DUBAI, 6 November 2007 -- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. launched the 8th generation of its perennial bestseller Honda Accord 2008, an updated and improved version of its earlier model, at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai on Sunday.

The car is available with 2.4-liter engine with 178 horsepower as well as 3.5-liter V6 engine with 271 horsepower. Both the models are Available in polished metal metallic, alabaster silver metallic, nighthawk black pearl, royal blue pearl, bold beige metallic and premium white pearl colors. The exotic interior makes the car dynamic, intuitive and its presence upscale.

The 3.5-liter V6 also features Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system for an optimal balance between superior performance and enhanced fuel efficiency at cruising speeds. Speaking at the launching ceremony at Grand Hyatt Shigeru Takagi, managing director of Honda Motor Company, said that the this premium sedan -- "the Accord -- with its generous proportions and more spacious cabin combined with outstanding dynamic performance, comfort, safety, and environmental performance meets the needs of the GCC market." Developed under the tag line "Change the Power, Change the Style, Change the Rules," the new Accord is the embodiment of the Honda spirit -- never bound by convention, always reaching toward the future.

The three key aspects of the car which truly reflect the needs and demands of our GCC customers, the top Honda official said was firstly, "the increase in exterior size combined with the more distinctive styling has resulted in a very sharp overall design. The interior design has also advanced to provide a more sophisticated feel.

"Secondly, both the L4 and V6 engines provide class-leading dynamic performances. The V6 engine now adds an improved Variable Cylinder Management system, named VCM2 which effectively balances the power and fuel economy.

"Thirdly, we have successfully managed to create a car which not only provides a large, comfortable cabin, but also gives a highly dynamic performance and is class-leading in environmental and safety technologies." The one thing Takagi didn't reveal about the new 2008 Accord is its price, which was expected to go up. But he assured its patrons that the price will rise only "minimally."

The man behind this powerful car, Chitoshi Yokota, chief engineer at Honda R&D responsible for development of the eighth-generation Accord, said, "More than half of all Honda vehicles sold in the GCC market are Accords. That's why members of the development team made a point of visiting this region among others, making sure they had fully understood the needs of their customers."

throughout the world." Takagi said due to the support the Accord has received in the GCC market, "We have decided to drastically increase supply to this market. To put it in context; sales result of the 07YM Accord in this region is 23,000 units so far and we are now planning to sell 35,000 units of the new generation Accord, which is 50 percent increase of current sales." Finally, we have successfully managed to create a car which not only provides a large, comfortable cabin, but also gives a highly dynamic performance and is class-leading in environmental and safety technologies.

And we have some exciting news that, in order to further support the needs of the GCC region, we are planning to bring the all-new Accord 2-door coupe to market next year. We hope that by adding this coupe to the line-up we will further exceed our customers' expectations in this region.

Honda is projecting this region's sales to reach 90,000 units a year by 2010. That is more than double last year's sales, Takagi said.

© Arab News 2007