With all the design flops lately from Honda, it's nice to see them show a winner!

Agent001 submitted on 09/27/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 12:27 AM
from: www.autospies.com

Tags: 2008 Honda Accord Coupe

2008 Honda Accord Coupe

With all the design flops lately from Honda, it's nice to see them show a winner!

Ok, we've been really tough on Honda/Acura over the last few years.

Although they have put some of the most beautiful interiors and technology into various models recently, outside of the Acura TL and Honda Civic, they've rolled out some boring and hideous looking exteriors.

Ridgeline, RL, Accord, Odyssey, RDX, MDX, Element...A real cavalcade of mediocrity across the board and some real bombs, like the Ridgeline and Element.

And to add insult to injury, Toyota keeps adding winner after winner into their stables.

So we're are delirious with joy to be able to congratulate them on the design of the new Honda Accord Coupe.

Both inside AND outside.

It’s their best car since the Civic.

We think it's REALLY nice.

And we hope it’s the beginning of a tidal wave of beauty for them.

Before we show you the gallery, we’ll end this with some advice to Honda…

Designed in Southern California, winner.

Designed in Tokyo, mediocre.

Unfortunately for you guys, Toyota figured that out a few years ago when they amped up with Calty Design.

And they’ve been making you pay, ever since.

And you can take our advice to the bank.

2007 SEMA Auto Show, SEMA Girls and Models Photo Gallery

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Auto_expert - 9/27/2007 12:48:02 AM

-11 Boost

Where's the winner? I see a saturn ion in the rear and a cheapened version of the TSX in the front. The interior is a standard issue affair with cues from BMW with the curvy dash and aluminum accents.

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EnnNorak - 9/27/2007 7:13:35 AM

+11 Boost

I don't see the point about arguing about which car looks like which other car. The whole industry moves in a common styling direction. This new Accord is a great leap forward for Honda and the only reason I won't buy it is that the V6 is still only a SOHC instead of DOHC engine.

Agent004 - 9/27/2007 11:36:39 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

I see Lexus IS-F from the front 3/4 shot.

t_bone - 9/27/2007 1:45:15 AM

-6 Boost

Not good at all. A bunch of nicely designed parts that don't work together. Weird mix of thick and thin, angles and curves. Interior is nice except for the overcooked steering wheel.

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moto - 9/27/2007 1:56:43 AM

-5 Boost

I don't see what you're talking about, Agent #1. Auto_Expert is right.

The interior looks neither ergonomic nor particularly pleasing to my eye. Random buttons and switches aren't well laid out at all. In order to keep the center stack fit with the symmetic design theme, the driver has a horrible reach to access one of the most frequently used controls: the fan selector. And then there's the CD player -- immediately behind the shift knob!?!?

The side profile looks like an old Chrylser "cab-forward" rehash. The uninspired front fascia looks like it came off a rental Dodge. The chunky-on the-outside trunk is actually way too small for a vehicle this size.

The whole package is void of flowing lines or muscular looks -- it looks like a lot of flat panels welded together with edge radii applied at random.

The car needs continuity. Just look at the headlamps -- one round element and one trapezoidal one. Why???

Details like the door handles -- not shaped to fit the hand, nor for best aerodynamics; not symmetric and not particularly detailed enough to give the observer something interesting to gaze upon. Why???

Now, don't get me wrong. I like Honda. I think theirs are well-built vehicles, and I certainly don't think that my styling opinions are any more valid than the average person's. But, come on. This is not a design to rave about. Neither Honda, nor Toyota, nor Cerberus, nor Ford are doing a very good job improving their detailed designs. They all seem to be following BMW down the road of polarizing exterior design with overly complex interior design (iDrive, anyone?).

The field of cars I see today are clearly becoming rushed, cost-cut, and overseen with to much input from head-in-the-clouds designers rather than real ergonomics & manufacturing engineers who would make it more efficient for the user and less heavy & clunky to build and repair.

Oh, i forgot. Fanboys will surely remind me that you never have to repair a Honda or Toyota.

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Agent001 - 9/27/2007 1:58:34 AMView My AgentSpace

+11 Boost

You're right, it's no 335 coupe.

But in my eyes, it's a revolutionary step forward compared to the last few years efforts and a step in the right direction for them.

001

EnnNorak - 9/27/2007 7:26:55 AM

+5 Boost

Moto, I would not attempt to repair any car these days. They are all deliberately designed to be repaired with great difficulty and expense so that you have to take them to a qualified dealer. It's an auto industry rip-off
against the consumer.

I have an engine with coil-over-plug ignition. A stupid warning light started flashing when one of the coils failed the other day and the V6 engine was shaking on only 5 cylinders. I managed to get it to the dealer on its own steam but resent the fact that the manufacturer does not indicate the exact problem with a code on the instrument panel and that I can't see the plugs and coils without taking a whole lot of crap off the top of the engine. If coils over plugs are going to fail then the driver should carry a spare coil and be able to install it himself in minutes.

bmwdrvr - 9/27/2007 7:46:38 AM

+5 Boost

actually for the sake of fact, i drive was created to simplify the interior, reduce the number of buttons, im assuming you meant something else like overly complex controls....because i drive, and the systems just like werent meant to complicate desighn....in my opinion the new accord coupe is good looking, i like Honda's brave desighn direction, not polarizing but something thats not just vanilla, and sleepy bland. In a time where most cars look alike, brands are having to go towards creating a look that saids, cadillac, honda, bmw, whatever the company is in order to distinguish themselves. Some companies for better or for worse, but more distinctive desighns are needed now for brand recognition.

Htay7500 - 9/27/2007 3:52:10 PM

0 Boost

I'd have something different like the Hondas interior. its looks nice w/ and w/o nav.

moto - 10/4/2007 12:53:28 AM

+1 Boost

Fewer buttons does not make for simpler operation. I have no problem with the number of buttons any modern well-appointed car has. But they have to be accessible, clearly labeled, and logically laid out. The layout should be done ideally by a driver, NOT a studio stylist. A driver puts controls where they belong, providing the least distraction and be best useability. A stylist has months in the studio to array the buttons in a motif that he likes -- and it results in the crappy layout that Honda shows here.

BMW wasn't wrong in trying to adopt an ipod-like clickwheel to access menus. The thing is, the iPod wasn't designed for driver navigation systems. When you access a tune on your ipod, you don't take your eyes off the screen until you access what you want. Not so in a car -- you want your eyes on the road as much as possible. So iDrive unfortunately forces a driver to search through menus rather than directly operate a control. Hence, unless you're a whiz with the system and have the entire operating menu in your memory, it's a big distraction.

DaHarder - 9/27/2007 4:35:19 AM

-2 Boost

The overall shape works well enough, but...

That Ridgeline 'inspired' front end design is nothing short of TRAGIC!

...and the rear end comes across as an incomplete aesthetic idea rather than a finished product.

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528i - 9/27/2007 5:04:41 AMView My AgentSpace

-6 Boost

Just give me a camry any day.

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EnnNorak - 9/27/2007 7:28:25 AM

+2 Boost

The only Camry I would want is the Avalon.

M53R - 9/27/2007 6:37:47 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

It may be a good design overall but it lacks originality. Something all of the cars in this class suffer from.

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M53R - 9/28/2007 9:03:29 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

How about tell me why Im wrong instead of de boosting me?!

Star - 9/27/2007 8:52:06 AM

-9 Boost

I don't see any winner here. While the Accord coupe doesn't look nearly as horrific as the sedan it has still a bland design. Definitely a LOSER, but again if we look at WHO buys these cars we can assume that whatever Honda puts on the market is good enough for them because... it's a Honda.

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sixmilie - 9/27/2007 9:01:23 AM

-3 Boost

The coupe is not bad but I definitely wouldn't call it a winner.I happened to be at a local mall where honda had the new accord Sedan on display there.All I have to say is, it's one of the blandest understyled sedans i have seen in a long time.Overall , it just really Lame and totally 100% unimaginative and boreing.The coupe is done much better but to have the coupe look it's best you would have to pay 30k and that's totally ridiculous for a accord.Hondas entry level models usually look weak ( cheesy wheels.no fog lights,cloth interior etc) this one is no different,,,POOR

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SoSnootySo - 9/27/2007 9:29:19 AM

+6 Boost

I know this is a blog type place and articles can have opinions but to say MDX, RDX are boring or bland or mediocre is totally subjective and I think most people agree the MDX is handsome and the element at least interesting and different.. I've never heard of anyone say toyota having more interesting designs than honda/acura. But I guess the intent of this article was to inflame. Whatever.. Slow news day.

Here's my partial list of good looking and beautiful Honda/Acura cars. (Of course, this is totally subjective)

TSX. TL. MDX, RDX, Element, Civic, Ridgeline.

* Also. lets not forget, Honda and the majority of auto makers create cars for the masses. You won't find Aston Martin type beauty in everything that's priced to sell well.

Argh. I already wasted too much time on a lame article.

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1995e34 - 9/27/2007 10:47:24 AM

+1 Boost

hmmm...honda prelude meets infiniti g35?

looks great. too bad it's fwd.

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07mcs - 9/27/2007 11:31:54 AM

-2 Boost

The camry does look better than this accord.

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GTR35 - 9/27/2007 11:53:14 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Maybe the four door, but the accord coupe looks waaay better than the Camry-Solara. I think it looks good enough to have the Acura badge..maybe a brand new CL.

answer - 9/27/2007 12:11:52 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

It is nicely done. I thought the last Accord coupe and sedan were quite boring.

I do think the Ridgeline's problem has more to do with its price than with its styling however.

I would love to see Acura gain a coupe version of the next RL replacement too. And bring back the "Legend" name in the process.

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Rupert - 9/27/2007 12:56:43 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

To me, this vehicle is just so...American in its styling, especially at the rear.

I don't know much about American cars, but to me this just looks like a 90s Chrysler from the back (like it's leaning foward) and from the front is just some bland box.

Why does the rear stick out so much? That's going to be really trick to park...

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Rupert - 9/27/2007 12:57:10 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

It also reminds me hugely of the Camry coupe thing.

answer - 9/27/2007 2:15:07 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

You use "American" as a derogatory term in regards to its design?

Rupert - 9/27/2007 6:07:10 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

Well it's not very European, which is what I'm used to.
And the fact is it looks like a bad American design - overweight, FWD and impractical for its size, which is different from European style, light, FWD, practical, spacious, airy, etc.

I remembered the car it reminds me of - Chrysler 300M. Cab forward design, long rear deck...i don't like it.

MJS2113 - 9/27/2007 5:06:08 PM

0 Boost

My god men! Just say "Yeah, much better than the past years" Geez! Also, it is not a major ploy by manufactures to build them so you "have" to come back to the dealerships. Blame the government and the emissions standards. Most of sensors/pcms etc... are purely to meet the high emission standards. Also, they couldn't make a dash big enough to display every code, and if they did, most of you would cry about it! Let it go and enjoy the ride.

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S4cabriofoxone - 9/27/2007 10:50:39 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

"Ridgeline, RL, Accord, Odyssey, RDX, MDX, Element..."

Okay, I'll give you the RL. But what about the rest?

• Ridgeline: it may not be pretty, but it still looks very fresh and drives well

• Accord: I don't know which one you're talking about it, but the new model looks impressive. Last-gen was bland, but was very polarizing when it was introduced.

• Odyssey: WTF, why did you put this here? It's a very good-looking van, and tops all others in this class in almost every respect.

• RDX: it's not amazing. But it drives better than the X3.

• MDX: now this is a great design. I hated it when it came out but now I love it. Like the Ridgeline (and the old MDX), it will age very well. Give credit where credit is due, 001.

• Element: it's interesting.

The new Accord looks very good. Pictures probably don't do it justice. I have a feeling the new coupe will be more stylish than Altima Coupe, and Camry Solara, for sure.

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