New Honda Accord with all the goodies

JUST TWO months ago the Honda Accord was launched in the `D' segment and a cautious sales target of 2,500 cars was fixed for the year ending March 31, 2002. Within 60 days from the launch, 600 cars were sold that prompts the manufacturer to launch its variant with all the goodies that are available in the international market including the sporty body kit and the odourless pure leathers to the seats, (People put leather on the seats not only for its richness but for the leather odour as well) The new Honda Accord VTI-L, - in manual and automatic versions - has been introduced to offer luxury to the customers. The brand new owners must already be feeling let down as they cannot get one with all the goodies.

The new Accord VTI-L will have the all-leather interior, a rich cabin look, resistant towards humidity, heat, fire, colour fading, abrasion as well as cold and hot cracking. The leather is also stretchable by almost 30 per cent and will not lose its shape. It also comes with attractive alloy wheels for better handling and improved aesthetics.

Honda has introduced a new colour, the Night Hawk Black, in a special pearl finish, which will be exclusively available on the Accord VTI-L. The car, available through 26 Honda outlets across the country, will also come in three other attractive colours - Satin silver, Naples gold and Frost white.

Honda Siel has also introduced an array of genuine Honda accessories, exclusively for the Accord. These include 24-carat gold plated emblems, fog lamps, fender arch mouldings, exhaust pipe tips finishers and a trunk spoiler for customers wanting exclusive and sporty looks for their car. For protection and maintenance, one can opt for gearshift locks, step garnishes while audiophiles have an option of a superior 12-CD changer. The wide range of accessories that come with a Honda warranty will allow customers to own a customised Accord with the same reliability as that of the car.

The driver's seat comes with a unique 8-way full power adjuster and an adjustable lumbar support. The tilt-adjustable power steering also helps put the driver in a perfect position for the complete ease and superb visibility. The car is spacious, especially the rear seat. Its automatic air conditioning system is highly efficient with significantly low cool down time and better cabin air distribution. It also comes with a high-grade audio system and CD player with an attractive graphic display and a printed antenna on the rear windshield.

The car offers several thoughtful amenities attuned to sophisticated tastes. Ample storage space is provided to the driver as the passengers through overhead sunglasses holder, double level storage under armrest, door pockets, map and coin pockets and the like. Power windows and retractable door mirror controls are logically positioned on the door armrest. Map lights and rear reading lights, trunk access behind the rear armrest with a drink holder, to help transport long items.

This is the most powerful car in its category, embodying a 2.3 -litre-in-line four-cylinder VTEC engine and has its own multi- point programmed fuel injection with a new 16-bit power train control module for good efficiency.

The power plant is fitted with an advanced hydraulic engine mount, which minimises transmission of vibration from the engine to the body and reduces engine vibrations at all speeds. It also has a second-order balancer system that cancels vibrations helping it to achieve its uncommonly smooth performance, especially from mid-to-high rpm.

This new variant also has a new rear five-link double wishbone rear suspension is the first-of-its-kind in the world to utilise Watt linkage.

While the double wishbone front suspension is designed for better ride, smoother handling and greater stability, the rear five-link suspension helps in creating a compact, space-saving layout for wider rear seats and enhanced trunk space. The automatic variant is equipped with the intelligent grade logic control system, which assists in reducing frequent gear changes in high- performance situations.

In a recent 'roll-over' test conducted by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. for over 200 cars, as part of its new car assessment programme, this was the only car to get a 5-star rating (roll over risk of less than 10 per cent when involved in a single vehicle crash.) and has a ABS (anti- lock braking system) helping the driver to stay in firm control even on slippery surfaces. SRS airbags provides cushion against injury comes in as standard. Accord's success in the U.S. market is particularly laudable.

The Accord 2.3 VTI-L MT will cost: Delhi: Rs. 15.75 lakhs; Mumbai: Rs. 15.78 lakhs; Kolkata: Rs. 15.75 lakhs; and Chennai: Rs. 15.68 lakhs.

The Accord 2.3 VTI-AT AT will cost: Delhi: Rs. 16.55 lakhs; Mumbai: Rs. 16.58 lakhs; Kolkata: Rs. 16.55 lakhs and Chennai Rs. 16.48 lakhs.

Tutu Dhawan

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