Honda Accord Coupe concept

Honda‘s Accord Coupé Concept demonstrates the styling direction for the eighth-generation of the North American-spec car, the company’s best selling model in the US.

Stylistically the car is not a great departure on current design trends and it won’t win any medals for innovation. It is, however, a drastic change for Honda. Designers seem to have struck a balance in creating a car which is upmarket, sporty and tasteful, and won’t alienate the Accord’s conservative client base.

The result is a wider stance with a long bonnet, steeply raked glass, and a sloped ‘fastback’ roofline which tapers off into the short rear deck. The design seeks to convey a purposeful, muscular and sporting flair along with an increased level of refinement and style.

The front end features projector beam headlamps — reminiscent of Alfa Romeo’s Brera and 159 models — with a small indicator light trying to fight its way into the cluster. The rear end seems to take styling cues from Toyota’s Scion tC model sold in the US. The narrowed rear fascia, with square taillamps mounted high the corners, features a black lower section below the bumper, attempting to replicate the look of F1 diffusers. This section also houses quad tailpipes, recessed so far into the moulding that they are barely visible. No chrome-tipped eye-catcher coffee cans here, subtlety reigns.

Blacked out windows indicate Honda is still working on the interior bits. It’s a safe bet that the company will move into a bolder styling direction than the characterless design of the current model and incorporate additional technology to take on the competition.

Honda is not very forthcoming in providing details on the power source, other than to say it will be an iVTEC V6 which will boost performance while retaining frugal characteristics through the incorporation of Honda’s next-generation Variable Cylinder Management system. It will likely continue to send power to the front wheels via a six speed gearbox, and may even be offered with Honda’s phenomenal SH-all-wheel-drive system.