The USDM Accord Hybrid is a hybrid car from Honda. It is the company's third hybrid when the 2005 model was introduced in late 2004, following the Honda Insight and Honda Civic Hybrid. Honda has positioned the Accord Hybrid at the top of its (non-Acura) lineup. The Accord Hybrid is priced US$3,000 higher than the EX V6 model and retains the same trim and feature levels (with the deletion of the power sunroof). While this new vehicle shares the same displacement as the regular seventh generation Accord V6 powerplant, the engine in the Hybrid is derived from the 2005 Honda Odyssey minivan and can shut off 3 of the 6 cylinders under certain conditions for better fuel economy (a technology that Honda calls Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)). The new engine features iVTEC technology and drives a new compact transmission. Power is up from 240 to 255 hp (179 to 190 kW) and torque rose from 212 to 232 ft.lbf (287 to 315 Nm). Fuel economy is around 29 mpg (7.9 L/100 km) city and 37 mpg (5.9 L/100 km) highway, equivalent to a 4 cylinder Honda Civic.

Honda puts the emphasis on the performance and targets the high-end buyers. Unlike traditional hybrid designs, the new Accord hybrid uses a more powerful engine than its non-hybrid counterpart. Together with the electric motor assist, the hybrid version is a much higher performance car than the regular Accord.

The 2005 Accord Hybrid Sedan is also 4 in (102 mm) longer than the 2005 Accord Sedan. The 2005 Accord Hybrid Sedan comes in 4 colors: Graphite Pearl, Desert Mist Metallic, Silver Frost Metallic, and Taffeta White.

Awards

The AccordHybrid won the Canadian Car of the Year Best New Alternative Power award for 2005.

See also

• Gas-electric hybrid engine
• List of hybrid vehicles
• Category: Hybrid vehicles

External link

• First Drive: 2005 Honda Accord IMA Hybrid - At CanadianDriver.com
• Honda Joins Hybrid Club With New Accord - At TheDay.com