Brandfon Honda

TORRANCE, Calif., U.S.A., November 11, 2010 - The 2011 Honda Accord Sedan

has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's)

best-possible Overall Vehicle Score of five stars, American Honda Motor Co.,

inc., announced.


Helping the Accord achieve the top score were five-star ratings for overall

frontal crash safety, overall side crash safety and rollover resistance. The

Accord is one of only six vehicles to achieve a five-star Overall Vehicle Score

to date, and is the first to achieve five stars in each of the three ratings

categories: 5-star frontal crash rating, 5-star side crash rating (combined

results of side barrier and side pole) and 5-star rollover rating.


The newly introduced Overall Vehicle Score is part of the federal government's

more stringent New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that is first being applied to

2011 models. As a convenience to new car shoppers, the Overall Vehicle Score

represents the combined results of the overall ratings from the frontal crash

tests, the side crash tests and the rollover-resistance3 into a single, summary

score between one and five stars.


Revised for 2011, the frontal crash safety test incorporates a crash dummy

representative of a small-size female in the front passenger's seat and, as

before, an average-size male crash dummy in the driver's seat. The side-crash

safety evaluations continue to include the side-barrier test used previously

where a moving barrier strikes a stationary vehicle at an angle. However, a new

side-pole test has been added where a moving vehicle strikes a stationary pole

barrier. Ratings are provided for both of the individual seating positions in

the side-barrier crash safety test, as well as a combined rating for both

positions, while the side-pole rating is based on a test of the frontal seating

position only. The front seating position side barrier crash safety test result

also is combined with the side-pole crash safety test result for a front seat

side impact rating, with the results of all of the tests combined into an

overall side-crash safety rating.


The side-barrier crash test now implements a combination of male and female

crash test dummies, with the male positioned in a front seating position (as

before) and the small female (new) in a rear seating position. The newly

introduced side-pole crash test exclusively uses the small female crash dummy in

a front seating position.


All 2011 Accord vehicles utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE)

body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant

protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a

network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly

throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy

management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment.

Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction

control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags; dual-stage,

multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front

passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system.


The entire Honda Accord lineup has received updates and improvements for 2011,

highlighted by increased fuel economy, enhanced exterior and interior styling,

and the addition of a new Special Edition (SE) trim level. With a variety of

models available in 4-cylinder and V-6 variations, each Accord model provides a

unique balance of style, performance, efficiency and value.


The 2011 Accord Sedan's exterior expresses a more upscale and powerful presence

with new styling for the front grille, front bumper and rear deck lid, along

with a new wheel design for EX models. improvements to vehicle aerodynamics,

engine friction and an optimized fifth-gear ratio on automatic transmission

models all contribute to fuel economy improvements. The EPA fuel-economy

ratings4 for Accord 4-cylinder sedan models equipped with an automatic

transmission improve by 2 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city, 3 mpg on the

highway and 2 mpg combined, for a city/highway/combined rating of 23/34/27 mpg.


Balancing value and luxury, the new Accord SE Sedan trim level offers all of the

standard features from the popular Accord LX-P while adding leather-trimmed

seating, heated front seats, driver's power-lumbar support and a leather-trimmed

steering wheel.


Interior updates on all models include new seat fabrics on models with cloth

seats, an updated instrument panel design and more-refined accent points

throughout the interior. New features on certain models include a USB Audio

interface on Accord EX and EX-L Sedans, a rear-view camera on sedans equipped

with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, and all Accord EX

models gain the auto on/off headlight feature. Additionally, Accord EX-L V-6

models receive a two-position memory system for the driver's seat.


A 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is standard

in the Accord EX and EX-L Sedans. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine in

the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedans produces 177 horsepower. The available

.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC V-6 engine produces 271-horsepower and takes

advantage of Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology that can deactivate

up to half of the cylinders while cruising to improve fuel economy. EPA

fuel-economy ratings for the 2011 Accord V-6 Sedan are 20 city/30 highway mpg,

an improvement of 1 mpg in each environment. A 5-speed manual transmission is

standard on 4-cylinder models and a 5-speed automatic is available. A 5-speed

automatic transmission is standard on V-6-powered models.


The fully independent, double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension

systems inspire confident handling performance while also providing a

comfortable ride. The 2011 Accord Sedan comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels

with wheel covers (alloy on LX-P and SE); and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard

on EX and above sedan models. All Accords feature four-wheel disc brakes.


Currently more than 95 percent of the Accord vehicles sold in the United States

are produced at Honda of America Manufacturing inc.'s Marysville Auto Plant in

Marysville, Ohio, or at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln,

Alabama.