Honda Accord Sedan photographed by Sammy Chan

The 2003 Honda Accord sedan is available in DX, LX-G, EX-L, LX V6 and EX V6 trim levels. The new Accord Coupe is available in LX-G, EX-L and EX V6 trim levels.

Body and Styling:

· Cheetah was chosen as the design theme for the new Accord
· Styling more dramatic and aggressive to stir emotions and create more excitement
· Side window glass nearly flush to reduce wind noise
· Bottom of rear bumper lowered 25 mm to better conceal underbody
· For sedan, length and wheelbase increased by 3 mm and 25 mm respectively, width wider by 29 mm
· For coupe, wheelbase and length unchanged, but width is up 26 mm
· New unibody now 27 % stiffer in torsional rigidity surpassing BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, bending rigidity stays the same and is second only to Mercedes-Benz S Class
· Door and sash structure 25 % more rigid
· Cd is 0.30 for sedan (from 0.33 of old); 0.29 for Coupe (from 0.32 of old)
· Windshield wipers have been recessed
· New and large door pulls
· New door lock mechanism drastically reducing lock operation noise. A new door checker (stop) and new low-friction centre hinge to improve door function
· Sunroof opening increased from 328 to 331 mm in sedan and from 246 to 270 mm in coupe
· Keyless trunk lock in coupe

Engine and Transmission

· 4-cylinder now the same used in CR-V, see specifications below
· 3.0-litre V6 has been reengineered, now 9 kg lighter and 25 mm shorter, a 3-rocker VTEC system replaces the old 2-rocker system, compression ratio bumped to 10:1, diameter of intake valves increased
· New engine mount system used on both 4-cylinder and V6
· Hood damper (hydraulic) standard on V6 models
· All-new electronic throttle control system on V6, controls throttle during transmission shifts for improved smoothness
· New exhaust design in V6 results in 30 % drop in backpressure and account for 15 of the extra 40 horsepower the new V6 develops
· 5-speed manual is a new lightweight housed in a rigid die-cast aluminum case. Multi-cone synchronizers used on first through fourth gears, throws reduced by 50 mm and shift lever repositioned
· All-new 5-speed automatic for 4-cylinder
· 5-speed auto in V6 different from 5-speed auto in 4-cylinder, V6 auto same as Acura 3.2 TL
· 6-speed manual standard on Coupe EX V6 6MT, low first gear, tall sixth gear, high-pressure cast aluminum alloy casing, multi-cone synchronizers on first through fourth gears and single-cone on reverse gear, dual-mass flywheel

Chassis

· Totally new front sub-frame, front suspension geometry refined
· Rear subframe and geometry improved
· Rear stabilizer bar still absent on Sedan DX and Coupe LX-G models
· New drive by wire steering on V6 models
· Larger front brake rotors
· New Electronic Brake Distribution on models with 4-wheel disc brakes
· ABS now standard on all
· Drum brakes still used at rear for Sedan DX and Coupe LX-G models despite ABS being standard
· New Traction Control system used for V6 integrating full-range Electronic Throttle Control, to curb wheelspin regardless of vehicle speed (used to be under 40 km/h) and extends active braking control up to 85 km/h
· 215/50R17 tires fitted to Coupe EX V6 6MT

Interior

· Higher beltline and more prominent dashboard
· Front and rear headroom increased in sedan, rear legroom decreased, interior volume up by 26 litres, trunk volume stays the same
· Steering wheel can now also telescopes while retaining its previous tilt feature
· New front seat has a 40 mm taller backrest and 43 mm wider
· EX-L and EX V6 modesl have a new Shukra-type adjustable lumbar support mechanism
· Front seats in LX-G have a new lever-operated, ratchet-type seat height adjustment compared to old knob-type, vertical travel also increased from 25 mm to 40 mm
· To improve access into Coupe’s rear seats, new model has a revised forward tilt mechanism
· Instrumentation all new, using large LED meters, illumination is progressive,  turning on 10 % when the door is opened and ramps up to 100 % after ignition is turned on. The process reverses itself after the drive
· Outside temperature indicator on only EX-L and EX V6
· Dual-zone climate control standard in EX V6 and 4-cylinder EX-L
· New one-touch "MAX A/C" in manual systems
· New sliding armrest
· Audio and cruise controls now integrated into steering wheel
· All windows can be opened by remote control !!
· 6 CD changer standard in EX-L, LX V6 and EX V6
· 120 watts in all but Coupe EX V6 6MT which has 180 watts
· Optional MP3 player unit available as accessory

Safety

· 3-point seatbelts at all 5 seating positions
· Front seatbelts equipped with load-limiters and pre-tensioners
· Rear seats equipped with LATCH system for child
· New front seat headrest positioning reduces whiplash
· Outboard rear headrests standard
· Dual-stage frontal airbags
· Side airbags standard except Sedan DX model
· 7 sensors in passenger front seatback to determine passenger front airbag deployment
· Addition of rolling code to engine immobilizer system
· "Wave" key for door, ignition and trunk locks to resist "picking"
· Door and hood locks and cables now more protected to prevent "Slim Jim"

With prices starting at $23,800 for the Accord DX sedan, all models are upgraded with a list of standard features, including ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), available 5-speed automatic transmission, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel, LED dashboard illumination and a multi-functional ‘Wave’ style key which eliminates the need for a remote key fob.

The popular LX-G trim will start at $25,000 and comes with numerous additional features, including standard rear disc brakes, a security system, driver and front passenger side SRS, heated body-coloured power door mirrors and a manual seat height adjustment for the driver’s seat. The LX V6 adds a 6-disc CD player with steering wheel-mounted audio controls, 8-way power driver’s seat adjustment, and larger 16-inch alloy wheels with V-rated tires. The top-of-the line EX-L and EX V6 trims add a long list of luxury items such as dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, power moonroof, and aluminum- or wood-style console (subject to interior color). The EX V6 further adds 4-way power passenger seat adjustment and HomeLink remote garage door opener.

A new selection of dealer-installed accessories are also available with Accord Sedan, items such as an in-dash MP3 player, DVD-based rear entertainment system, a hands-free adapter for cellular phones, as well as a host of customizable parts to enhance both the interior and exterior.

DX $23,800(M); $24,800(A)
LX-G $25,000(M); $26,000(A)
EX-L $28,500(M); $29,500(A)
LX V6 $29,000(A)
EX V6 $32,500(A)

The all-new Accord Coupe will arrive at Honda dealerships early November with Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices starting at $25,200. Slated for release in Spring 2003 is a performance-oriented V6 Coupe equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, larger wheels and tires, a premium stereo system with amplifier and a host of interior styling treatments. Pricing for the V6 Coupe with a manual transmission will be released closer to the on-sale date.

2003 Accord Coupe Price List:

LX-G $25,200(M); $26,200(A)
EX-L $28,700(M); $29,700(A)
EX V6 $32,700(A)

Specifications