2018 Honda Accord Previewed, Drops V6 In Favor Of Type R Turbo Engine

Honda has released the first details about the 2018 Accord and it’s going turbo.

Set to go on sale later this year, the redesigned model is “new-from-the-ground-up” and promises to have a more aggressive stance than any previous Accord.

The camouflaged photo doesn’t reveal much but Honda confirmed the car will be offered with three different powertrains including two turbocharged four-cylinder engines and a two-motor hybrid system.

The entry-level engine will be a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder which will likely be lifted from the Civic and CR-V. If our assumption is correct, the engine could produce 174 hp (129 kW) and 162 lb-ft (219 Nm) of torque. Regardless of the final numbers, the engine will be offered with either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

Customers will also be able to purchase an Accord with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine related to the unit used in the new Civic Type R. There’s no word on performance figures but the company confirmed it can be paired to either a six-speed manual or an all-new ten-speed automatic transmission which was developed in-house. The latter gearbox means the 2018 Accord will become the first front-wheel drive car to be offered with a ten-speed automatic.

Lastly, the Accord will be offered with a next-generation two-motor hybrid system. Little is known about it but Honda says the powertrain is all-new and even more refined than before. It will also be able to operate without the use of a conventional automatic transmission.