Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Honda
Is the 2008 Honda Accord Motor Trend's COTY?
Has Ernie Boch Jr. let the cat out of the bag? Autoblog reader Jason tipped us that he heard a fleeting mention of the 2008 Honda Accord being Motor Trend's Car Of The Year during a commercial for a seasonal promotion at the national sales champ dealership. Could it be that Jason's sharp ear has uncovered Motor Trend's announcement traditionally made in November? Boch Honda's website mirrors the statement that Jason heard, as well, offering a "newly redesigned 2008 Honda Accord LX, Motor Trend's Car Of The Year" for a $198/month lease. Motor Trend, on the other hand, remains mum so far on its pick. The press always blows the automaker's embargoes, how meta is it that a dealer appears to have deflated the COTY balloon? We'll be giving Ernie a ring on Monday, stay tuned.
Thanks for the tip, Jason!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
MoonRover 9:16AM (10/27/2007)
It shouldn't be, everything about that car screams GRAMDMA!!!!
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ItGuy 9:24AM (10/27/2007)
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!
The new Accord is FUGLY.
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Vivek 9:26AM (10/27/2007)
As long as there is a Japanese or Euro badge on the front, Motor Trend doesn't care. These clowns gave the SUV award to last year to the GL for god's sake.
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Kris 2:50PM (10/27/2007)
Let's look at the list for the last 20 years, shall we?
2007 Toyota Camry
2006 Honda Civic
2005 Chrysler 300C
2004 Toyota Prius
2003 Infiniti G35
2002 Ford Thunderbird
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
2000 Lincoln LS
1999 Chrysler 300M
1998 Chevrolet Corvette
1997 Chevrolet Malibu
1996 Dodge Caravan
1995 Chrysler Cirrus
1994 Ford Mustang
1993 Ford Probe GT
1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ
1990 Lincoln Town Car
1989 Ford Thunderbird SC
1988 Pontiac Grand Prix
1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
I only count 4 Japanese and no European. Granted, the Japanese were all in the last 5 years. To see the rest of the list, and their other categories:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Trend_Car_of_the_Year
Chet 4:27PM (10/27/2007)
@ Kris: that list doesn't really apply, as up until just a few years ago, Motor Trend did a 'Car of the Year' and 'Import Car of the Year'
Egon 5:53PM (10/27/2007)
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ?
1993 Ford Probe GT??
1995 Chrysler Cirrus???
1997 Chevrolet Malibu????
Stop it! Yer killin' me!!! Those are just 4 more reasons why every back issue of MT is rich in organic material and is thus best used as compost.
500 12:02AM (10/28/2007)
Exactly Chet, Kris is conveniently leaving these off the list, the Motor Trend IMPORT cars of the year:
1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
1998 Lexus GS
1997 BMW 5-Series
1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
1995 Nissan Maxima
1994 Honda Accord
1993 Mazda RX-7
1992 Lexus SC 400
1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4
1990 Nissan 300ZX Turbo
1989 Mitsubishi Galant GS
1988 Honda CRX Si
1987 Acura Legend Coupe
1986 Mazda RX-7
1985 Toyota MR2
1984 Honda Civic CRX
1983 Mazda 626
1982 Toyota Celica Supra
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD
1980 Honda Civic
1979 Datsun 280ZX
1978 Toyota Celica
1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E
1976 Toyota Celica Liftback
Sam 9:38AM (10/27/2007)
Motor Trend has sold itself to the mainstream devil just to get as much revenue as they can. It's always a japanese car these days.
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Will 9:42AM (10/27/2007)
It shouldn't be Motor Trends Car Of The Year Should be the New 2008 Chevy Malibu because it is by far the most improved mid-size sedan. But I am sure the Accord will win Car of the Year and the only reason for that would be is just because its a Honda.
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WillDaThrill 12:18PM (10/27/2007)
I so agree with thtat statement. American cars have been so boring as of late (except the multi-modeled Mustang). The Malibu may be the best yet.
geo.stewart 1:12PM (10/27/2007)
complete agreement.
When the civic won, I disagreed because Honda merely kept its place as a high volume selling appliance, though edgy design at the time for Honda. Meanwhile the Mazda 3 provided a major boost for Mazda, offered options never offered before in the segment, and highlighted the segment to the public. While Honda now looks like a block of cheese, the mazda 3 still turns heads.
The same will happen here. darling honda will win but it will be the Malibu that is the true winner, doing what the Mazda3 did when it came out. major improvement over predecessor, much better styling, long term beauty and short term. (that new accord is DOA for design, victim of design by committee).
Devin 5:53PM (10/27/2007)
I agree that the Maliblu will be an excellent car. The reason it didn't win this year's COTY was because it hasn't been released for sale yet (i think it starts in November), so there is no way MT could have fully evaluated it. However, for cars that they could have evaluated, how the hell did the CTS not win? It is a 200% improvement on an already good car. The new Accord is not "game changing", its merely a redesign that somehow looks worse than the previous model (minus the coupe, which actually looks good). I hope all this rumbling is false, because the CTS is the car that SHOULD win.
WillDaThrill 6:21PM (10/27/2007)
So true.....so true.
psarhjinian 2:22PM (10/28/2007)
Considering that:
a) You cannot even buy a Malibu yet
b) No one has reviewed the Malibu and Accord in context
c) The Aura, to which the Malibu is heavily realted, is certainly no better than the 2003-2007 Accord.
...I'd say there's a whole number of reasons why the Malibu cannot be the 2008 COTY.
I know this is a bitter pill for some people, but the Accord really is a very good car. In terms of whole-car goodness, only the Camry would be comparable and only the Passat would be better, and only if you ignore the cost premium and dubious reliability record of the latter.
The reason the Accord wins comparison after comparison is the same as the 3-Series. It's not badge snobbery, it really is very, very good.
Fred Turner 9:45AM (10/27/2007)
I'm not impressed by the new Accord, but Motor Trend is. In their first Article about the Accord they went ahead and put it up against their '07 winner, the Camry and the Accord won so I'm sure their bias' were already there. I personally think the Cadillac CTS should have won if for no other reason than it's new interior! If you haven't seen it, go see it!
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Robert (Toyota Salesman) 9:53AM (10/27/2007)
I was nervous about the new Accord after the rakish Civic redesign stole some of my Corolla sales, but I see Honda hired an Amish design team for this Accord.
Heck, the styling says so little that even the "Hold on tight to your dreams" ad shows the car from about 50 yards away, as if the ad agency knew they had a visual dud on their hands.
I'm relieved.
Dan Roth 10:02AM (10/27/2007)
You know, I like ELO a lot, but I can't stand that song. It doesn't help that whoever mixed the spot went all nutty with their TC Finalizer and smashed it to smithereens. It's LOUD
Russell 10:36AM (10/27/2007)
I agree, Caddy CTS should win COTY
Blake 11:55AM (10/27/2007)
Yeah, those commercials make me want to stick knives in my ears, because I can never seem to turn the channel quick enough.
And the comment about the Amish design team was classic!
Leaf 11:07AM (10/29/2007)
"...but I see Honda hired an Amish design team for this Accord."
This is coming from a Toyota salesman? The teapot is calling the kettle black, no?