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Honda Insight Hybrid
The Honda Insight is a hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by Honda and the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. The first-generation Insight was produced from 1999 to 2006 as a three-door hatchback.
Honda introduced the second-generation Insight in its home nation of Japan in February 2009, with releases in other markets expected through 2009. The new Insight went on sale in the U.S. on April 22, 2009. At $19,800 as a five-door hatchback it is the least expensive hybrid available in the US The Insight is listed on Honda's UK website with prices starting at £15,490 (otr). Honda's Insight, billed as the cheapest gas-electric hybrid on the market, ranked as the top-selling vehicle in Japan for April 2009—the first time a hybrid has clinched that spot.
Honda named its new upcoming dedicated global small hybrid vehicle Insight, following its first gas/electric hybrid car. The concept version of the 5-door hatchback hybrid electric vehicle made its public debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. and its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In the US the now larger Insight is classified as a compact car based on its interior volume.
A new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist) will debut on the new Honda Insight.
The car went on sale on March 24, 2009 in North America[3][28] as a 2010 model for MSRP prices between US$19,800 and US$23,200, making it the least expensive hybrid vehicle available in the United States.
Honda estimates worldwide sales of 200,000 units a year with 100,000 U.S. sales, American sales estimates were later reduced. Honda foresees other models of hybrid electric vehicles (e.g., a sports car) and estimates 500,000 annual hybrid sales worldwide by next decade. In April 2009, the Honda Insight became the first gas-electric hybrid to be the best selling vehicle in Japan according to monthly sales.
Early reviews praised the Insight's futuristic styling and price but noted that it was less powerful, less fuel efficient, and less comfortable than most other more expensive hybrids. The Insight performed well in comparison tests administered by Motor Trend and Car and Driver, largely due to its sporty driving feel. It did not perform as well in Edmunds or Popular Mechanics tests. In Consumer Reports testing the Insight was assigned a low score (21st out of 22 small hatchbacks and wagons), stating that it fell short in ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, refinement, rear seat access and rear visibility. For the purposes of developing an opinion of the car over a longer term, Edmunds has obtained a 2010 Honda Insight for a 20,000 mile test.
According to a BusinessWeek blog, which referred to Japan's Nihon Keizai newspaper, the gross profit margin on Honda Insight was said to be on par with that of Honda Fit. It also noted that the new Prius may be less profitable than its smaller rival.
Honda Insight's hybrid engine
Technology
The gasoline engine is a 70 hp (52 kW; 71 PS), 1-liter, ECA series 3-cylinder unit providing lean burn operation with an air fuel ratio that can reach 25.8 to 1. The electrical motor assist adds in another 10 kW (13 hp) when called on, and similarly provides significant deceleration when used in regenerative mode for braking. (This both improves fuel efficiency and also dramatically extends the lifetime of brakes). When the car is not moving, for example, at a stop light, the engine shuts off. The digital displays on the dashboard display fuel consumption instantaneously. On the manual transmission up and down arrows suggest when to shift gears. The Insight uses the first generation of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology. (The next generation, used in the Honda Civic Hybrid, is much more space-efficient.) The Insight has a 3-cylinder 1.0 L (61 cu in) engine and a brushless 10-kW electric motor located on the crankshaft.[8] Located behind the seats are a series of commercial grade "D" sized NiMH batteries wired to provide a nominal 144 V DC. During heavy acceleration, up to 100 Amps are pulled from the NiMH batteries, the electric motor provides additional power; during deceleration, the motor acts as a generator and recharges the batteries using a process called regenerative braking, charging them with up to 50 Amps of current. A computer control module regulates how much power comes from the internal combustion engine, and how much from the electric motor; in the CVT variant, it also finds the optimal gear ratio. Dashboard gauges monitor the current battery, instantaneous fuel consumption and mode of the electric motor — standby, engine assist or charging the batteries.
High pressure, low rolling resistance tires and the use of low viscosity "0w-20" synthetic oil both enhance fuel economy.
The original Insight had a conventional manual transmission. Starting with the 2001 model, a CVT variant of the Insight was available; the CVT is similar to that used in the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Honda Logo. A feature shared by the two hybrids (and now appearing in others) is the ability to automatically turn off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop (and restart it upon movement). Since it is more powerful than most starters of conventional cars, the Insight's electric motor can start the engine nearly instantaneously.
The Integrated Motor Assist is run by an "Intelligent Power Unit (IPU)", a desktop computer-sized box. The Intelligent Power Unit, the Power control Unit, the Electronic Control Unit, the vehicle's batteries, converter and a high-voltage inverter are all located under the cargo floor of the vehicle, behind the seats.
To maximize fuel efficiency, the Insight was very aerodynamic. The Insight had one of the lowest coefficients of drag of any marketed automobile, giving it a coefficient of 0.25.
The Insight was available with a manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission. A traditional transmission shifts between a fixed set of engine-to-wheel ratios; however, a CVT allows for an infinite set of ratios between its lowest gear and its highest. The CVT-equipped Insight was classified as a super-low emissions vehicle.
The Insight features low emissions: the California Air Resources Board gave the 5-speed model a ULEV rating, and the CVT model earned a SULEV rating – 5-speed model charismatic lean-burn ability was a trade-off for increased efficiency at the expense of slightly higher NOx emissions.
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Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of the largest sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The S-Class, a product of nine lines of Mercedes-Benz models dating since the mid-1950s, is the world's best-selling luxury flagship sedan. As the foremost model in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the S-Class has debuted many of the company's latest innovations, including drivetrain technologies, interior features, and safety systems (such as the first airbag supplemental restraint systems, seatbelt pretensioners, and electronic stability program). The latest generation, the W221 S-Class, premiered in 2006 as an all-new design. As in previous iterations, the latest S-Class is sold in standard and long wheelbase versions and offers V6, V8, V12, and diesel powertrains.
The name "S-Class" derives from the German word "Sonderklasse" of which "S-Class" is an abbreviation. Sonderklasse means "special class" (or rather: "In a class of its own"), and in automotive terms thus refers to "a specially outfitted car." Although used colloquially for decades, the "S-Class" designation was first officially applied in 1973 with the debut of the W116 model line. Since then, five generations of officially-named S-Class sedans have been produced.
Past two-door coupe models of the S-Class were known as SEC and later S-Coupe. In 1998 they were spun off in a separate line as the CL-Class, however it will be re-designated as the S-Coupe when launching the mid-generational facelift/refresh of the C216 later in 2009 as a 2010 model.
The all-new W221 was introduced in the autumn of 2005 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, with export to other markets beginning in 2006. The W221 S-Class made its North American premiere at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January. The latest S-Class is slightly larger in all dimensions than its predecessor, and it features three newly developed engines with up to 26% power increase. The interior is completely new, all materials have been upgraded and make for a more luxurious ride, and the center console transmission gear lever has been replaced with a column-mounted shifter.
Models sold in North America are the S450 (2008-,SWB and Canada only), S550, S600, S63 AMG and S65 AMG; other models to be sold outside North America include the S280, S350, S300, S420 CDI and S320 CDI. The first W221 model released in North America and Japan was the S550 (called S500 outside North America and Japan), with the S600 arriving in the following spring. Notable features on the W221 include: the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission (standard, except on V12 engines, where the 5-speed Sequentronic is used as the 7-speed cannot handle the power of the AMG V12). 4MATIC four wheel drive arrived in the fourth quarter of 2006.
The brakes continue to become more advanced with the new Brake Assist Plus system monitoring for an impending collision and increasing braking if needed, while the Distronic Plus cruise control can now bring the car to a complete stop. This system works in outdoor conditions; a test demonstration by Mercedes-Benz in a crash-test hall resulted in embarrassment for the company when a new S-Class crashed into the back of a stationary W220 S-Class, an incident later attributed to radar-confusing steel in this hall.
Upscale department store Saks Fifth Avenue offered 20 special-edition S600 sedans for sale in its 2005 Christmas catalog. All 20 cars, priced at US$145,000 each, sold on November 22, 2005 in under seven minutes. The Saks-edition S600 sedans were finished in a mocha black exterior with an almond beige interior and were the first examples of the S600 to be sold to private owners. The S600s came with nearly every option standard. In 2007, Automobile Magazine named the W221 S-Class as one of its 2007 "All-Stars" over rivals from Lexus and BMW, and Car and Driver selected the S550 as the winner in a five-way comparison test of flagship luxury sedans, as did Motor Trend Magazine in July 2009 in a three way comparison test, with the other two competitors being the BMW 750Li, and Audi A8L 4.2 Quattro. The W221 S-Class was also the recipient of several other motoring awards (see following).
Standard features of the S550 include air conditioning w/dual-zone automatic climate controls, interior air filter, Tele Aid assistance system, navigation system w/voice recognition, power tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, heated 14-way power front seats w/lumbar adjustment, memory system, heated power mirrors w/driver-side automatic day/night, power sunroof, premium sound system, 6-disc CD changer, satellite radio, wireless cell phone link, universal garage door opener, automatic day/night rearview mirror, and power rear sunshade. The S63 adds on heated/ventilated and massaging multicountour front seats w/automatic body-securing side bolsters, keyless start, power side sunshades, and power trunk closing. The S65 and S600 add on night vision, heated wood/leather-wrapped steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, power panoramic sunroof, rear dual-zone automatic climate controls, 8-way power-adjustable heated/ventilated rear seats w/lumbar adjustment, alcantara headliner, and rearview camera. Options for less expensive S-Class models include Night View Assist, power panorama sunroof, power side sunshades, heated steering wheel, upgraded leather upholstery, rearview camera, multicontour massaging front seats w/automatic body securing side bolsters, 8-way power adjustable heated/ventilated rear seats w/lumbar adjustment, rear dual-zone automatic climate controls, power trunk closing, and ventilated front seats.
S400 BlueHYBRID
In 2007, Mercedes-Benz announced plans for the S400, a W221 mild hybrid model developed in the Global Hybrid Cooperation featuring a 3.5-liter gasoline V6 engine mated to an electric motor, slated for release around 2009.. In early 2008, Mercedes-Benz added that the hybrid S400 would incorporate a lithium-ion battery, a first for mainstream hybrid automobiles. In October 2008, Mercedes-Benz subsequently announced the production of the S400 BlueHYBRID,[21] based on the S350 model. The vehicle will be launched in calendar 2009. The 3.5-litre petrol engine develops an output of 205 kW/279 hp, the electric motor generates 15 kW/20 hp and a starting torque of 160 Nm. The result is a combined output of 220 kW/299 hp and a combined maximum torque of 385 newton metres.
In April 2008, Daimler unveiled battery technology for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine that it developed jointly with tires-and-parts supplier Continental AG. An S300 Bluetec hybrid is going to appear in the next years, making Mercedes-Benz one of the first companies to combine a hybrid powertrain with a diesel engine (diesel-electric hybrid vehicle) in a production vehicle. Visionary Vehicles (VV) also intends to bring a $35,000 luxury Mercedes-Benz S-Class V2G-capable PHEV to market around 2010. VV just announced it would compete for the X-Prize.
The W221 S-Class features a similar number and variety of engine choices as the previous generation W220 S-Class. The current lineup of gasoline engines includes a 3.5L V6 with 268 hp (200 kW) in the S350, and two V8 selections: the 4.6 L, 335 hp (250 kW) V8 in the S450, and the 5.5, 382 hp (285 kW) V8 in the S500/S550. Turbo diesel V6 options include 3.0L 235 hp (175 kW) and 4.0L 310 hp (230 kW) variants in the respective S320 and S420 CDI models.
The twin-turbo V12 S600 returns with the W221 generation, and features a 5.5L twin-turbo V12 with an output of 510 hp (380 kW). The S550 completes the 0-60mph run in just 5.5 seconds. Two high-performance S-Class AMG models are currently offered: the S63 AMG with a 6.2L, 518 hp (386 kW) V8, and the chart-topping S65 AMG with a 6.0L, twin-turbo V12 producing 612 hp (456 kW) and a torque limited to 1000 Nm, or about 738 lb-ft. The car weighs about 2250 kg, but S65 AMG still makes 0-60mph in just 4.2 seconds, comparable to many top of the line sports cars. The S 63 AMG and the S 600 makes the same sprint in about 4.4 seconds. The twin-turbo V12 in the S 65 AMG is also found in Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG.
Mercedes-Benz has traditionally introduced its safety innovations in the S-Class. For instance, the S-Class was the first car in Europe to incorporate airbags. S-Class safety features include the following innovations in active safety (accident avoidance), passive safety (collision protection), and holistic safety (integration of both active and passive safety features):
* Active safety: ABS braking in 1978 (acts to reduce braking distances and improve stopping control; co-developed with Bosch); traction control and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) in 1995 (improves driver control during difficult road conditions); and Brake Assist (provides full braking power during emergency stops). In 2005, a new infrared night vision feature was introduced (improves visibility during nighttime conditions). Despite the popular misconception, the S-Class was not the first car fitted with ABS braking technology, although some credit can be given for popularizing this now largely standard feature (ABS was initially an option on most models of the W126 S-Class).
* Passive safety: crumple zones in 1957 (vehicle body structure absorbs the force of impact); three-point seatbelts in 1965 (provides additional torso/body protection); collapsible steering column (prevents the steering column from protruding into the cabin during accidents), strengthened occupant cell enhanced occupant protection during severe impacts (rollovers); pre-accident seatbelt tensioning (tightens seatbelts prior to impact), and sandwich platforms (allows the engine to slide under the occupants in a head-on collision).
* PRE-SAFE, Mercedes-Benz's holistic safety feature, was introduced on the S-Class in 2002. PRE-SAFE integrates multiple active and passive safety features for a "safety net" approach to vehicle safety by attempting to prevent accidents; if accidents do occur, PRE-SAFE aims to reduce occupant injury. In the latest version of this pre-collision system, PRE-SAFE will prime the brake assist system, lock the doors to prevent accidental opening during the accident, adjust the seats, close the windows and sunroof, and tighten seatbelts during certain types of collisions. In the event an accident results in a roll over, the PRE-SAFE feature unlock the doors and lower the windows approximately one half an inch to allow you to exit or safety workers to gain access easily.
Road accident statistics on a model-by-model basis from the UK Department of Transport show that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is one of the safest cars on the UK roads (measured in terms of chance of death in an accident).
Ocean Drive concept: at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in 2006, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the Ocean Drive concept, a convertible based on the W221 S-Class. There has since been speculation that this vehicle might see production.The Ocean Drive concept combines both retro and futuristic elements; an outsize, more prominent grille hearkens back to past Mercedes-Benz models, while flush body panels and doors, along with sculpted side flanks and LED lights, are new design cues. Other design features include Mercedes-Benz's "Airscarf" system, which debuted on the SLK roadster and circulates hot air around the seats and occupant necks. A pillarless window design is similar to the current CL coupe and thus offers occupants an unobstructed view. Bird's eye maple wood trim and a champagne exterior color were featured on this S-Class concept.
F700 research car: a concept future hybrid, the F700 Research Car, was also unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show. The F700 featured three regular opening doors and a fourth door capable of 180 degree rotation.
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BMW 7-Series
The BMW 7-Series has always been a very important car to look at for those who loves BMWs. As the flagship model, new design cues and technology more often than not makes its debut on the 7-Series first and then slowly trickles down the rest of the model range. Let’s have a close look at the new F01 7-Series after the jump.
Styling-wise, the new 7-Series follows the Bangle principle of revolution-evolution design language cycles. If you look back in the history of BMW designs at the 5-Series, the E34 was a revolutionary design language while the E39 was an evolution of the E34. When the E60 made its debut, it was an evolution again. For the 7-Series, the previous E65 / E66 model marked a revolution in the 7-Series design, so this new F01 model must naturally be an evolution. And it is somewhat, actually looking more like an evolution of the E60 rather than the E65.
BMW makes no attempt to hide the bulk of the car (no crease lines by the side etc), in fact the rear end looks so large you might mistake it for an SUV’s at certain angles. The front end is quite clearly inspired by the BMW CS Concept, from the large nostrils to the headlamps which actually have a similiar internal configuration of individual lamps and “eyebrow” but differing slightly in shape. From the front three quarter angle it reminds me of a distorted E39 5-Series - there is the similiar engine hood, kidney grille shape (though not the same size) and a similiar bumper to the post-facelift E39.
Three models were revealed at launch time - the 740i, 750i and 730d, although you can be sure for the Malaysian market we’ll see a 730i. BMW seems to have made a transition to embracing turbocharging very quickly - just a few years ago they were an all-normally-aspirated brand when it comes to gasoline engines. WIth the new 7-Series, all of its debut engine offerings are turbocharged! The top of the range 750i is powered by the N63B44 4.4 liter twin turbocharged V8 which made a world debut in the BMW X6 xDrive50i. In the 7-Series it produces 407hp between 5,500 to 6,400rpm and a peak torque of 600Nm between 1,750rpm and 4,500rpm, and takes the car from 0 to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds.
The 740i is powered by the N54B30 3.0 liter twin turbocharged inline-6. The 740i (rather than a 735i) designation is due to a higher power output of 326hp at 5,800rpm in the 7-Series installation as compared to the version in the 135i and 335i. Peak torque of 450Nm is reached at a very low 1,500rpm. 0 to 100km/h with the 740i is 5.9 seconds.
The diesel offering is the 730d, powered by an inline-6 turbodiesel producing 245hp at 4,000rpm, and peak torque of 540Nm from 1,750rpm to 3,000rpm. This is a single turbocharger engine, but uses a Variable Geometry Turbocharger. Its crankcase and cylinder head are made of aluminium alloy.
Surprisingly, an 8-speed transmission did not make its debut with this new F01 7-Series. The transmission used for all models is still a 6-speed with ultra fast lock-up clutch function in all gears and the ability to shift down multiple gears (up to 4 at once!) with no extra delay compared to shifting down a single gear. ZF’s 8HP transmission will probably make its debut when a 760Li V12 is added to the range later.
Shifting is via a shift-by-wire system, transmitting shift instructions to the gearbox from the new gear lever via electronic signals rather than a mechanical linkage. The gear lever is now moved to a more conventional location compared to the E65 / E66’s steering column mounted lever.
BMW 7 series
Suspension and Steering
Air suspension for the rear suspension only is standard on the long wheelbase 740Li and 750Li. The rear uses a multi-link suspension much like the previous generation, but the front axle now uses a double wishbone design, which first debuted on a BMW in the BMW X5. The all-aluminium suspension system features Dynamic Damping Control, which can adjust the inbound and rebound rates of each damper individually to suit road surfaces and driving patterns. There is also optional Dynamic Drive, which uses active anti-roll bars as with the BMW X5 to control actively counter body roll. I can testify that this works amazingly in the X5 so it should work well in the F01 as well.
The behaviour of Dynamic Damping Control is influenced by the Dynamic Driving Control system which has three modes - COMFORT, NORMAL, SPORTS and SPORTS+ settings, which also modify the car’s steering assistance, accelerator pedal behaviour, and automatic transmission gearshift dynamics. Dynamic Damping Control behaviour can also be set independently of all the other variables affected by the Dynamic Driving Control mode via the iDrive interface.
Integral Active Steering will vary the steering angle of the front wheels depending on steering wheel movement, wheel rotation speed, yaw rate and lateral acceleration, similiar to the way Active Steering works. The difference here is that Active Steering has been upgraded to Integral Active Steering, which adds the ability to control the steering angle of the rear wheels by up to 3 degrees through a spindle drive and a concentrically arranged motor. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheel steering angle to enhance agility, but at higher speeds the rear wheel steering angle follows the front wheels to smoothen out lane change maneuvers and bend negotiation.
Long Wheelbase Upgrades
The long wheelbase version has a 140mm longer wheelbase than the normal 7-series. It can be had with either a normal rear seat bench or two single seats with a console in the middle that has an iDrive controller.
The individual seats can be adjusted front and back by 70mm, with seat and backrest angles also being adjustable as if it were one of the single seats in the front. Other options include an entertainment system that includes two monitors integrated into the front seat backrests hooked up to a DVD player. The seats can be had with massage function and ventilation. Additional air vents can also be specified.
The massage seats feature twelve massage bubbles and six rotation bubbles integrated in the backrest to relax the occupant’s thorax, shoulder and lumbar. There is also a feature where the seat bottom can move up and down intermittently to prevent any cramped feelings for long journeys.
Black Panel Instrument Cluster
At first glance the instrument cluster looks like a conventional BMW analog meter panel. Now before you complain about BMW being unimaginative in this area while its competitors have gone with LCD panels for the instrument cluster, look closely and you will see that the entire instrument cluster is actually a colour LCD that has the usual four chrome dials installed in the middle of it.
What is “real” are the dials, indicator needles, and scale markings. The rest including speedometer and rev meter numbers and all other warnings and indicators are displayed via the colour LCD. BMW calls this the “Black Panel”.
BMW 7 series
Latest BMW iDrive
The new 7-Series has the next generation of BMW iDrive. iDrive allows the driver to control the entertainment, information, GPS navigation and telecommunication functions of the car. The two main interfaces of iDrive have been upgraded substantially - the iDrive controller knob and the iDrive display. The iDrive controller knob now has three modes of input - turning, pushing and tipping. You tip (tilt?) the controller from side to side for horizontal scrolling functions, and turn clockwise and anticlockwise for vertical scrolling functions. Pushing is only four-way, give the knob a little tug north, south east or west. Finally there is pressing down on the button for selection.
The iDrive menu interfaces have been redesigned to have the same scheme and structure, allowing the menu navigation to be more intuitive. There are also four quick-access buttons for the CD, radio, telephone and navigation GPS functions.
There is also one more additional input method - voice control, an obvious response to the LINGUATRONIC system from Mercedes-Benz. You activate voice control from a button on the steering wheel. Commands for voice entry (what to say) are shown on the display, and the system also accepts synonyms of the terms.
The iDrive display is now a delicious 10.2 inch high resolution LCD panel that can display 1280 x 480 pixels, which means the display is capable of the resolution width of a typical 17 or 19 inch 4:3 LCD monitor. This should allow everything especially navigation maps to be displayed with greater detail and clarity. There is a very good use for the high display resolution - text. iDrive’s ConnectedDrive system now has full web browsing capabilities. The car dials up to the internet via GSM, GPRS or EDGE. You just need a SIM card with a data plan. It’s a shame there is no 3G. A mouse pointer can be controlled via pushing the iDrive knob in four directions, and pushing it down to register a click. The user can also zoom into text on a web page by a factor of 1.5 or 2. For safety reasons, the web browser may only be activated when the car is at a standstill.
Navigation maps are now loaded from a 40GB hard drive which should enhance the performance of GPS navigation map loading substantially. The hard drive can also be used to store music. Music files can be loaded from a CD, an MP3 player or USB storage. Information such as artist and title can be downloaded from CDDB databases on the internet in real time via the ConnectedDrive internet connection.
The iDrive display can also display video feeds from a wide angle camera at the rear, or two front-end cameras integrated into the front bumper to help with parking. There is also an integrated owner’s manual somewhere in the menu.
BMW 7 series
In-Car Entertainment
The 7-Series comes standard with a single-DVD player, auxiliary input and USB input. Options include a TV module, a six-DVD changer and a digital radio receiver. There are two levels of upgrades to the baseline system. First is the optional BMW Professional HiFi, and the top of the line is the BMW Individual High End Audio, which uses 16 speakers with Neodym magnetic drivers and stiff Hexacone speaker membranes, paired to a 9-channel amp with 825W output.
As mentioned before, the long wheelbase modules can opt for two a rear seat entertainment system. Here we go into details - there are two actually. One is the Rear Seat Entertainment Mid System, which allows the rear seat passengers to operate the entertainment system via remote control on two 8 inch monitors. The monitors can show different sources at once. The other would be the Rear Seat Entertainment High System which bumps the LCD size up to 9.2 inches and feature an iDrive controller on the rear bench center armrest. This iDrive controller can operate the navigation and telecommunication functions, including surfing the internet on its own screen without displaying it on the iDrive screen in front.
GPS Navigation
BMW’s iDrive Navigation now features 3D maps. You can either display the nav screen in split screen mode with the route on the left and a map on the right, or a full screen navi mode with the 10.2 inch display showing the map in full glory. The maps now represent elevations more accurately when driving through mountainous or hilly areas. In certain cases 3D representation of buildings in the area is also available.
The driver can plan his route on a PC and later transfer the route to the on-board iDrive navigation via USB storage or via mobile transmission using ConnectedDrive.
Safety Features and Gadgets
The F01 chassis is built out of high and ultra-high tensile steel as well as aluminium. The roof is all-aluminium, shaving off approximately 7kg and lowering the car’s center of gravity. Other parts made of aluminium include the engine hood, the doors, front fenders, front spring supports and suspension arms. Standard airbag fitment include front, hip/thorax and curtain head side airbags. There are ABS brakes naturally, and during hard braking that activates the ABS function the Adaptive Brake Lights light up flashing with a higher intensity. Hazard warning flashes are automatically switched on when you brake hard to a stand still.
Bi-Xenon headlamps are standard, and the angel eyes (as we call them or corona rings as BMW calls them) function as daytime driving lights. A light sensor automatically turns on the main beams when ambient light drops low. There are also rain sensors which turn on the wipers automatically.
The headlamps have two options - Headlight Assistant and Adaptive Headlights. The Headlight Assistant system turns on the high beam automatically when there are no cars up ahead. Adaptive Headlights adds a few more features to the headlamps. One is the ability to switch on an additional light beam when the driver turns into a corner, illuminating the area head in the corner. Adaptive Headlight Range Control adjusts the beam angle automatically over different road vertical contours. Variable light distribution enlarges the beam wider at speeds below 50km/h, but switches to a highway mode that shines further. The foglamps work in a similiar way, except the switchover point is 70km/h.
The Lane Change Warning feature flashes an LED display on and off at the base of the wing mirror and vibrates the steering wheel to alert the driver if there is a vehicle in the adjacent lane. Radar sensors in the rear monitor the adjust lanes extending from the lane directly next to the car (blindspot) up to a distance of 60 meters behind the vehicle. As a pre-caution whenever there is a vehicle in this area a triangular symbol will light up at the base of the wing mirror.
The Land Departure Warning system uses cameras in the installed on the windscreen near the rear view mirror to monitor road markings and is able to look ahead up to 50 meters and warns the river via discrete vibrations on the steering wheel if he veers off his lane. Of course during lane change maneuvers you are supposed to turn on your turn indicators, so this warning will not be issued if you have your turn indicators on.
Optional Active Cruise Control (as opposed to standard cruise control) with integrated stop and go allows the driver to maintain a set distance from the car in front up to a maximum set cruise speed limit that works even in slow irregular traffic such as traffic jams. A Speed Limit Display system uses a camera near the rear view mirror to watch out for traffic signs by the side of the road and automatically recognises the numbers of the speed limit signage. It can also use speed limit data from the GPS navigation system’s maps, but priority is given to the speed limit captured by the camera.
BMW Night Vision uses a thermal imaging camera that displays a video feed to the BMW iDrive system. It’s been introduced before in cars like the E60 facelift, but this time the night vision system can identify individual persons in the display and show them as yellow so the driver can easily spot them in the thermal video feed.
ision uses a thermal imaging camera that displays a video feed to the BMW iDrive system. It’s been introduced before in cars like the E60 facelift, but this time the night vision system can identify individual persons in the display and show them as yellow so the driver can easily spot them in the thermal video feed.
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Air suspension for the rear suspension only is standard on the long wheelbase 740Li and 750Li. The rear uses a multi-link suspension much like the previous generation, but the front axle now uses a double wishbone design, which first debuted on a BMW in the BMW X5. The all-aluminium suspension system features Dynamic Damping Control, which can adjust the inbound and rebound rates of each damper individually to suit road surfaces and driving patterns. There is also optional Dynamic Drive, which uses active anti-roll bars as with the BMW X5 to control actively counter body roll. I can testify that this works amazingly in the X5 so it should work well in the F01 as well.
The behaviour of Dynamic Damping Control is influenced by the Dynamic Driving Control system which has three modes - COMFORT, NORMAL, SPORTS and SPORTS+ settings, which also modify the car’s steering assistance, accelerator pedal behaviour, and automatic transmission gearshift dynamics. Dynamic Damping Control behaviour can also be set independently of all the other variables affected by the Dynamic Driving Control mode via the iDrive interface.
Integral Active Steering will vary the steering angle of the front wheels depending on steering wheel movement, wheel rotation speed, yaw rate and lateral acceleration, similiar to the way Active Steering works. The difference here is that Active Steering has been upgraded to Integral Active Steering, which adds the ability to control the steering angle of the rear wheels by up to 3 degrees through a spindle drive and a concentrically arranged motor. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheel steering angle to enhance agility, but at higher speeds the rear wheel steering angle follows the front wheels to smoothen out lane change maneuvers and bend negotiation.
Long Wheelbase Upgrades
The long wheelbase version has a 140mm longer wheelbase than the normal 7-series. It can be had with either a normal rear seat bench or two single seats with a console in the middle that has an iDrive controller.
The individual seats can be adjusted front and back by 70mm, with seat and backrest angles also being adjustable as if it were one of the single seats in the front. Other options include an entertainment system that includes two monitors integrated into the front seat backrests hooked up to a DVD player. The seats can be had with massage function and ventilation. Additional air vents can also be specified.
The massage seats feature twelve massage bubbles and six rotation bubbles integrated in the backrest to relax the occupant’s thorax, shoulder and lumbar. There is also a feature where the seat bottom can move up and down intermittently to prevent any cramped feelings for long journeys.
Black Panel Instrument Cluster
At first glance the instrument cluster looks like a conventional BMW analog meter panel. Now before you complain about BMW being unimaginative in this area while its competitors have gone with LCD panels for the instrument cluster, look closely and you will see that the entire instrument cluster is actually a colour LCD that has the usual four chrome dials installed in the middle of it.
What is “real” are the dials, indicator needles, and scale markings. The rest including speedometer and rev meter numbers and all other warnings and indicators are displayed via the colour LCD. BMW calls this the “Black Panel”.
The new 7-Series has the next generation of BMW iDrive. iDrive allows the driver to control the entertainment, information, GPS navigation and telecommunication functions of the car. The two main interfaces of iDrive have been upgraded substantially - the iDrive controller knob and the iDrive display. The iDrive controller knob now has three modes of input - turning, pushing and tipping. You tip (tilt?) the controller from side to side for horizontal scrolling functions, and turn clockwise and anticlockwise for vertical scrolling functions. Pushing is only four-way, give the knob a little tug north, south east or west. Finally there is pressing down on the button for selection.
The iDrive menu interfaces have been redesigned to have the same scheme and structure, allowing the menu navigation to be more intuitive. There are also four quick-access buttons for the CD, radio, telephone and navigation GPS functions.
There is also one more additional input method - voice control, an obvious response to the LINGUATRONIC system from Mercedes-Benz. You activate voice control from a button on the steering wheel. Commands for voice entry (what to say) are shown on the display, and the system also accepts synonyms of the terms.
The iDrive display is now a delicious 10.2 inch high resolution LCD panel that can display 1280 x 480 pixels, which means the display is capable of the resolution width of a typical 17 or 19 inch 4:3 LCD monitor. This should allow everything especially navigation maps to be displayed with greater detail and clarity. There is a very good use for the high display resolution - text. iDrive’s ConnectedDrive system now has full web browsing capabilities. The car dials up to the internet via GSM, GPRS or EDGE. You just need a SIM card with a data plan. It’s a shame there is no 3G. A mouse pointer can be controlled via pushing the iDrive knob in four directions, and pushing it down to register a click. The user can also zoom into text on a web page by a factor of 1.5 or 2. For safety reasons, the web browser may only be activated when the car is at a standstill.
Navigation maps are now loaded from a 40GB hard drive which should enhance the performance of GPS navigation map loading substantially. The hard drive can also be used to store music. Music files can be loaded from a CD, an MP3 player or USB storage. Information such as artist and title can be downloaded from CDDB databases on the internet in real time via the ConnectedDrive internet connection.
The iDrive display can also display video feeds from a wide angle camera at the rear, or two front-end cameras integrated into the front bumper to help with parking. There is also an integrated owner’s manual somewhere in the menu.
BMW 7 series
In-Car Entertainment
The 7-Series comes standard with a single-DVD player, auxiliary input and USB input. Options include a TV module, a six-DVD changer and a digital radio receiver. There are two levels of upgrades to the baseline system. First is the optional BMW Professional HiFi, and the top of the line is the BMW Individual High End Audio, which uses 16 speakers with Neodym magnetic drivers and stiff Hexacone speaker membranes, paired to a 9-channel amp with 825W output.
As mentioned before, the long wheelbase modules can opt for two a rear seat entertainment system. Here we go into details - there are two actually. One is the Rear Seat Entertainment Mid System, which allows the rear seat passengers to operate the entertainment system via remote control on two 8 inch monitors. The monitors can show different sources at once. The other would be the Rear Seat Entertainment High System which bumps the LCD size up to 9.2 inches and feature an iDrive controller on the rear bench center armrest. This iDrive controller can operate the navigation and telecommunication functions, including surfing the internet on its own screen without displaying it on the iDrive screen in front.
GPS Navigation
BMW’s iDrive Navigation now features 3D maps. You can either display the nav screen in split screen mode with the route on the left and a map on the right, or a full screen navi mode with the 10.2 inch display showing the map in full glory. The maps now represent elevations more accurately when driving through mountainous or hilly areas. In certain cases 3D representation of buildings in the area is also available.
The driver can plan his route on a PC and later transfer the route to the on-board iDrive navigation via USB storage or via mobile transmission using ConnectedDrive.
Safety Features and Gadgets
The F01 chassis is built out of high and ultra-high tensile steel as well as aluminium. The roof is all-aluminium, shaving off approximately 7kg and lowering the car’s center of gravity. Other parts made of aluminium include the engine hood, the doors, front fenders, front spring supports and suspension arms. Standard airbag fitment include front, hip/thorax and curtain head side airbags. There are ABS brakes naturally, and during hard braking that activates the ABS function the Adaptive Brake Lights light up flashing with a higher intensity. Hazard warning flashes are automatically switched on when you brake hard to a stand still.
Bi-Xenon headlamps are standard, and the angel eyes (as we call them or corona rings as BMW calls them) function as daytime driving lights. A light sensor automatically turns on the main beams when ambient light drops low. There are also rain sensors which turn on the wipers automatically.
The headlamps have two options - Headlight Assistant and Adaptive Headlights. The Headlight Assistant system turns on the high beam automatically when there are no cars up ahead. Adaptive Headlights adds a few more features to the headlamps. One is the ability to switch on an additional light beam when the driver turns into a corner, illuminating the area head in the corner. Adaptive Headlight Range Control adjusts the beam angle automatically over different road vertical contours. Variable light distribution enlarges the beam wider at speeds below 50km/h, but switches to a highway mode that shines further. The foglamps work in a similiar way, except the switchover point is 70km/h.
The Lane Change Warning feature flashes an LED display on and off at the base of the wing mirror and vibrates the steering wheel to alert the driver if there is a vehicle in the adjacent lane. Radar sensors in the rear monitor the adjust lanes extending from the lane directly next to the car (blindspot) up to a distance of 60 meters behind the vehicle. As a pre-caution whenever there is a vehicle in this area a triangular symbol will light up at the base of the wing mirror.
The Land Departure Warning system uses cameras in the installed on the windscreen near the rear view mirror to monitor road markings and is able to look ahead up to 50 meters and warns the river via discrete vibrations on the steering wheel if he veers off his lane. Of course during lane change maneuvers you are supposed to turn on your turn indicators, so this warning will not be issued if you have your turn indicators on.
Optional Active Cruise Control (as opposed to standard cruise control) with integrated stop and go allows the driver to maintain a set distance from the car in front up to a maximum set cruise speed limit that works even in slow irregular traffic such as traffic jams. A Speed Limit Display system uses a camera near the rear view mirror to watch out for traffic signs by the side of the road and automatically recognises the numbers of the speed limit signage. It can also use speed limit data from the GPS navigation system’s maps, but priority is given to the speed limit captured by the camera.
BMW Night Vision uses a thermal imaging camera that displays a video feed to the BMW iDrive system. It’s been introduced before in cars like the E60 facelift, but this time the night vision system can identify individual persons in the display and show them as yellow so the driver can easily spot them in the thermal video feed.
ision uses a thermal imaging camera that displays a video feed to the BMW iDrive system. It’s been introduced before in cars like the E60 facelift, but this time the night vision system can identify individual persons in the display and show them as yellow so the driver can easily spot them in the thermal video feed.
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The new 7-Series has the next generation of BMW iDrive. iDrive allows the driver to control the entertainment, information, GPS navigation and telecommunication functions of the car. The two main interfaces of iDrive have been upgraded substantially - the iDrive controller knob and the iDrive display. The iDrive controller knob now has three modes of input - turning, pushing and tipping. You tip (tilt?) the controller from side to side for horizontal scrolling functions, and turn clockwise and anticlockwise for vertical scrolling functions. Pushing is only four-way, give the knob a little tug north, south east or west. Finally there is pressing down on the button for selection.
The iDrive menu interfaces have been redesigned to have the same scheme and structure, allowing the menu navigation to be more intuitive. There are also four quick-access buttons for the CD, radio, telephone and navigation GPS functions.
There is also one more additional input method - voice control, an obvious response to the LINGUATRONIC system from Mercedes-Benz. You activate voice control from a button on the steering wheel. Commands for voice entry (what to say) are shown on the display, and the system also accepts synonyms of the terms.
The iDrive display is now a delicious 10.2 inch high resolution LCD panel that can display 1280 x 480 pixels, which means the display is capable of the resolution width of a typical 17 or 19 inch 4:3 LCD monitor. This should allow everything especially navigation maps to be displayed with greater detail and clarity. There is a very good use for the high display resolution - text. iDrive’s ConnectedDrive system now has full web browsing capabilities. The car dials up to the internet via GSM, GPRS or EDGE. You just need a SIM card with a data plan. It’s a shame there is no 3G. A mouse pointer can be controlled via pushing the iDrive knob in four directions, and pushing it down to register a click. The user can also zoom into text on a web page by a factor of 1.5 or 2. For safety reasons, the web browser may only be activated when the car is at a standstill.
Navigation maps are now loaded from a 40GB hard drive which should enhance the performance of GPS navigation map loading substantially. The hard drive can also be used to store music. Music files can be loaded from a CD, an MP3 player or USB storage. Information such as artist and title can be downloaded from CDDB databases on the internet in real time via the ConnectedDrive internet connection.
The iDrive display can also display video feeds from a wide angle camera at the rear, or two front-end cameras integrated into the front bumper to help with parking. There is also an integrated owner’s manual somewhere in the menu.
The 7-Series comes standard with a single-DVD player, auxiliary input and USB input. Options include a TV module, a six-DVD changer and a digital radio receiver. There are two levels of upgrades to the baseline system. First is the optional BMW Professional HiFi, and the top of the line is the BMW Individual High End Audio, which uses 16 speakers with Neodym magnetic drivers and stiff Hexacone speaker membranes, paired to a 9-channel amp with 825W output.
As mentioned before, the long wheelbase modules can opt for two a rear seat entertainment system. Here we go into details - there are two actually. One is the Rear Seat Entertainment Mid System, which allows the rear seat passengers to operate the entertainment system via remote control on two 8 inch monitors. The monitors can show different sources at once. The other would be the Rear Seat Entertainment High System which bumps the LCD size up to 9.2 inches and feature an iDrive controller on the rear bench center armrest. This iDrive controller can operate the navigation and telecommunication functions, including surfing the internet on its own screen without displaying it on the iDrive screen in front.
GPS Navigation
BMW’s iDrive Navigation now features 3D maps. You can either display the nav screen in split screen mode with the route on the left and a map on the right, or a full screen navi mode with the 10.2 inch display showing the map in full glory. The maps now represent elevations more accurately when driving through mountainous or hilly areas. In certain cases 3D representation of buildings in the area is also available.
The driver can plan his route on a PC and later transfer the route to the on-board iDrive navigation via USB storage or via mobile transmission using ConnectedDrive.
Safety Features and Gadgets
The F01 chassis is built out of high and ultra-high tensile steel as well as aluminium. The roof is all-aluminium, shaving off approximately 7kg and lowering the car’s center of gravity. Other parts made of aluminium include the engine hood, the doors, front fenders, front spring supports and suspension arms. Standard airbag fitment include front, hip/thorax and curtain head side airbags. There are ABS brakes naturally, and during hard braking that activates the ABS function the Adaptive Brake Lights light up flashing with a higher intensity. Hazard warning flashes are automatically switched on when you brake hard to a stand still.
Bi-Xenon headlamps are standard, and the angel eyes (as we call them or corona rings as BMW calls them) function as daytime driving lights. A light sensor automatically turns on the main beams when ambient light drops low. There are also rain sensors which turn on the wipers automatically.
The headlamps have two options - Headlight Assistant and Adaptive Headlights. The Headlight Assistant system turns on the high beam automatically when there are no cars up ahead. Adaptive Headlights adds a few more features to the headlamps. One is the ability to switch on an additional light beam when the driver turns into a corner, illuminating the area head in the corner. Adaptive Headlight Range Control adjusts the beam angle automatically over different road vertical contours. Variable light distribution enlarges the beam wider at speeds below 50km/h, but switches to a highway mode that shines further. The foglamps work in a similiar way, except the switchover point is 70km/h.
The Lane Change Warning feature flashes an LED display on and off at the base of the wing mirror and vibrates the steering wheel to alert the driver if there is a vehicle in the adjacent lane. Radar sensors in the rear monitor the adjust lanes extending from the lane directly next to the car (blindspot) up to a distance of 60 meters behind the vehicle. As a pre-caution whenever there is a vehicle in this area a triangular symbol will light up at the base of the wing mirror.
The Land Departure Warning system uses cameras in the installed on the windscreen near the rear view mirror to monitor road markings and is able to look ahead up to 50 meters and warns the river via discrete vibrations on the steering wheel if he veers off his lane. Of course during lane change maneuvers you are supposed to turn on your turn indicators, so this warning will not be issued if you have your turn indicators on.
Optional Active Cruise Control (as opposed to standard cruise control) with integrated stop and go allows the driver to maintain a set distance from the car in front up to a maximum set cruise speed limit that works even in slow irregular traffic such as traffic jams. A Speed Limit Display system uses a camera near the rear view mirror to watch out for traffic signs by the side of the road and automatically recognises the numbers of the speed limit signage. It can also use speed limit data from the GPS navigation system’s maps, but priority is given to the speed limit captured by the camera.
BMW Night Vision uses a thermal imaging camera that displays a video feed to the BMW iDrive system. It’s been introduced before in cars like the E60 facelift, but this time the night vision system can identify individual persons in the display and show them as yellow so the driver can easily spot them in the thermal video feed.
ision uses a thermal imaging camera that displays a video feed to the BMW iDrive system. It’s been introduced before in cars like the E60 facelift, but this time the night vision system can identify individual persons in the display and show them as yellow so the driver can easily spot them in the thermal video feed.
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Honda Accord
Accord-Driven To Drive
Accord Sedan
The 2008 Honda Accord coupe and sedan were officially unveiled on August 20, 2007. Sales for the sedan started on September 12, 2007, while the coupe followed eight days later on September 20.
2008 Honda Accord sedan (U.S.).
2008–2009 Honda Accord V6 Luxury sedan (Australia).
2008-2009 Honda Accord sedan (Malaysia)
The 2008 model has garnered mostly positive reviews, with some noting that its chiseled looks and Teutonic styling is reminiscent of BMW's 3 Series and 5 Series. MotorTrend magazine criticized the car for being too heavy, feeling not so nimble as the previous model, its polarizing appearance, and for its less-than-stellar showing against the considerably improved Chevrolet Malibu in their 2008 Car of the Year competition. In its March 2008 issue, Car and Driver placed the 2008 Honda Accord first in a comparison test of mid-size sedans against the then recently redesigned/updated Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, and Dodge Avenger, as well as the Ford Fusion. Edmunds.com InsideLine also placed it in first in a comparison against the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Chevrolet Malibu, praising it for its all-around performance, high build quality, responsive handling, and excellent fuel economy. The Accord V6 sedan also topped a comparison test against the 2010 Ford Taurus, as the reviewer noted that the Accord had a more space-efficient cabin design that nearly matched the volume of the full-size Taurus, and as the Accord had superior handling and acceleration. Several reviewers have considered the Accord Coupe superior in most categories to its primary competition, the Nissan Altima Coupe.
The Accord is the top pick mid-size vehicle in the Consumer Reports rankings, due to its standard stability control despite having a slightly lower score than the Nissan Altima, while Consumer Guide has named the Accord a "Best Buy". The Accord also won Car and Driver's 10Best trophy in 2008 for the 22nd time, winning it more times than any other vehicle by far. US sales have been up 9.4%, as SUV buyers shift to the V6 Accord.
In Canada, sedan trims include the LX, EX, EX-L, EX V6, and EX-L V6, while coupes have the EX, EX-L, EX-L V6, and EX-L V6 6MT. The LX designation was the de facto replacement for the VP and DX-G trims in the previous generation, while the EX replaced the SE. The LX includes anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, front and rear disc brakes, air conditioning, keyless entry, power windows, power locks, and cruise control as standard features, while also having body-colored door handles and mirrors. The EX includes a more powerful version of the 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC engine with 190-hp, power moonroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, 8-way adjustable driver's seat, security system, and a 6-disc CD changer. EX-L denotes Accords with leather upholstery, XM satellite radio, and an optional navigation system and hands-free Bluetooth interface. V6 models have the 3.5L SOHC i-VTEC engine with 271-hp, chrome handles, dual exhaust pipes, and fog lamps. The EX-L V6 coupe has 18-inch alloy rims, a rear lip spoiler, and an option of the six-speed manual in lieu of the standard five-speed automatic transmission. In the United States, additional models offered include the LX-P sedan, which adds illuminated power window switches, an 8-way driver's seat and 16-inch alloy wheels, and the LX-S coupe, which replaces the 177-hp engine with a 190-hp, 17" alloy wheels, and a 6-disc CD changer.[42]
The U.S. Accord is also manufactured in Thailand and sold in Southeast Asia and Australia. The Japanese-built Accord is sold on the Australian market as the Accord Euro. In New Zealand the U.S. Accord is badged as the Accord V6.
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New Accord with VTi-L
The Accord Crosstour is scheduled to go on sale in fall of 2009. It is a fastback variation of the American-market Accord sedan, with a slightly higher but more sloped roofline. It is closely related to the upcoming Acura ZDX, with the Crosstour being slightly longer by two inches for wheelbase and length and six inches narrower. The Crosstour will the powered by the 3.5-liter V6 engine and a choice of either front-wheel or all-wheel drive, with prices expected to be starting at around the $30,000 mark ($35,000 CDN), slightly more than the Accord sedan.Malaysia's price as RM149,800 for 2.0VTi-L.
The Accord Crosstour is expected to be a competitor to the Toyota Venza, a crossover based upon the Accord's perennial competitor, the Toyota Camry. The Crosstour and Acura ZDX are said to be inspired by the BMW X6 and upcoming 5 Series Gran Turismo.
The new 2008 Honda Accord will be in showrooms sometime this year to give the Camry a good fight. It will also be joined by the new locally assembled Peugeot 407 in the 2.0 liter range, so the battle for D-segment executive sedan sales should be an interesting one this year. Expect the Accord to be offered with 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter engines, with the latter having its power upped to 177 horses from the current 170.
The new 3.5 liter V6 model may be offered but probably as a halo model only, as exceeding the RM200k price bracket for the top of the line model puts it head to head with luxury C-segment cars and the Volvos.
I’ve driven the 2.4 liter and 3.5 liter V6 versions of the Accord in Japan last year, so visit the related links listed below to find out what my initial impression of the new Accord was. Look after the jump for three more photos.
Related Posts:
2008 Honda Accord Sedan Test Drive at Tochigi R&D
Honda Inspire for the Japanese market unveiled
2008 Honda Accord Full Details and Photos
2008 Honda Accord Coupe Details and Photos
Accord-Driven To Drive
Europe's Accord Sedan with 3.5V6 VCM-SOHC power engine
As a result, the interior space is also enlarged: an Accord sedan is considered a full-size car by EPA standards, having a combined interior space of 120.0 cubic feet (3.40 m3) without moonroof and 115.0 cubic feet (3.26 m3) with. The Accord coupe is still classified as a mid-size car, as it has a combined interior space of 104.0 cubic feet (2.94 m3) without moonroof and 101.6 cubic feet (2.88 m3) with moonroof.
A hybrid version is no longer offered, as Honda felt their "hybrid system works better on smaller cars".
Honda has stated that the V6 engines feature improved fuel efficiency due to the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, which shuts off two or three of the cylinders depending on the type of driving (i.e. city driving, uphill/downhill driving, highway driving). This is supposed to increase the efficiency of the V6 models while increasing the power to 271 hp (202 kW). The lack of VCM results in a decrease of 4 MPG in highway fuel economy. In addition to VCM, the new 3.5L i-VTEC V6 engine features more advanced emissions control technology, and complies with the California "Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicle" (PZEV) category. The i-VTEC V6 is mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission only; the six 6-speed manual transmission from the sedan version has been dropped. The Accord Coupe V6 with 6-speed manual transmission uses a 3.5L VTEC V6 which does not have VCM. The 2008 V-6 model was rated at 268 hp, but the engine was re-rated for 2009 and has had its numbers increase to 271 hp (202 kW). One reviewer has suggested that there was a subtle recalibration of the V6 drivetrain for 2009.
The Accord received several key safety updates for the 2008 model year, most notably vehicle stability assist (VSA) and traction control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, tire pressure monitoring system, and active front head restraints for all models. These new safety features contributed to high crash test scores for the Accord, earning it a "Top Safety Pick" designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an honor not bestowed upon most of the Accord's competitors. In IIHS tests the Accord sedan received the top Good rating in 13 of 14 measured categories, while receiving an Acceptable rating in the structure/safety cage category of the side impact test.[29][30] The Accord is the first mid-size car to include stability and traction control as standard equipment across the lineup.
