All-New 10th Gen Honda Accord Launched In Thailand – 1.5T & 2.0 Hybrid

Honda Automobile Thailand has just announced the all-new 10^th generation Accord line-up for the country, consisting of three variants. The Thai debut also marks the global introduction of right-hand drive variants of the all-new Accord. 

For Thailand, buyers will have a choice of two engines. The first is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with Dual VTC that churns out 190 hp and 243 Nm, paired to a CVT-type automatic. The second is a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid engine that does 145 hp and 175 Nm, hooked up to Honda’s dual motor i-MMD hybrid system, allowing for a combined system output of 215 hp and 315 Nm.

The all-new Honda Accord is expected to be priced from THB 1.5 million for the Turbo EL trim, while hybrid variants are priced from THB 1.65 million.

In terms of equipment, Honda Thailand has fitted the all-new Accord (hybrid models only) with its Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance system, including:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
• Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Auto High-Beam (AHB)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Low Speed Follow (LSF)

It also has colour Heads-Up Display.

The availability of the all-new Accord Hybrid in Thailand is due to tax incentives for Thailand-made electrified vehicles, allowing the company to price the vehicle competitively against its sole rival, the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Without such incentives, introduction of the Accord Hybrid in Malaysia is doubtful as the future direction of EEV incentives remain unclear, pending announcement from the government on the new National Automotive Policy (NAP).

Honda Malaysia's range of locally-assembled hybrids in Malaysia is now limited only to smaller cars like the City Hybrid, Jazz Hybrid, and HR-V Hybrid - all using the 1.5-litre, one motor i-DCD Sport Hybrid system. The larger 2.0-litre i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) two-motor Accord Hybrid does not need any conventional transmission. Technically, it doesn't have a gearbox. 

Depending on the driving situation, the I-MMD powertrain shifts between three distinct drive operations, EV Drive (100 percent electric motor), Hybrid Drive (electric motor and gasoline engine driving the generator motor), and Engine Drive (petrol engine) – utilizing power from the engine and electric motors to accommodate the current driving conditions.

As for the all-new Accord's introduction in Malaysia: It was initially expected to happen later this year but it seems that this is no longer the case. In fact, yesterday's announcement by Honda Malaysia indicated that the company is forecasting a 7 percent reduction in sales this year, to just 95,000 units - indicating that there will be no major launches by Honda Malaysia this year (and that includes the new Civic facelift).

The company also said that Malaysia's total car sales will drop by three percent this year, to 580,000 units.