In accord with the market

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Two Accords are being launched on the New Zealand market this year - one bigger than the other. The standard model will be the Accord Euro, similar in size to the present Accord.

It has been developed to compete against compact executive models in Europe and will be powered by a four-cylinder 2.4-litre engine.

The larger Accord will be the American production model, influenced by the specific requirements of Honda's largest market. It uses a 3-litre V6 engine.

Honda says it is bringing in the two Accords because upper-medium car buyers in New Zealand are showing a preference for either a more compact, sporty four-cylinder car or a bigger, more powerful six-cylinder.

"The new dual Accord lineup will give us the chance to really throw down the gauntlet in the two most hotly contested classes in the local market," said Honda New Zealand managing director Graeme Seymour.

"We've recently seen the impact that models with real charisma can have in both these market segments, and we're looking forward to taking the game to yet another level.

"This will be a real opportunity for Honda to make some serious inroads, with a combination of market-leading product and a pricing strategy that is gaining genuine acceptance for its fairness and the way it protects the customer's investment."

The pricing strategy is Honda's "price promise", a non-discount philosophy it introduced in 2001 when it restructured the way it did business in New Zealand.

The Accord V6 has been launched in North America, where it won a five-car comparison run by Road & Track magazine.

Its 3-litre V6 produces 180kW (240bhp) and drives the front wheels through a five-speed automatic gearbox.

"We are very excited about the Accord V6," said the company's marketing manager, Graeme Meyer..

"It will be an attractive choice for those who need a big, roomy car and want European levels of style, performance, quality and refinement but without paying a European price."

The smaller Accord Euro will be the first to arrive, around mid-year. It was developed in Europe and designed to spearhead Honda's assault on the European executive car market.

It will also be sold in North America as the Acura TSX. Acura is Honda's premium arm in the United States and Canada.

The car's 2.4-litre engine, the latest development of Honda's i-VTEC technology, produces 140kW (187bhp) and drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox.

The Accord Euro won the 2002/03 Japan Car of the Year Award. It also won British magazine Top Gear's medium car segment, beating accomplished standout models such as the Nissan Primera, Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6 and Skoda Superb.