SPY SHOTS! 2008 Honda Accord sedan

Link to more images @ Temple of VTEC

Link to hi-res images and additional powertrain info @ AutoBlog

I do NOT like the rear at all.

Edited May 11, 200718 yr by Paolino

The Malibu sedan looks MUCH better. Looks like they injected all the passion they had available into the coupe.

I do NOT like the rear at all.

Honda ripping off Hyundai now? That looks like a Sonata

Uh... it looks like a combo of a Nissan and Hyundai...

I guess it'll look decent, but the current one looks much better, if still boring.

Honda ripping off Hyundai now? That looks like a Sonata

You're right, it looks a lot like the Sonata.

More pics:

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/11/spy-sho...rd-sedan-spied/

Looks like an Odyssey melted down to fit an Accord. The side does remind me of the 5er.

Looks like they injected all the passion they had available into the coupe.

Seems to be the case.

It definitely doesn't look as good as I expected, but that's not to say it looks bad by any means. It's just... different in a not so different way. Disappointing after seeing the coupe.

Looks like an Odyssey melted down to fit an Accord. The side does remind me of the 5er.

With a shorter wheelbase

Not just for rednecks anymore!

prospects don't look so good for it. i would have to see malibu side by side to tell you which is better, but the boring race is going to honda for sure. what's with the overhang?

Wow, that's disappointing to say the least. What's with the Japanese and bulging head/tail lights lately?

It looks like a 5-series knockoff...but the proportions look odd and the car itself looks awkward.

Oh well, at least the coupe is shaping up nicely.

I like the coupe a lot, but somehow this looks like a disjointed Hyundai ripoff...which is really odd. I don't know why they couldn't just keep as much of the coupe's goodness as possible (even for those of you who don't like it, it's still better), and just make that a sedan. Not exactly an expected transformation of the current smooth, if boring, shape.

Then again, it's a Honda, and at least it should drive and be built nicely enough to make up for it's aesthetics.

The proportions and overall styling scream "1999." It looks more out-of-date than the car it's replacing, which is never a good sign.

I respect Honda as a company, but their styling has been taking 6 steps backwards lately. Between this and the "Two different grills.....on the same car!" horror of the new CR-V, their new offerings have mostly been either bland or vaguely ugly. They really need to revamp their studios or something.

<yawn> Giving true meaning the term boring midsize sedan. Even though that is a 4 cylinder LX model, its too boring. The Malibu does look way better.

Good job! Who wants a Camry now... this is why I take Honda over Toyota-zilla anyday! In fact, I might prefer them over Chevy sometimes...yikes. They translated coupee to sedan well, but the 5er and Genisis is shining through that sheetmetal!

Now, it isnt as exciting as the 'Bu, but lets not trash Honda! The front end styling kicks the deer-lookin Malibu's ass, and any other mid-sizer's for that matter.The rear end looks better too.

It's not jaw dropping, but it's a definitee improvement... And 2 years ago,noone @ GM could hope for styling this good... so ya'll dont have to be calling this ugly!

Edited May 11, 200718 yr by dimitri0917

Honda ripping off Hyundai now? That looks like a Sonata

DAMN IT you beat be to it!

Actually it looks like a Hyundai Sonata mated with a Suzuki Verona and produced something direct to the 'big lots' store.

Wow, I did not expect

to lay an egg like this. New Bu is much prettier, as is the Fusion and Aura. TAURUS even has it all over this turd.

Why didn't Honda bother to just extend the design they have then?

Congrats on the scoop, Chris, even if it's not, ahem, PRIDDY.

The folks at Nissan must be popping champagne corks after seeing this. The Altima just shot up the charts. WOW.

Bob Lutz must be having a Cigar and some well aged scotch right now!

Edited May 11, 200718 yr by regfootball

Looks rather bland with some ugly headlights. I don't think they did anything to hurt sales, but it certainly doesn't inspire any good emotion in me.

Honda has never been very good with sheet metal. Most of their styling is bland, inside and out.

Honda has never been very good with sheet metal. Most of their styling is bland, inside and out.

Speaking of inside, Id love to see what the production interior looks like.

The exterior is a solid "meh". I think its cleaner in execution than the Camry though. Thats not saying much.

the next Mazda 3 is the one that stands to gain BIG TIME from this honda fukup.

correction, mazda 6

Edited May 12, 200718 yr by regfootball

Ewwwwww!

I actually think it looks good. I still have a feeling that I will like the '08 Malibu better (the overhangs on this one pretty sizeable), but I could understand if people bought this Accord for looks instead of going by its reputation alone.

Edited May 11, 200718 yr by DetroitNut90

Honda has never been very good with sheet metal. Most of their styling is bland, inside and out.

I happen to LOVE their current interior... I think it's the most-stylish of midsize sedans.

...

It looks bigger to me but that just may be an illusion. Anyone know if they planned to increase the Accord's length at all?

I think how low it is riding on those ugly 15in wheels is really throwing off the whole look of the car. Look at the wheel gap in most of the pics, that isn't how it's going to be in the production version, no way. And the wheels themselves are very narrow and small, probably just mule rims like the ugly ones that were on the Coupe.

Unmistakingly Asian.

Unmistakingly boring.

How original, I can almost tell it's not a Camry.

I always liked the Accord hopefully without the camo it looks better. I think I almost like the Camry better. **Ouch I hurts to say it!**

the next Mazda 3 is the one that stands to gain BIG TIME from this honda fukup.

Perhaps the Mazda6 you are meaning?

I like the coupe a lot, but somehow this looks like a disjointed Hyundai ripoff...which is really odd. I don't know why they couldn't just keep as much of the coupe's goodness as possible (even for those of you who don't like it, it's still better), and just make that a sedan.

You mean something more like this:

2009 Opel …

I think how low it is riding on those ugly 15in wheels is really throwing off the whole look of the car. Look at the wheel gap in most of the pics, that isn't how it's going to be in the production version, no way. And the wheels themselves are very narrow and small, probably just mule rims like the ugly ones that were on the Coupe.

For testing purposes, there could very well be some dead weight in the trunk that is messing with the ride height. The wheels, however, are probably production.

Edited May 12, 200718 yr by Chris_Doane

Is it just me or am I seeing a little bit of the old '97 Malibu in that?

Hmmm... no projector beam style headlamps? I thought for sure i saw them on the spy shots of the Coupe.

I think how low it is riding on those ugly 15in wheels is really throwing off the whole look of the car. Look at the wheel gap in most of the pics, that isn't how it's going to be in the production version, no way. And the wheels themselves are very narrow and small, probably just mule rims like the ugly ones that were on the Coupe.

I thought the exact same thing about the wheel gaps.

Some thoughts:

- It seems to have taken a lot of elements from the TL (especially in the side shots)

- The rear end seems to be a let down compared to the rest of the car (a new accord tradition?).

- Does not seem as nice as the coupe.

- Fix the gaps/stance and remove the tape and it should be a winner.

Now we just need some shots of the interior.

Perhaps the Mazda6 you are meaning?

yup.

the mazda 3 kicks the civic's ass so there's no reason to think the next 6 won't kick the accord's ass. Mazda is licking their chops after seeing this Honda dung.

Honda is really going after the old folks homes with this thing. i wonder if they will be doing ride and drives at assisted living places.

Chris, do you really sleep with a camera under your pillow?

Edited May 12, 200718 yr by regfootball

Chris, do you really sleep with a camera under your pillow?

No, an H&K USP .45

I get creepy Nissan vibes, so I'm sure 68 will enjoy driving one of these in 20 years.

in the interest of an open mind and fairness, i looked at those nicely snapped images of this thing again today.

and i realized it's even uglier today than i thought it was yesterday. wow. This thing is just flat out terrible.

is honda purposely making this ugly to appeal to the hyundai lovers (i.e. ugly car lovers) out there?

Are they making the accord ugly just so they can purposely sell more next gen higher priced TL's? i.e. make more $$$$ selling a prettier version of the same car.

The doors and greenhouse are not that objectionable but the front and rear ends and big overhangs are not nice. And yes, the fact that it's weighted down does not help the visual, but there are just many bad things here.

I almost see some Chevy Epica in this too. I might be crazy there, though.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/chevrolet/2006/epica/gama/g01.asp

Edited May 12, 200718 yr by regfootball

I almost see some Chevy Epica in this too. I might be crazy there, though.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/chevrolet/2006/epica/gama/g01.asp

Which in turn looks like a smoothed out Sebring! Sebring looks like a 300... 300 looks like a bentley... bentleys look like Audis... Audis look like VW's (they are)... VW's look like Toyotas... Toyotas look like Lexuses (Lexi?) Lexuses look like BMW's/ Mercedes... I could go on FOREVER!

The point is, in Detroit and Stuttgart and Nagoya and Seoul and wherever else cars are made, not much is original. Even esteemed brands like Porsche have looks based heavily on retro designs.

So, sure the accord looks like a hyundai or whatever else, but where did the Sonata's looks come from? THE ACCORD what goes around comes around, I suppose...

if the car was stylish, no one would care about the lineage.

in the interest of an open mind and fairness, i looked at those nicely snapped images of this thing again today.

and i realized it's even uglier today than i thought it was yesterday. wow. This thing is just flat out terrible.

is honda purposely making this ugly to appeal to the hyundai lovers (i.e. ugly car lovers) out there?

Are they making the accord ugly just so they can purposely sell more next gen higher priced TL's? i.e. make more $$$$ selling a prettier version of the same car.

The doors and greenhouse are not that objectionable but the front and rear ends and big overhangs are not nice. And yes, the fact that it's weighted down does not help the visual, but there are just many bad things here.

I almost see some Chevy Epica in this too. I might be crazy there, though.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/chevrolet/2006/epica/gama/g01.asp

OMG, I figured it out!

Honda is making it uglier because this way when Hyundai copies it, they'll fail at sales. :AH-HA_wink:

The current Sonata clearly used the Accord as inspiration, so it's not surprising that the new Accord continues to have some resemblance to it, though BMW overtures are there. Overall, it's a dull look, but not as polarizing as the old one. It will therefore be more successful in being bought up by the masses.

Yet another car with a Nissan-inspired dog leg C-pillar. I swear those things are multiplying like a disease.

What's with the Japanese and bulging head/tail lights lately?

The Japanese? They're not the only ones to be doing it. Take a look at the headlights of an Impala or a Solstice. Bulge.

The current Sonata clearly used the Accord as inspiration, so it's not surprising that the new Accord continues to have some resemblance to it, though BMW overtures are there.

Agreed.

Yet another car with a Nissan-inspired dog leg C-pillar. I swear those things are multiplying like a disease.

You mean BMW...

Hey, a cure for insomnia on wheels!

if the car was stylish, no one would care about the lineage.

Would you buy a Geely if it was stylish?

The Japanese? They're not the only ones to be doing it. Take a look at the headlights of an Impala or a Solstice. Bulge.

Agreed.

You mean BMW...

Please leave our bulges alone! We like them here at the Kappa plant.

Edited May 16, 200718 yr by Pontiac Custom-S

Did anyone see this chop by AM at TOV?

I'll still have to wait and see it in person.

Edited May 14, 200718 yr by Flybrian