For the 2013 Honda Accord’s redesign, the Japanese automaker wanted to make the midsizer appear more contemporary but avoid polarizing styling cues. To witness how the Accord has evolved since it first arrived in the U.S. as a compact two-door hatchback, we’re sharing a massive gallery showing the car’s progression through the years below.
It all started in 1976 when the first-gen Accord was produced in Japan as a two-door hatchback. A four-door sedan version would follow in 1979, and by 1982, production of the second-generation Accord moved to the U.S. A slate gray Accord sedan rolled off the assembly line at Honda’s Marysville plant in Ohio on November 1 of that year, making it the first Japanese vehicle to be produced in the States. The second-gen Accord was built from 1982 to 1985, boasting 75 hp and high-tech features (for its time) including ventilated front disc brakes, cruise control, and an auto-reverse Dolby cassette deck.
The hatchback body style didn’t stick around for the third-generation, but the sedan wouldn’t be the only body style available, as a sporty coupe arrived in 1988. The coupe became the first U.S.-built vehicle to be exported to its home country in Japan, but the firsts didn’t end there, as the Accord wagon debuted in 1991 as the first Honda to be designed, developed, and manufactured in the U.S. With the wagon on board, the Accord claimed sales status for its third consecutive year in 1991. After that, it would meet its biggest match for years to come: the Toyota Camry.
With a clear competitor in sight, the Accord entered its fifth generation in 1994 with more interior room, a longer wheelbase, and a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine with the now-famous Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) technology. The following year, the Accord first got a V-6 engine that produced 170 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque. During the Accord’s sixth generation (1998-2002), the 2000 Accord was deemed the first Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) vehicle for the Californian market. Creature comforts such as heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and Honda’s satellite-linked navigation system became available for the first time in the seventh generation (2003-2007). The eighth-gen Accord (2008-2012), which is the longest and heaviest Accord, preceded the ninth-gen Accord, which goes on sale later this month.
Enjoy the gallery below and don’t forget to check out our 2013 Honda Accord First Test plus our Refreshing or Revolting piece on the 2013 Honda Accord sedan.
Source : wot[dot]motortrend[dot]com
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