Honda has unveiled a new Sport Pack for both the new Honda Accord Euro Sedan and Tourer models. At the exterior, the Sports Pack consist of new front and rear bumpers, a pair of sporty side skirts, sporty front grille, a boot spoiler (for the Sedan), an integrated fog lights and 18-inch alloy wheels.

On the interior, the Accord is treated with titanium finish on the dashboard and leather trim on the seats, gear knob and the steering wheel. Other features include USB port for iPod connectivity, optional satellite navigation system and a power operated tailgate for the Tourer only.

Meanwhile the 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter petrol engine and the 2.2 liter i-DTEC clean-diesel engine are left standard.

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Stop peering in disbelief – this is the new Honda Accord. Yes, it’s an all-new model that looks suspiciously like the old one. Even Honda calls it ‘an evolution of the current model’ and it’s the big news on the company’s stand at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

It’s wider and lower than today’s Accord but retains its sober and simple style. The biggest change is at the front, where the newcomer has wedge headlamps and huge five-sided grille. Thankfully, as you might expect from technology-obsessed Honda, there are more changes under the bonnet.

The new Accord is more significant for its new engines than its design overhaul. Honda’s new second-generation diesel engine, dubbed i-DTEC, makes its debut here. The 2.2 is more powerful, developing an extra ten ponies with 148bhp at 4000rpm, yet is claimed to meet stringent Euro 5 emissions regs thanks to the latest piezo fuel injectors and a particulate filter. A plump 258lb ft of torque on tap from just 2000rpm promises fleet performance, too.

Two petrol engines will be offered, a 154bhp 2.0 i-VTEC (with improved valve lift and timing gear) and the range-topping 197bhp 2.4 i-VTEC. All three engines come with a six-speed manual gearbox or (when the diesel auto arrives in early 2009) a five-speed auto.

Honda’s promotional literature talks about benchmarking the new Accord against the BMW 3-series, but the same claim has been made by more manufacturers in this segment than we care to remember. Honda argues that the lower center of gravity, a wider track and new suspension (double wishbones up front, multi-link rear links) will improve the previously staid handling, although we’d expect the Accord to place comfort over razor-sharp handling prowess. Which is surely what Honda customers expect.
Inside, the Accord is just what you’d expect from a Honda: clear, electro-backlit dials, high-tech graphic read-outs and switchgear that will be familiar to anyone who’s driven the latest space-age Civic or Legend. Although this publicity shot makes it look dark and sombre, it all looks sensibly laid out and well built.

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Honda has released the first pictures and video of the new Accord, but while the photos only offer us a tantalising glimpse, the accompanying short film shows nearly every exterior detail of the new Accord Tourer.

The Tourer appears to have changed little from the concept that was shown at Frankfurt in 2007. The profile remains the same, and apart from a switch to production lights, wheels, grille, mirrors and door handles the exterior has kept most of the concept’s flavor.

The interior is still hidden however, with only glimpses of the dials and the boot, which appears to have a load area free from any wheelarch intrusion. Honda claims the interior will offer an ‘outstanding standard of fit and finish’ while it is also ‘characterized by a strong feeling of personal space for both the driver and passengers’.

The Accord will offer two petrol engines (2.0 and 2.4 litres) and the company’s new 2.2-litre diesel. As well as a particulate filter the engine will offer Honda’s answer to Audi’s AdBlue and Mercedes’ Bluetec exhaust systems, reducing NOx emissions. This will help make sure all the engines will meet Euro 5 emissions regulations, while Honda claims each engine also offers more power and better fuel economy.

Honda is keeping the technical details under wraps for now but claims the Accord will offer ‘a unique package of passive and active safety features to deliver even greater confidence’. Both saloon and estate versions of the new Accord will be launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with sales starting in early summer.

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The Mugen Honda Civic Type-RR Experimental Spec was unveiled at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon. The Civic Type-RR is powered by a K20A engine that was bored out to 2,157 cc.

The new 2.2 liter engine now could produce 260 hp (194kW) and 173 lb.-ft. of torque. Basically the engine is the same as the i-VTEC 2.0 liter unit but Mugen manage to reduce the friction on the internals. The camshafts has also been redesigned.

The Honda Civic Type-RR braking system and suspension system have also been upgraded to cope with the increase of power. Apart from that, the Mugen Civic Type-RR is equipped with Mugen’s new I-TCMS (Intellligent Tire Condition Monitoring) tire monitoring system which monitor the tire’s air pressure and temperature.

The standard manual gearbox has also been upgraded to a 6-speed sequential gearbox which allows gear shifts at only 80 milliseconds.

From the images, we can see that the Mugen Honda Civic Type-RR comes with new new carbon-fiber front bar, dash mounted instrument cluster and a pair of bucket seats.

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Right after the 2008 Honda Inspire (in Japan) or also known as Honda Accord elsewhere was released in Japan, Mugen has come up with their version of modified Honda Inspire.

The most significant difference between the JDM Honda Inspire and the Honda Accord that was released in the US is the additional taillight strip at the rear.

The Mugen Honda Inspire consist of, from the images, a sports front grille, front and rear aprons, side skirts, big rear wing, 4-outlet exhaust system and 18-inch 10 spokes alloy wheels.

The sport suspension system and the braking system have also been upgraded.

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