Honda Accord Hybrid to make Japan debut

Honda is in the midst of phasing out the eighth-generation Accord. The all-new ninth-generation model has already been launched in several markets, and we already saw units running around the roads of Thailand whilst visiting Bangkok earlier this week for an assignment.

Reports from paultan.org covering the Accord’s Thai debut at the Bangkok International Motorshow 2013 highlight the offering of two four-cylinder engines displacing 2.0 and 2.4 litres respectively, mirroring the current model’s line-up and likely to be the same set of engines that will be offered to us in Malaysia.

There is, however, a third powertrain option that can potentially make a sizable impact here in Malaysia, and it is the Accord Hybrid that was launched in Japan only today. Honda’s new Sport Hybrid i-MMD powertrain operates a 2.0-litre petrol engine, which qualifies it for our country’s sub-2,000cc hybrid tax incentive which the Audi A6 Hybrid, for example, exploited to maximum effect.

A huge leap from its existing IMA powertrains, Honda’s new Sport Hybrid i-MMD is capable of full EV operation to power off-the-line starts and low- to mid-speed cruising. When in operation, the petrol engine is able to either power the vehicle directly or to merely serve as a generator in a fashion similar to range extender hybrids.

Honda’s release communicating the Japan launch was silent about detailed engine specs, but it nevertheless quoted an official fuel consumption of 30.0 km/l as tested in the Japanese JC08 mode. Also offered is the option of a plug-in hybrid variant which is quoted with an official figure of 70.4 km/l tested in the same cycle.

As it stands, the current hybrid vehicle tax incentive makes Malaysia a very favourable environment for the Accord Hybrid to operate in, but with the policy’s future beyond December 2013 remaining in doubt, it is also possible that Honda Malaysia is cautious against committing to ordering this variant from its principals in Japan. But if the Accord Hybrid does come in, Toyota will have no answer to it for the moment; the Camry Hybrid runs on a 2.5-litre engine and will consequently not benefit from the same tax cuts.

KON

Pictures: Official Honda release.