Local dealers welcome new Accord, ILX

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The 2013 Honda Accord has plenty to offer.

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Unlike its CSX predecessor, the 2013 Acura ILX is being sold worldwide.

Honda has made major changes to its perennially top-selling Accord for 2013.

The redesign is the first complete makeover for the Accord since 2008, said Kabeir Dilawri, one of Crown Honda's sales managers. The changes include a new body design and a lot of new technology including an app, HondaLink, with audio touch-screen that connects you with your favourite online news, music and entertainment on a compatible smartphone.

Crown Honda on McPhillips hosted an evening reception on Oct. 11 to introduce the new model. (Crown Honda's sister store, Winnipeg Honda at the Waverley Mall, held a similar event the previous evening.)

Sales reps Dorian Khan and Ron Pineda gave guests a detailed tour of the new model. Khan noted that the 2013 Accord is the first Honda in North America to feature an all-new 2.4-litre, direct-injection 4-cylinder engine (producing 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque), part of Honda's new Earth Dreams powertrain technology found on all-new generation of engines and transmissions.

The engines now have reduced friction and weight as well as improved torque. The transmissions enhance acceleration and responsiveness through improvements such as wider ratios and sporty shift programming. Together, they offer improved fuel efficiency.

In addition, with a push of its ECON button, the Accord automatically adjusts its engine and other auxiliary systems to go from efficient to ultra-efficient.

As to the exterior, Khan cited the elegant front end with its trapezoid inverted grille, optional 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, projector-beam LED headlights, wider side-view mirror and Smart Key entry.

Inside, Pineda noted the audio controls and Bluetooth capability on the steering wheel, as well as push-button start and optional Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) systems. Heated seats are standard in front, optional in the rear.

"The Accord has been rated by Car and Driver magazine as one of the top ten vehicles in Canada 26 times in its 37-year history," Pineda said. "This model will ensure the Accord earns that ranking for the 27th time."

The 2013 Accord's base price is about $28,000, including freight and PDI.

The 2013 Acura ILX has several features in common with the new Accord, including projector-beam LED headlights, standard 16-inch alloy wheels, steering wheel-mounted audio and Bluetooth, heated leather rear seats on the higher-end models, Smart Key entry and push-button start.

The ILX replaces the Acura CSX, which was marketed only in Canada. The ILX is being sold worldwide.

The base model is powered by a 2.0-litre, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that produces 150 hp and 140 lb.-ft. of torque. If you want to amp up your experience behind the wheel of the ILX, opt for the 2.4-litre 201-hp 4-cylinder engine in the ILX Dynamic, as did Crown Acura sales manager Peter von Staackelberg.

Crown Acura sales rep Jim Eng said the ILX features a one-touch power moon roof with tilt feature, while the Tech package includes a navigation system with voice recognition.

"It's a real fun car to drive," Eng said noting the base model's $31,460 pricetag includes freight, PDI and (for Winnipeggers) all-season rubber mats and a block heater.

"The ILX is attracting a number of customers who were driving other manufacturers' vehicles," Eng said.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 19, 2012 E12