Honda to Exhibit World Premiere of Two Concept Models at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2014) - Overview of Honda and Acura Exhibit -

BEIJING, China, April 8, 2014 - Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, today announced plans to exhibit the world premiere of two new concept models as well as new production models for the Honda and Acura brands at the 13th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2014, press day: April 20, 2014, public days: April 21-29, 2014).

Overview of Honda exhibit
Jointly with Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. and Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., Honda will exhibit the world premiere of a concept model for a new model exclusively developed for the Chinese market. Also on display will be the world premiere of a concept model for the all-new Spirior, a product of Dongfeng Honda, as well as the China premiere of a new middle-class SUV and the third-generation Fit, which will be sold by Guangqi Honda.

＜Automobile＞
○Concept model for a new model exclusive for the Chinese market (world premiere)
Design sketch for the concept model
Design sketch for the concept model

○Dongfeng Honda: Concept model for the all-new Spirior (world premiere)
○Guangqi Honda: New middle-class SUV (China premiere)
○Guangqi Honda: The third-generation Fit (China premiere)
○Other mass-production models
・ Guangqi Honda: Crosstour, Accord, Crider, Odyssey, City, CR-Z and Li Nian S1
・ Dongfeng Honda: CR-V, Civic, Elysion, Jade, Insight and CIIMO
＜Motorcycle＞
○RC213V MotoGP champion machine, CTX700ND

Overview of Acura exhibit
The Acura brand will exhibit the China premiere of the RLX hybrid model, equipped with SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD® (Super Handling - All Wheel Drive), a high-efficiency and high-output hybrid system that realizes both outstanding driving performance and fuel economy at the same time. Also on display will be the NSX Concept, a concept car for the next generation super sports model.

○RLX hybrid model (China premiere)
○NSX Concept and NSX powertrain model
○Other mass-production models: MDX, RDX and ILX
Press conference schedule
Honda press conference is scheduled on Sunday, April 20, 2014 at 9:30 - 10:00 local time.
Acura press conference is scheduled on Sunday, April 20, 2014 at 14:00 - 14:30 local time.

Prelude to an Accord

The last car I owned was a 2000 Honda Prelude. At the time, it was one of the best-handling, most fun, and most refined sporty coupes you could buy for around $25,000. I have nothing but fond memories of that car -- the high-revving 2.2-liter, 200-hp VTEC I-4 engine that flipped an F1 switch at 5000 rpm; the beautifully tuned control-arm suspension that soaked up bumps and swallowed curves with ease; and the heavenly five-speed manual gearbox that delighted the senses with every flick of the wrist. When Honda killed the Prelude after the 2001 model year, following five generations that began life in 1979, it was a sad day for me.

Since then, I've been eagerly waiting for Honda to resurrect the Prelude nameplate, to no avail. Coupes can be a tough sell in the U.S. -- Honda sold only 9692 Preludes in the final year--so devoting development and marketing costs to a low-volume car that brings in little profit just doesn't make business sense. I get it.

Sentimentally, though, I can't help but dream of a modern Prelude, one boasting a screaming VTEC four, a sensational six-speed, and a track-bred suspension. Sounds sweet, right? But when the fantasy fades and reality sets in, it's best to accept and enjoy what actually exists.

Enter the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe. Although it's not terribly exciting to look at, it offers what made the Prelude great: a high-revving VTEC four and a rewarding chassis and gearbox. Don't believe me? At the test track, our $25,815 EX, weighing 3201 pounds and boasting a 185-hp, 2.4-liter engine matched to a sublime six-speed manual, zipped from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and through the quarter mile in 15.1 at 92.6 mph. That's almost BRZ quick. In terms of handling and braking, the Accord hung on for 0.88 g worth of lateral grip and halted from 60 to 0 in 121 feet, both of which are better than the last GTI we tested.

But let's compare it with the Prelude. Digging through the Motor Trend archives, I found a September 1997 shootout between the Prelude Type SH (the hot-handling one with the fancy active torque vectoring system) and the Acura Integra Type R. The 3050-pound Prelude, a first-year fifth-gen with 195 hp (a 5-hp bump came for 1999), recorded the following numbers: 0-60 in 7.2 seconds, the quarter in 15.6 at 90.5 mph, lateral grip of 0.88 g, and 60-0 braking of 133 feet. Advantage: Accord Coupe. Even more interesting is how the Accord stacked up against the Type R, which put down these stats: 0-60 in 6.6, the quarter in 15.1 at 93.8, lateral acceleration of 0.93, and 60-0 braking in 119 -- no quicker down a dragstrip than the Accord and just a bit better stopping and around the skidpad.

So while I still count Preludes when my head hits the pillow, Honda has given me a backup dream machine that can hang with a Type R and a GTI. Suffice it to say, I never imagined an Accord with the same scope as those two hot hatches. Dreaming's great, but sometimes you just have to open your eyes.

http://blogs.motortrend.com/prelude-...ord-28509.html