UK: Honda adds Accord Sport GT to range
Click photos to enlarge
Honda UK has added a new mode to its range with the introduction of the Accord Sport GT, a new trim/equipment package based on the existing Euro Accord (Acura TSX here). It gets a sport suspension, Graphite-finish alloys (17" for the sedan, 16" for the wagon -- a.k.a. Tourer -- is chosen) and several appearance and convenience upgrades. Those include the Premium White Pear finish shown above, dark chrome grille and door handles, red gauges, carbon fiber-look inlays on the dash and center console, a decklid spoiler, premium audio, nav, Bluetooth, and a few other items, all of which are detailed in the release after the jump.
Power comes from Honda's 2.2L i-CDTi turbodiesel, which delivers 140 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 250 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. Combined cycle fuel economy is right around 42.8 mpg (US). If this was available from Acura right now, how many of you would sign up? Those looks mixed with 42mpg would certainly have us interested. It goes on sale September 1 at £20,767. A budget-oriented Accord SE with the same powertrain was also announced.
[Source: Honda UK]
PRESS RELEASE:
WHITE HOT GT JOINS ACCORD RANGE
High spec sporty model unveiled alongside 'Price Fighter' SE
Two new versions of the Accord will be launched in September to help Honda battle for honours in the competitive D-sector saloon market.
Sales of the Accord are on the increase in 2007, with fleet sales already up by 68 per cent – and the car continues to win industry awards for its refinement, handling and practicality. But customer feedback has urged Honda to launch two new grades of the model in the UK.
"The Accord always finishes near the top of owner surveys, which shows that its drivers love the car," says Bernard Bradley, Head of Sales for Honda (UK). "But our dealers tell us new buyers – especially those from the corporate sector – want a version that combines the advanced technology offered by high-end models, with more of the sporting features from other Accords in the range."
The result is the new Sport GT, an Accord that delivers sharp, nimble handling with performance car styling and high-grade equipment.
The new Accord Sport GT 2.2 i-CTDi features as standard:
- Dark Chrome door handles and front grille
- 17-inch (Saloon) or 16-inch (Tourer) alloy wheels in Dark Graphite finish
- Premium White Pearl paint option – exclusive to this model
- Sports suspension
- Rear boot spoiler, smoked headlights, and foglights
- Carbon-effect inlay fitted within the dashboard and centre console
- Red illuminated dials
- Voice-activated Satellite Navigation system
- Premium Audio system that includes a 6CD changer
- Cruise control
- Bluetooth Hands Free Telephone
- Tourer fitted with rear section privacy glass
'Price Fighter' SE
The new diesel-engined Accord SE – powered by Honda's much-lauded
2.2-litre i-CTDi engine – has been developed as an entry-level diesel Accord, specifically to act as a 'Price Fighter'.
Bernard Bradley continues: "This new keenly-priced car continues the theme of Accord, which has always been to offer a high-spec saloon with the quality you'd expect from a Honda – but at an extremely competitive price, with low running costs. If you're talking about value for money, the Accord SE beats most cars in the sector, even the new arrivals."
The diesel SE may be priced at a highly competitive £18,600 (OTR), but it's remarkably well-equipped – with 16-inch alloys, stability assist, 6-speed gearbox and Bluetooth Hands Free Telephone all fitted as standard.
Not only that, but with the cleaner, low-consumption 2.2-litre i-CTDi engine on board and the low list price, benefit in kind is reduced – meaning lower costs for company car users.
Model / Price (OTR)
- Accord 2.2 i-CTDi SE (saloon) / £18,600
- VW Passat 2.0 TDI SE / £18,967
- Audi A4 1.9 TDI SE / £21,075
- Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Life (hatch) / £18,235
- New Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Zetec / £18,695
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bestmacs 8:17AM (6/13/2007)
G'day, mate
42mpg? Interesting. But it costs more than $57,000 (yes, fiifty-seven thousand dollars) to fill a normal tank at a Melbourne service station. Don't believe me? Check out the post titled `Stormy Petrol' at http://david-mcmahon.blogspot.com/2007/06/stormy-petrol.html or go directly to http://david-mcmahon.blogspot.com/
Cheers
David McMahon
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Mike 8:29AM (6/13/2007)
@Bestmacs: SPAM someplace else please...
Rick Lyon 8:34AM (6/13/2007)
Hey, it's the new TL.
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rob 8:58AM (6/13/2007)
what about "(Acura TSX here)" don't you get...
felipe 8:34AM (6/13/2007)
thats cool tooo much money though.
why is the 2.2L Turbo deisel only putting out 140hp? thats a misstype right? should be 240 maybe?
or is it because there is no vtech?
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Sam Russell 8:41AM (6/13/2007)
I'd hit it. Diesel engines hardly ever make a lot of horsepower, it's all about the torque. European prices also hardly ever correlate to North American prices - TSX in Canada is in the mid 40's - probably considerably less in the US. More proof that eurpoean's get great cars with great mileage.
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Rick Lyon 9:08AM (6/13/2007)
I got all of it. What part of my post don't you get? It struck me a TL when I first saw it.
Ian 9:28AM (6/13/2007)
So where are the performance stats? 0-60 mph etc?
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Alex Nunez 9:55AM (6/13/2007)
The stats for one of the currently existing UK Accords with the same engine and a six-speed manual are:
0-100 km/h (62 mph): 9.3 sec
Top Speed: 130 mph
The Sport GT is really a trim and accessory deal, not a pure performance package, as explained in the Honda PR.
Ian 10:39AM (6/13/2007)
Thanks for the info.
With all that torque I had hoped for a better performance.
Peter 10:57AM (6/13/2007)
Performance is all about HP. Torque has only a small effect.
What torque does is make it easier to drive, especially if you don't like rowing the gears.
For those saying 140hp is low,get a clue, it is actually fairly normal/good for a diesel.
Mercedes 3.2L 6 cyl diesel on gets well under 240HP, so a 2.2L 4cyl diesel is not going to get anywhere near 240HP.
Here are some diesels to give you a realistic expectation of HP:
http://www.dieselforum.org/where-is-diesel/cars-trucks-suvs/diesels-for-sale-in-the-us/
Ian 12:45PM (6/13/2007)
Funny I had always thought that HP created a high top speed and torque is what gives acceleration.
The FedEx Man 1:54PM (6/13/2007)
Diesels are good for in gear acceleration - so 50-70 time in top gear would be much better in the diesel than the equivalent pertol - due to the amount of torque. Basically torque is more useful in every-day driving, when you're not revving the nuts of the engine and not doing 0-60.
MikeW 9:50AM (6/13/2007)
Road car diesel engines rarely rev to/above 5000 rpm.
But what would the diesel VTEC do, swirl for when it isn't running under boost.
Yes 140hp & 250ft-lbs is low. It would be nice to have 240hp@5000 325ft-lbs@2500, but I don't see the serial-sequential turbo arrangement.
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Christopher Watts 9:42AM (6/13/2007)
To be a true 'Sport GT', it'll need a HEMI, 22's, and some carbon fiber wings and stick-on 'port holes'. Oh, and racing stickers would certainly add more horsepower but at the cost of lower mpg's. It's a fair trade-off though. I'm just kidding; the stickers will NOT increase HP. We all know that right?
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Whydrive 10:31AM (6/13/2007)
All Honda sedans look the same so it's easy to get them confused. Thankfully Honda hasn't let the designer of the Honda Aztek influence their bread & butter cars.
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Ian 10:45AM (6/13/2007)
European Honda Accord = American TSX
American Honda Accord = American Honda Accord and is bigger than the EHA/ATSX
Ergo when this diesel arrives in the AHA the performance will be slower unless Honda has engine tweaks in mind.
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Avinash machado 11:21AM (6/13/2007)
This engine would actually be a good fit in the Civic. A diesel Civic would be a nice competitor to the Jetta Diesel.
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c. baines 11:47AM (6/15/2007)
Hey, Im the guy who did that Evo X video a few months back. Honda has been testing the CTD-i out here for about two months now. RHD, Accord badges and all. I have a feeling that maybe, just maybe, it may come out here.
Not too long ago, after I seen the CTD-i I seen a blooming Phantom, which was a diversion, because right behind it was a 1-Series!
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jamesc 3:21PM (6/13/2007)
I think there is a conspiracy from car makers to make us want to move the Europe or Australia. No fair.
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