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Since the year 1976, the Japanese carmaker Honda has manufactured the intermediate automobiles known as the Honda Accord. The car is currently in its seventh generation, with an eighth generation slated for release in the year 2008.
The Honda Accord has been sold in a number of automotive markets around the world since its inception. It achieved a stunning degree of success in the United States of America, where it was the best selling Japanese made car for fifteen years in the 1980s and 1990s. The Honda Accord is also the first Japanese branded car ever to be made in the United States of America.
Throughout the years, the Honda Accord has boasted a number of different auto body styles. Several different cars have been marketed under the Honda Accord moniker over the years in different markets throughout the world.
Initially, the Honda Accord was supposed to boast a V6 powered engine with a sporty look and a long hood. The name Accord was chosen because Honda wanted to promote the idea of harmony and accord among individuals, society, and cars. Eventually, the car's premiere design was transformed in to a fuel efficient car thanks to the fuel crises of the 1970s. In the year 1982, the Honda Accord was first produced in the United States of America.
In the year 2006, renderings of the 2008 Honda Accord model first appeared in Japanese automotive magazines. By those pictures, it was thought that the design would be based largely on the new Honda Civic vehicle. Then, in December of 2006, Honda unveiled sketches of its new Honda Accord 2008 coupe concept car. This vehicle was first shown at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.
The eighth generation 2008 Honda Accord will be launched in the fall of 2007. It is believed that the same model will be available in both the North American and Pacific markets.
While previous generations of the Honda Accord have come with a hybrid version, the 2008 Honda Accord will not. When pressed on this matter, Honda explained that they felt that the hybrid system is only effective on smaller vehicles.
Honda will be offering a diesel version of the 2008 Accord, however. This version will supposedly offer better fuel economy than the normal version of the Honda Accord.
It has also been stated that the V6 Honda Accord models in the future will have increased fuel efficiency thanks to the Honda Variable Cylinder Management program. This program is designed to shut off two to three of the cylinders during specific types of driving, such as highway driving, city driving, etc. This will increase the efficiency of the vehicle, while simultaneously maintaining the power at 268 horse power. The Honda Accord Coupe V6 with six speed manual transmission will not feature Variable Cylinder Management, however. For vehicles that are lacking this system, there will be a decrease of about four MPG in highway fuel economy.
The 2008 version of the Honda Accord will also drop the six speed manual transmission for the sedan version of the vehicle.