Under the mask, this is the new 2008 Honda Accord, caught testing in the US.
But while it was on test in the States, this isn’t the US-spec Accord – it’s the European version.
Expect the new Accord to take its design cues from the Accord Tourer concept shown at the Frankfurt motor show in September, though obviously this is the saloon.
The new car will be sharper to look at and hopefully to drive, too. Although today’s Accord is far from a slouch, there are rumours that Honda is working on a new Type-S version with the firm’s Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive system.
As today, standard Accords will come with front-wheel drive and a choice of 2.0- and 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, or a 2.2-litre diesel.
These will all be upgraded to meet the tough new Euro 5 emissions laws. Transmissions will be a six-speed manual or five-speed auto.
The new saloon is expected to arrive in the UK in summer 2008, followed swiftly by the estate. It’ll arrive into a fiercely competitive marketplace: the new Mondeo is already on sale, the new Renault Laguna arrives in December, and the new Mazda 6, Citroen C5 and Vauxhall Insignia (replacement for the Vectra) all arrive in 2008.
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