Honda releases first 2013 Accord Coupe pictures

Autoblog: Honda releases first 2013 Accord Coupe pictures

2013 Honda Accord

Honda released a pair of images of its new-for-2013 Accord sedan early this morning, and it's followed them up with a pair of matching Coupe photos (we've added some cropped/zoomed images so you can see some of the details better).

The two-door bodystyle looks quite similar to the rakish outgoing model, with comparable greenhouse and prominent profile creases, but styling has been cleaned up as well, with better integrated hood shutlines and a dumping of the love/hate "upside-down" door handles that marked out the previous Accord. Unlike the new-for-2013 sedan, the Coupe also has unique squared-off lower fascias with recessed lighting – particularly noticeable in the rear. View press release after the jump..

Up front, a mesh grille with a thinner U-shaped surround insert takes the place of the sedan's more conservative slatted affair, and the headlamp fixtures are unique with larger amber turn signals. The lower air inlet looks similar in style to the sedan, but the surrounding fascia is different, incorporating round fog lamps in blacked-out faux mesh recesses.

The rear end also receives unique taillamps, and they appear smaller than their family-minded counterpart. Also unlike the sedan, they don't extend into the trunklid, which appears to have a markedly narrower opening to go with its built-in lip spoiler and CHMSL. The Accord Coupe's most prominent feature in the rear is arguably its square-jawed bumper cap, which has vertical rectangle reflectors and a horizontal sliver of brightwork that the sedan lacks. As with the saloon, twin exhaust outlets are shown on this V6 model, but they have unique oval-shaped finishers, where the sedan has more traditional round pieces.

PRESS RELEASE:

All-New 2013 Honda Accord Will Debut with Premium and Sophisticated Exterior Styling

The most sculpted Accord ever is bigger on the inside and smaller on the outside

TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2012 – Honda today revealed the first images of the much anticipated all-new 2013 Honda Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe, set to go on sale this fall. The most sculpted Accord ever delivers an even more spacious and luxurious passenger cabin wrapped in an upscale, sophisticated exterior designed to stand the test of time.

The 2013 Accord's styling is expressive, sophisticated and premium. Starting in the front, a bold new grille imparts a distinctive and dynamic tension that complements the powerful look of the hood's multiple styling lines. A strong side character line flows through the door handles and flares upward toward the rear of the vehicle to further convey a sense of motion. A deep contour in the rocker panel firmly grounds its visual presence to the road and smartly turns upward to convey a sporty attitude. In the back, the inward slope where the fenders taper into the trunk and C-pillars is designed to convey a powerful, athletic stance from the rear.

True to the spirit of Honda and every Accord before it, the ninth-generation embraces a customer focus from the inside out. Smart interior packaging allows for increased passenger and cargo space in both the sedan and the coupe, while the overall exterior lengths are noticeably shortened, contributing to a sportier driving character and easier parking. An expansive greenhouse and generous rear seating area provide excellent levels of visibility and comfort for the driver and all passengers.

"This car is the most sculpted and the most dynamic Accord yet," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda. "Following Honda's long-held philosophy of 'man maximum, machine minimum,' the beautiful exterior evolved from a focus on interior space and the needs of the people inside it."

On the road, an overall aerodynamic shape combined with low-drag exterior surfaces including nearly flush windshield glass, flush-mounted windshield wipers and careful under-body tailoring promise enhanced fuel efficiency. Premium details like available LED daytime running lights, headlights and taillights hint at the sophisticated technology and luxury available inside.

More information about the all-new 2013 Accord will be revealed later this fall. For photos about the styling direction of the 2013 Accord, visit www.hondanews.com.