The all-new 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 coupe has been completely redesigned and re-engineered from the ground up. It is crisply styled and more aerodynamic, flexing a more powerful V6 engine, a sharper, retuned fully independent suspension, stronger brakes with an interior that is more ergonomic, luxurious and safe than before giving the driving experience more fun and enjoyment.
The new styling of the Accord Coupe is rakish, taut and athletic, just what you would expect in a performance luxury coupe. It uses more high-strength structural steel to improve ride quality and more precise cornering. Hidden from sight are new under-covers that improve the Accord’s aerodynamic efficiency which enhances fuel efficiency. Up front the unique front grille has a thick chrome strip running at the bottom and the large lower radiator opening also features a chrome strip while the twin faux brake scoops double as fog lamp nacelles. Large cat’s-eye headlamps are uniquely sculpted and feature a line of LED daytime running lamps at the base. The large front wheel arches segue to deep character lines sweeping across the doors and back to the muscular rear wheel arches, while the flowing roofline draws your eye up and over the windswept cabin with a full-perimeter chrome strip. The deep lower side extensions are sculpted to help the air flow around the car. The side view also reveals chrome pull-out door handles and aerodynamic styled power-remote/heated sideview mirrors with fins to help airflow at the sides enhancing the quiet interior. The rear features a trunk lid spoiler, large wraparound lamp clusters and down below is a tasteful chrome strip and faux air vents at the sides. Dual exhaust outlets sit at the side of the rear diffuser. My test new Accord coupe with the V6 engine was painted in Honda’s ‘Modern Steel’ metallic paint giving it the look that it was sculpted from a single block of steel.
To advance the new Accord’s mission to advance every part of the driving experience, every aspect of the chassis engineering and componentry was redesigned to give this all-new Accord Coupe the strongest possible dynamic driving experience. The result is an Accord coupe that is quieter and more responsive on city streets, quieter and smoother at highway speeds, and even more capable on curving roads. The all-new chassis features a MacPherson strut independent front suspension with coil springs, gas-charged shocks and a 19mm stabilizer bar attached with a steel and aluminum subframe. Active Noise Control and Active Sound Control are also included counteracting engine noise and helping to create a more linear and sophisticated high-rpm engine note. This new front suspension is lighter than the double-wishbone setup from last year and gives the drive a superior ride and handling experience while also reducing interior noise, vibration and harshness. In the rear new compliance bushings and its independent multi-link suspension features gas-charged shocks, coil springs and a 16mm stabilizer bar. Combines this unique suspension system and the new electric power-assisted rack & pinion steering system (EPS), instead of last year’s heavier hydraulic system, with a front strut tower brace and you have razor sharp handling. When quickly turning the leather-wrapped/tilt/telescopic steering wheel I felt as if I was an integral part of the car.
Powering my all-new Accord Coupe is a redesigned 3.5 liter SOHC, 24-valve, all-aluminum i-VTEC V6 that is smooth, quiet and powerful. The V6 generates 278 hp at 6,200 rpm and 252 lb.ft. of torque at 4,900 rpm. This powerplant comes standard with the new Variable Cylinder Management variable displacement technology. Depending on driving conditions, the engine operates on three or all six cylinders to help boost fuel efficiency or power as needed. This high-tech V6 meets ULEV-2 emissions standards. My test Accord Coupe V6 came equipped with a new smooth shifting six-speed manual transmission. It features reduced internal friction, lighter internal tolerances and improved synchronizers. It also has a more rigid aluminum exterior case, higher-capacity ball bearings, stiffer gear shafts and great toque capacity. The leather-wrapped stick stands straight up, like a rally car, and is fun and easy to operate. The all-new Accord coupe V6 rockets out to 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.8 seconds. Very little torque steer was exhibited during strong launch thanks to the standard vehicle stability control and traction control systems.
Slowing the all-new Accord V6 coupe down from speed are large, power-assisted steel disc brakes. Up front are 11.5 inch vented discs clamped with dual-piston calipers and 11.1 inch solid discs clamped with single-piston calipers in the rear. My control of the car’s direction during severe braking or when braking on wet or slick pavement is compliment with standard ABS, BA and EBD. The all-new Accord EX-L rides on unique, wheel-well stuffing, 18X8 inch alloy wheels wrapped with 235/45R18 inch high-performance tires for excellent grip and a smooth ride.
In the hotly contested mid-size entry-level coupe segment, a sporty and luxurious interior is very important and Honda doesn’t disappoint in that respect. Each door of the loaded EX-L opens wide to reveal a leather-trimmed interior with all tactile surfaces, from the interior door handles to the seat controls to the dashboard; leather-wrapped steering wheel and switchgear are all designed to be pleasing to the touch. The soft upper dash pad is now one seamless piece of soft-touch material, the product of a new in-house Honda manufacturing process and has improved fit and a luxurious finish. The gauge cluster is easy to see plus the top of the center stack contains a new eight-inch color screen. My EX-L had the Honda navigation that was easy to use. The i-MID (intelligent multi-information display) in the middle of the cluster has readouts of all important trip computer/fuel economy/ information and the Bluetooth link. My EX-L model came with the premium 360-watt audio system with AM-FM-CD/MP3/Sirius Satellite radio, SMS text message function, USB interface, Pandora internet radio compatibility with the sounds coming through seven speakers. Beside the new dashboard material and leather seats you’ll see black piano veneer with gray dot pattern on the dashboard face and doors, aluminum trim is seen on the center stack and center console. There is chrome around the shifter gate and dual cupholders. The steering wheel contains controls for the Bluetooth, audio system and cruise-control.
Standard equipment in the EX-L Accord coupe not mentioned above includes power express windows, door locks, one-touch sunroof, push button start/stop, dual-zone climate control with air filtration, two-person memory, heated front seats, easy-entry rear seat where the front seats move forward by pushing a switch and a foot pedal in the lower rear of each front seat, driver’s ten-way power seat with power lumbar support, illuminated dual vanity mirrors, floor mats, HomeLink system, maintenance minder system, rearview camera, variable-speed wipers/washers and grab handles above each door.
The all-new 2013 Honda Accord V6 EX-L coupe is one of the safest cars on the road with standard Lane Departure Warning, Lane Watch with a camera positioned below the passenger-side exterior mirror to display a wide-angle view of the passenger-side roadway on the eight-inch display screen but I wish Honda had made it for both mirrors for extra safety, forward collision warning, driver/front passenger dual-stage airbags, driver/front passenger side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor, ACE II body structure, tire pressure monitor, 3-point safety belts for all five seating positions with front pretensioners/load limiters, side impact door beams, daytime running lamps, and the LATCH system for child seats.
If you like Honda Accord coupes you’ll really enjoy the new incarnation. Even if you are not a true Honda fan you will certainly find this all-new version one of the best all-around entry-level luxury sport coupe in this hotly contested segment.
COPYRIGHT: 2013: HARVEY SCHWARTZ
