BMW influence??

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=686560

Influence?

That's copying that would make a Chinese car company blush!

In fact, thanks to Infiniti already copying BMWs interior design with the M45 and adding a dash of Japanese to it, the Accord interior looks A LOT like the M45 interior design-wise.

I think the interior is more of mixing of the current and last gen Accord's interiors into one. The A/C controls are similar to my 02 Accord and the "Y" design theme from the current car is still in there. It just looks more stretched out than it was on the current car. It's tough to beat the current Accord's interior as it's one of the best out there, and it looks like Honda may or may not have topped it with this pic. I'll wait till official pics come out before I pass full judgement but so far, it doesn't look bad, it just looks uninspiring.

when I first saw the steering wheel I was thinking, ah crap they're going to make it all goofy like the MDX's. But after looking closer, it looks like it is quite a bit toned down compared to the MDX. I like it actually.

it's alright and has quite a bit of BMW in it....mated to typical UJS cheap door panels.

defintely sportier and more interesting than the camlee.

Edited June 14, 200718 yr by regfootball

Looks pretty good other than the huge screen which looks out of place.

Great. A screen that poorly-displays useless infomation unless you get a navigation system.

I don't think I like it much. I really need to see a better picture, but I'm not digging the overall layout. I'm grateful they didn't go with the Civic's steering wheel.

It looks alright. Better than the Camry's.

(Like I'm going to bash a car's interior.)

Well, at least it has chromed door pulls.

The hood over the gauges looks like the one in my Neon.

Yawn.

It looks like a BMW. Not a bad thing but better than the Camry. I thought it was a re-done 3 Series with a G8 steering wheel.

I'm a bit disappointed. The current Accord had a classy, attractive interior. This one looks to be a direct lift from a Bangled BMW with a nip here, a tuck there, and some augmentation everywhere. I'm sure it will be a high-quality work, but I'm not liking it over the '08 Malibu's.

So a mid-size FWD car with Full-size luxo intentions. May be Honda wants to give technology to masses. Will it have park on your own gizmo?

G8 steering wheel.

+1. Even the Buttons look same. Are Honda and GM sharing bins now?

I'm not very impressed with the center stack. The door panels don't look like anything great either.

Wow......that's just horrible and looks VERY cheap. Current gen looks FAR better.

+1. Even the Buttons look same. Are Honda and GM sharing bins now?

I know the buttoms look the same. I dunno they might be. Holden had it first then Pontiac... Now Honda, not often Honda takes a styling cue for Pontiac or GM. :AH-HA_wink:

honda sure has no ability to design anything original these days.

like with the civic, i am sure they will be trying to appeal to young video game tech heads. camry has the geriatric set now so honda's nice is younger and cooler.

new malibu is looking better all the time.

The Civic was actually pretty original. Sad to see this follow.

I like it. It's more conservative than the Civic's, but it still distinctive. It makes its competitors' interiors seem dated by comparison.

I like it. It's more conservative than the Civic's, but it still distinctive. It makes its competitors' interiors seem dated by comparison.

Distinctive? I think the word you're looking for is derivative.

Not impressed. I liked the Accords much better in the 80's and 90's when they were more simple and straitforward.

...and yes, Brian the Civic is much nicer by comparison.

Chris

honda sure has no ability to design anything original these days.

like with the civic, i am sure they will be trying to appeal to young video game tech heads.

Wow. Just... wow.

I like it. It's more conservative than the Civic's, but it still distinctive. It makes its competitors' interiors seem dated by comparison.

by looking like a current gen BMW?

Edited June 15, 200718 yr by Oldsmoboi

BEFORE

AFTER

I can see the BMW comparisons... but, IMO, it looks like an Acura MDX-like interior sans wood with cheaper materials.

This BMW cloning is getting tiresome. Can't they find something a bit more exciting to copy?

The center stack looks like it has too many buttons (a la new MDX) and the screen is very stupid. However, it does look somewhat better than the new interior of the Camry and next-gen Malibu.

Actually, Sciguy I prefer the Malibu.

Chris

I like the older one better..

by looking like a current gen BMW?

Sure.

Actually, Sciguy I prefer the Malibu.

Chris

Same. Its original at the very least.

Those seats dont look very bolstered. more like flat.

Sure.

How does looking like a 3 or 4 year old BMW make something like the Aura or the Fusion or heck even the Camry look dated?

How does looking like a 3 or 4 year old BMW make something like the Aura or the Fusion or heck even the Camry look dated?

Then the Aura, Fusion, and Camry look more like a 7 or 8 year old BMW. Or Volkswagen.

Actually the Aura and the Fusion are more original in their overall approach.

Of the above (Aura, Fusion, BMW, Volkswagen, Malibu, Accord) I think that the Fusion is the most original of the lot.

Were it to be my money for a midsize car though...Aura.

Chris

it doesn't matter how cheesy this new accord looks on the inside, because the outside is so dull cheesy korean poor it looks crappy regardless

it doesn't matter how cheesy this new accord looks on the inside, because the outside is so dull cheesy korean poor it looks crappy regardless

Let's let the fact that this thing is as ugly as a Tundra work for us...hell, the Accord is built here in Central Ohio and I almost never see them on the road even here.

Now if we can just keep putting Fusions and Auras and Malibu's into peoples hands we might change people's opinions some...

Chris

First off; that thing is god-awful. Secondly; I fail to see how this in ANY way is better than even the Camry interior, much less the very handsome new Malibu. I will give them the benefit of the doubt for now though, simply because the picture is horrible.

Who was it again that mention the MKS having a goofy dash?!?! Just take a look at that horror...

I just can't get into the new Honda interiors, it's like they've went back to 1980 "futuristic" designs yet used materials from the 21st century. The designs look like an abortion from the first Terminator movie, nothing but dark hard poorly manufactured plastic with ugly digital layouts.

I'm sure it'll (in the words of ALL media) be "MUCH better than anything currently offered by any domestic automaker" and I'm sure it'll be showered with awards just like the crapline and civic.

Edited June 16, 200718 yr by FUTURE_OF_GM

As much as I think of the new Accord's interior as uninspiring, I fail to see why everyone is heaping praise on the Malibu as if its clearly superior. Design wise I'd say yes, after sitting in the Aura however, material wise I predict no. The Aura's design is nice but everything feels like cheap plastic in there and I'm betting the Malibu's will have a very similar feel. Those expecting some sort of interior materials awesomeness from the Malibu I think will be disappointed.

Actually the Aura and the Fusion are more original in their overall approach.

Of the above (Aura, Fusion, BMW, Volkswagen, Malibu, Accord) I think that the Fusion is the most original of the lot.

Were it to be my money for a midsize car though...Aura.

Chris

This? Original? *busts out laughing*

Actually the Aura and the Fusion are more original in their overall approach.

Of the above (Aura, Fusion, BMW, Volkswagen, Malibu, Accord) I think that the Fusion is the most original of the lot.

Were it to be my money for a midsize car though...Aura.

Chris

Seriously? The Fusion's interior is a pretty chintzy place to be. The cheap, unintegrated radio, mid-90s climate controls, obvious dead buttons found in lower trim-levels, large panel gaps, clunky shifter, cheap-looking door panels, etc. all lend to a pretty cobbled-together appearance in my eyes...

Distinctive? I think the word you're looking for is derivative.

I think the Honda looks distinctive too.....

As much as I actually like it the dual cowl/two tone setup....derivative is how I'd classify Malibu's use of corporate-bin center stack controls, steering wheel, door panels (all with Aura.)

Agreed. The Accord is gonna mop the floor with the GMs.

I remember some guy at my local autoshow said the same thing about the Ridgeline. Was it you by any chance?

This is an LX or an SE. The lack of chrome rings on the controls, cloth seats, and manual tranny gives it away. Without a look at the outside to see if it is a 4 or 6, I would guess four which for Honda means an even cheaper interior. For example, the last model had a DX which meant everything cheap no chrome, LED gauges were replaced with std. backlights, radio was down graded, interior fabrics were different. LX SE was one step better with LEDs, cloth tthe same as the LX, and better radio. LX had upgraded trim (wood or "pluminum"). EX 4 no nav meant leather and better trim. EX V-6 no nav meant fabric covered A, B, C pillars. EX-NAV meant top of the line trims with all of the afformentioned upgrades.

Look for this model to have the same treatments.

Simply put, we are panning a cheap interior. And because this is the cheap model and being compared to a BMW, I would say this is success!

The Fusion doesn't have the best interior (and the lighter colors are an absolute bitch to keep clean) but it isn't horrible, it is incredibly functional and has great cupholders. Mine also has no squeaks or rattles and is very quiet on the highway. Better integration of the radio and HVAC would be nice (and is supposedly coming) and some extra dressing on the gaugues would help a bit. I've heard complaints that the HVAC controls were mounted too low, but I will pay that price for the dash top storage bin. The SEL with leather acceptable for the $22k sticker(SEL FWD 4cyl manual) and more than acceptable for the $18-19k you would actually be able to buy the car for. The I4 appearence package adds red accents to the interior and actually looks sharp.

As I recall the Fusion had soft-touch surfaces on teh lower dash, most (if not all) mid-size competitors don't have that...it's hard plastic.

To me, the Fusion's only weak area is the center stack, and the engine. They've got an engine for it, they just need to put it in, and then they just need to redo the center stack.

Honestly, the 4cyl is great (its also what most people buy) but a little more power wouldn't hurt. The V6 could be better (its not GM 3.6) but it isn't terrible by any means (its no GM 3.5).

Honestly, the 4cyl is great (its also what most people buy) but a little more power wouldn't hurt. The V6 could be better (its not GM 3.6) but it isn't terrible by any means (its no GM 3.5).

Is that what you Fusion has? (referring to the I4)