At the Los Angeles Auto Show, much of the focus for Honda was on the new Honda Civic: however, the Japanese carmaker had arguably an even more significant announcement for green car enthusiasts.
It revealed that the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (pictured) will go on sale in the USA on January 15 – with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $39,780. Also announced is the Accord Hybrid, which will also feature Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, and will go on sale next summer. It boasts a 47mpg fuel economy rating.
As for the Honda Accord PHEV, it has an EPA rating of 115mpge – placing it ahead of its competitors in the sector, including the Ford C-MAX Energi with 100mpge and the Chevrolet Volt with 98mpge. It has an all-electric range of 13miles and a fuel economy rating of 46mpg combined.
At the heart of its success is the two-motor hybrid system that combines the Earth Dreams i-VTEC 2.0litre four-cylinder Atkinson engine with a 6.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Total system output reaches 196hp.
In addition, the new Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid will be the first production car in the USA to reach the LEV3/SULEV20 emission standard. Buyers in California will also be able to access the carpool lanes even with single occupants.
Honda will reveal more details on the Accord Hybrid closer to its launch.
Paul is a freelance writer with a background in everything from motoring to finance; and holidays to women's undergarments he just writes about them, honestly! He has now sadly crept into his early 30s and seems to have forgotten everything learned at school Still, he's a green car fanatic and isn't that what counts?
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