Official: Honda releases first 2013 Accord Coupe pictures

Filed under: Coupe, Honda, Design/Style

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.

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.

What do you think of the new Accord Coupe at first glance? Weigh in with your thoughts in Comments.

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Honda releases first 2013 Accord Coupe pictures originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: CAW making progress in drive to unionize Honda in Ontario

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda, UAW/Unions, Canada

Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario, is unique in providing an employee recreation center with an NHL regulation-size hockey arena. But it could soon have another claim to notoriety: The first Japanese auto plant to go union.

According to Ward's Auto, Canadian Auto Workers President Ken Lewenza is bullish on efforts to organize the facility, which builds Honda Civic and CR-V, as well as the Acura MDX and ZDX. "We're getting some enthusiastic and strong support," he told Ward's, "but we're not there yet."

Both the CAW and the United Auto Workers have been trying for decades to organize at one of the Japanese transplant factories, but have met resistance, both from employees as well as the automakers. Lewenza says Honda has devoted "resources and time into keeping the union out," according to the report, including giving employees a handout that the CAW feels misrepresents Honda's wages when compared to unionized Chrysler, Ford and General Motors plants in Canada.

The report says labor talks between the CAW and the Big Three scheduled for September will be crucial for the union, given the resurgent strength of the Canadian dollar. Canada's labor costs are viewed as too high by the automakers, setting the stage for potential conflicts at the bargaining table. Of course, if the CAW could add to its 25,000 member base with Honda's roughly 4,500 Canadian workers, it could only help the union's negotiations.

CAW making progress in drive to unionize Honda in Ontario originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next Honda Civic Type R spotted near 'Ring

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Honda, UK

It looks as if Honda may be working on a new Civic Type R for the European market. Photographers spotted this creation poking around the Nürburgring during test runs. With a prominent rear wing, larger exhaust outlets and more pronounced front aero work, the hatchback clearly has some sporting intentions. Odds are engineers have worked in a stiffer set of springs and dampers along with a more powerful four-cylinder engine. How powerful? Early estimates put the machine at between 220 and 230 horsepower, though there's no official word on the figure.

The car is clearly still in the early stages of development, so there's no telling what Honda may come up with in terms of styling, handling or performance. Even so, we have to say what we see here lacks much of the visual menace of the last-generation Civic Type R, so let's hope that Honda finds a bit more aggression for their hottest Civic.

Next Honda Civic Type R spotted near 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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