Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd has released some details on the upcoming 2008 Honda Accord. There will be three models available – a 2.0 litre, a 2.4 litre and a 3.5 litre V6, with the V6 model featuring the same Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology found in the American and Japanese version.
The 2.4 litre K24 engine will make additional power in this new guise, putting out 180 PS (177hp).
Read more details on the new Accord after the jump.
The J35Z2 engine in the Honda Accord 3.5 V6 runs in three different modes depending on engine load. You have the six-cylinder mode for power, and four- and three-cylinder modes for efficiency, switching between them seamlessly. I had a chance to experience driving this Accord at Honda’s Tochigi R&D center in Japan last year, and could not feel any difference when the engine switched from mode to mode.
When a car climbs uphill or accelerates, the engine will operate on all six cylinders to deliver the required power. Peak power in this mode is about 268 horsepower at 6,200rpm and 336Nm of torque at 5,000rpm.
During low load conditions such as leisurely cruising on the highway, Variable Cylinder Management will shut off one bank of cylinders. This is done by closing both the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are not in use. Pumping losses associated with intake and exhaust are eliminated. The effective displacement is about half the 3.5 litres, which is roughly 1.75 litres.
When cruising speed is gradually increased – as an example, accelerating from 80km/h to 110km/h in a relaxed manner, the engine switches to a 4-cylinder mode. Two cylinders from each bank of 3-cylinders are active, while the other two cylinders have their intake and exhaust valves sealed off. Effective displacement is about 2.3 litres with 4 out of 6 cylinders activated.
Honda has managed to make the switchover between these three modes seamless and jerkless through the use of two technologies – Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) and Active Noise Control (ANC).
ACM anticipates the vibration generated by the switchover by actuating two engine mounts to create out-of-phase vibration to cancel out the force of vibrations resulting from the cylinder mode switching operation.
ANC cancels out any booming noise related to the VCM function by emitting a sound wave with the same amplitude and the opposite polarity to the original sound from the audio sound system. I recall studying this opposite polarity sound waves sometime in secondary school.
Repeated winding road driving will activate the Shift Hold system which prevents upshifts into 4th and 5th gear. In the previous Accord, spirited driving along windy roads warranted the shifting into the D3 position because the occasional shifts into 4th gear upsets the chassis, making the drive less stable. This should not be a problem with the new CP3 Accord.
The new Honda Accord also gets a variable ratio steering system, which Honda calls Variable Gear Ratio (VGR). It is a speed sensitive steering which tightens up during high speed driving to give the driver a better, more stable sense of control over the steering, but increases steering assist during low speed driving to ease maneuvering such as parking.
The top of the range 3.5 litre model will get 6 airbags, which consists of two dual stage front airbags, two side airbags with Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and two side curtain airbags. VSA traction control is available for the 2.4 litre and 3.5 V6 models, but sadly not the 2.0 litre model.
The interior uses reduced Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) contents, so you may experience less of the hazardous “new car” smell that some people like.
The new 2008 Honda Accord will hit our streets in April 2008, and dealers are already taking bookings.
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2008 Honda Accord Full Details and Photos
2008 Honda Accord Coupe Details and Photos
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so… the price ?
So cool…
It’s all beautiful for an engine we don’t get here
Hi Paul,
Honda Australia has already launched this model this month and it’s on tv advertisement everyday. It can switch from 6 Cylinder to 4 Cylinder and 3 Cylinder. I think the model here is only V6 because at the end of the advertisement it claims that it’s a new V6 Revolution.
KM
cant wait….
Interesting engine…I think I heard of the technology being used by BMW before., but not really sure. I pretty sure that the V6 model will be welcomed by those who has the money to buy a Merc/BMW ect but is worried about maintainence, spare part cost ect..which Honda is better at than German marques…
NO COMMENTS….
CAN AFFORD ONLY ONE TYRE!
BROKE LIKE MUFLISSSSSS
Actually why talk so much how wonderful is the Accord 3.5 ? It’s over 240K. Most people who frequent this forum won’t get it anyway.
Tell us more about 2.0 and 2.4, which we might still have some chance to buy :)
Hopefully we get black interior, for a change please (not always beige)
The 2.0 and 2.4 will form most of the cars sold. Somehow jap cars over RM 200K don’t sell so well cos the’ll be encroaching the traditional continental luxury segment.would you buy an accord over a 3 series BMW even if the 3.5L is a superb engine?I wouldn’t.
szw said,
March 18, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
so… the price ?
…………………………………………………………………….
Lets just say that those who need to ask about the price cannot afford it.
sigh… going back to NAP!!
This is an interesting engine, maybe cheaper to run too
Sound good for the environment due to engine efficiency. probably bad news for engine tuners-petrolheads that want to squeeze more HP from the engine.
This V6 engine tech reminds me of the Mivec MD (Modulated Displacement), which would also shut off the intake and exhaust valves in two cylinders when not in need.
how’s the engine vibration when they switch to 3 piston mode. does it shake a lot? only 3 piston running in one bay emphhh…..maybe a lot engine dampening going on there
active noise cancellation (anc) is a method to “eliminate” unwanted sound wave
by implementing similar sound wave (same frequency&litude) but in different direction.
in maths, it is like (+1) + (-1) = 0.
in common sense, it is like fighting fire with fire, so does sound with sound.
hmm..i wonder if this anc is unexpectedly broken, then the cabin will be not quiet as usual?
for me, i prefer passive noise cancellation. reason: cheaper to maintain.
btw, everyone of us has different preference ;)
Wah, new rojak car from Honda. Here goes the rojak list:
1. Piston switching mode is not new as it appears on the Chrysler 300.
2. Design cues are from BMW, just look at the dashboard and the side+rear profile.
3. Rojak tastes good, so I think it’s exhilirating to drive!!!
The 2.4 can make only 177bhp. At this stage of engine development in the world, I would expect more. The normally aspirated BMW 325 gives out 218 bhp. As for the biggest Accord, 3.5 litres in Malaysia would put this model in a very unattractive road tax bracket.
ongjaafar said,
March 19, 2008 @ 10:57 am
The 2.4 can make only 177bhp. At this stage of engine development in the world, I would expect more. The normally aspirated BMW 325 gives out 218 bhp.
======================================
errr … the Honda 2.4 litre engine is a 4 cylinder engine. The engine in the BMW 325 is a 2.5 litre 6 cylinder engine …
this car weights about one passenger more than the current model, i wonder how much this affects the performance of the 4 cylinder models
The US has an option of 177bhp and 190bhp for the 2.4 litre engine. I wonder if we would ever get the 190bhp version.
I have drove a new Odyssey in US which on the same engine 3.5 CP3..
Honestly, u don’t feel different when the 6, 4 or 3 cylinders kicked in…
But you see a light – ECO.. indicate is on economical drive…which means 4 or 3 cylinder kicked in..
Fuel consumption is good….
Wonder what’s the price would be? Honda has indicated the price. MY SA fren showed me his teaser brochure for customer to make booking. This new CP3 accord come with 2 new colors also
Just back from our neighbour Indonesia and they were selling the 2.4 MT, after conversion is RM136K and for the AT from RM141K (2.4 VTi) – RM153K (2.4 VTi-L). As for the 3.5 V6 it’s going for RM205K. All these are OTR prices.
Just goes to show what our M’sian APs does to our sanity!
I was informed by Honda sales advisor that the 2.4 only come with black interior and the other two models, i.e. 2.0 & 3.5 in beige. I wonder why…should allow an option for buyers…
Honda people (if you are reading this) please take note!
hi nonengko,
do you know if 2.0 has auto cruise available? any idea when will they going to launch it? honda website already started to advertise it
thanks
Hello acc_cam,
I am still deciding which one – accord or camry, that’s why i am looking into the specs/details. Yes, the 2.0 comes with auto cruise but not HID headlights (correct at the time of writing). Overall, Thai/Spore cars are fitted with more gadgets & with better specs, e.g. rain sensor. Here its like “take it or leave it”. Scheduled to launch by the last week of April…………..
i does consider camry before before this as well..
one thing that i really dont like.. the interial.
i still think the new accord do a better interial job. And that is what you going to see most of the time… do consider.
I agree with you that the interior is better in the new Accord, no doubt about that. I like the 2.4 but it only comes in black interior, which is not my preferred choice…
In fact, there is no choice……