio , cruise control and mobile telephone control. It is fully adjustable for reach and rake, with an extra 10 degrees of tilt adjustment compared to the previous Accord.

The new Honda Accord features 'floating' backlit instruments and contained within the centre of the speedometer face is an LCD multi-information display showing a variety of information - controls positioned on the steering wheel allow the driver to cycle the display through multiple screens of information.

A new feature is a service reminder that presents the driver with either the distance or days remaining to a required service, with an enlarged warning symbol appearing when the due date is imminent.

Storage space includes two centre console side pockets; a lidded storage area to side of the steering wheel; large front door pockets able to hold bottles and maps; bottle holders in the rear door panels, and a large centre console box. Rather than a fold-down pocket design, the large glovebox now has an independent lid and is subdivided with a tissue box compartment as well as space secured for a manual. The lid of the centre console box doubles up as an armrest and is slide-adjustable by 89 mm. Two cupholders are provided in the centre console, while rear seat passengers have access to a further two contained in the centre armrest, revealed when it is folded down.

Comprehensive equipment availability

The Accord's comprehensive specification includes power windows all round, those in the front with auto up and down and an obstruction detection device; auto lights and wipers on Sport and Executive models; dual-zone automatic climate control and, on higher grade models, rear seat vents with a feed to the centre console storage box to enable drinks to be cooled or warmed..

Entry level Accords are equipped with a radio/single CD player with built-in 30W 4 channel amp and six speakers. Higher grade models have a premium audio system with 6 CD changer unit located in the centre console, a separate high power amp delivering 45W x 8 channels and no fewer than 10 speakers.

Fifth generation and later iPods can now be played via the USB docking point located in the centre console storage box, where an auxiliary jack point and power outlet can also be found.

The advanced satellite navigation system - standard on Executive grade and optional on other models - now boasts an 8-inch screen, RDS, voice recognition in five languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) and covers most European countries including for the first time Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Load Capacity

At 467 litres (VDA), the saloon's luggage capacity is best in class measured against other premium contenders. The boot loading height is also a convenient 678 mm, down 80 mm. Further practicality is provided by highly visible and easily reached rear seat release catches located just within the upper edge of the boot opening.

Despite its dynamic styling, the Tourer's luggage capacity at 395 litres (VDA) with all seats in place, is one of the best in the sport wagon category. In practical terms, that is sufficient to comfortably accomodate four 46 inch golf bags or four large suitcases. Larger loads can be carried with the rear seats folded, and in this configuration the Tourer is able to transport a mountain bike, without the need to remove the bike's wheels first. .

To open up the Tourer's luggage area, the one-motion rear seats can be readily collapsed in a single action to create a virtually flat load space with flush, clean sides.

Set within the rear half of the load area is an underfloor storage space which is a useful 250 mm deep and adds 53 litres to the Accord Tourer's overall load space. On either side are two smaller compartments accessed by means of their own covers.

The highly practical, retractable tonneau cover features a large, easy-to-grip handle, and large guides on either side of the luggage area into which it can be quickly and easily slotted.

Like its predecessor, the new Honda Accord Tourer is available with a power operated tailgate, operation is via the key fob or via a switch located in the tailgate's lower edge.