eh6

In 2005, the Accord further establishes its role as a technology, performance and efficiency leader with the introduction of the Accord Hybrid, the world's first V-6-powered gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. Boasting the highest fuel efficiency for a V-6-powered automobile, Accord Hybrid utilizes the third generation of Honda's exclusive Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system featuring new Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology. By combining a high-output V-6 engine and IMA with VCM, the Accord Hybrid Sedan provides even more power - 255 hp versus 240hp in the regular Accord V-6 Sedan - while improving fuel efficiency to an estimated 30 mpg city / 37 highway - better than virtually all 4-cylinder mid-sized sedans and similar to that of the compact class Civic Sedan, already a benchmark for fuel efficiency in the compact car class.



While using a more powerful and efficient version of Honda's IMA system, the Accord Hybrid Sedan also incorporates new, leading edge technologies that engineers are also applying to Honda's main line of cars and trucks.

Among these advanced technologies are its Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system that allows for deactivation of three of the engine's six cylinders during cruising. The system also features an Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) an Active Noise Control (ANC) system to eliminate the potential effects of three-cylinder operation on cabin noise and engine vibration. This same technology is also being applied on the all-new 2005 Odyssey minivan equipped with the available i-VTEC engine. In addition, the Accord hybrid utilizes a dual scroll hybrid air conditioning compressor that is both belt (engine) and electric motor driven, allowing for more efficient operation of the Accord Hybrid's dual zone automatic climate control system even when the engine is in idle stop mode.

Combined, these technologies along with improvements in aerodynamics and weight saving features like an aluminum hood, allow the Accord Hybrid to achieve an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg highway, up from an EPA-rated 21 city / 30 highway for the Accord EX V-6 Sedan - a fuel economy gain of 43 percent and 23 percent, respectively. The Accord's Integrated Motor Assist System (60%) accounts for over half the gains in city fuel efficiency, while Variable Cylinder Management (15%) and idle stop (25%) is responsible for the rest. During highway cruising, the VCM system (57%) provides the majority of the increase, while IMA (38%) and a lower drag coefficient and greater aerodynamics (5%) also contribute.

Unlike previous hybrid vehicles from Honda and other manufacturers, though, the focus for the Honda Accord Hybrid is not entirely on high fuel efficiency, but also on high performance. The use of Honda's new Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system that deactivates the three of V-6 engine's cylinders to save fuel during cruising and deceleration allow Honda engineers to maximize fuel economy while the hybrid IMA system helps to increase peak power by 15 hp and 20 lb.-ft. of torque over the current Accord EX V-6. The Accord Hybrid Sedan improves on the current Accord V-6's 0-60 mph time by half a second (7.5 sec. vs. 8.0 for an Accord EX V-6). In addition, peak torque of 232 lb.-ft @ 5000 rpm is now spread out over a much flatter curve, which makes 90 percent available at engine speeds less than 4000 rpm.


<U>Accord Hybrid Highlights:</U>
3rd-generation Honda Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system
3.0L i-VTEC V-6 engine
Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) - Power Control Unit (PCU), Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH) battery pack, internal cooling system
Idle Stop
Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)
Active Control Mount (ACM) engine mount system
Dual Zone Hybrid Automatic Climate Control System
Unique Accord Hybrid Sedan Features

<U>Exterior:</U>
Standard rear decklid spoiler
Aluminum hood
Unique front grille
Exclusive, lightweight 16" alloy wheels with larger 215/60 R16 tires
New combination AM/FM/XM radio antenna

<U>Exterior Overview</U>
When planning the current Accord Sedan, engineers were looking to put traditional Accord quality and reliability into a new package filled with more emotional appeal, and to employ sedan styling similar to popular luxury European sport sedans. The 2005 Accord Hybrid Sedan adds to this foundation design cues intended to help it achieve top-of-class fuel economy and to improve the car's aerodynamics and reduce its drag coefficient to a slippery 0.29. These additions include a rear decklid spoiler, lightweight 16" aluminum alloy aerodynamic wheels. Additionally, lightweight aluminum was used in the Accord Hybrid's hood, bumper frames and rear suspension knuckles, helping reduce overall weight

<U>Interior:</U>
Exclusive IMA digital readout
Active Noise Control (ANC)
New, illuminated steering wheel-mounted switches

<U>Interior Overview</U>
Continuing Honda's strategy of incorporating hybrid technology seamlessly into its mainstream vehicles, there are few interior differences between Accord Hybrid and an Accord EX V-6 Sedan. The main differences are the unique instrument panel meter display that shows the IMA system's charge and assist status, IMA battery charge levels, "ECO" light indicating VCM operation, along with trip and lifetime fuel economy readouts. Less obvious, but much more significant is Active Noise Control (ANC) - which helps to reduce the engine booming sound inherently created inside any engine that has cylinder deactivation, and a new hybrid air conditioning unit that is powered by a combination of the gasoline engine's drive belt and a supplemental electric motor depending upon cooling needs.

The Active Noise Control uses microphones in the front and rear of the passenger cabin to monitor the low-frequency "booming" noise created by three-cylinder engine operations. It then generates a counter-cycled sound wave through the car's audio system that effectively cancels the booming noise.

The hybrid air conditioning unit uses two air compressors, one connected to the gasoline engine and one connected to an electric motor. When full cooling is needed, as when a car is first started on a hot summer day, the HVAC control unit relies on both to create maximum cooling power. Under normal conditions, cooling is provided by either the belt-driven compressor attached to the 3.0-liter V-6 or the electric magnet driven compressor powered by the IMA battery. This allows the air conditioning system to work at virtually all times, even when the car is at idle-stop.

The Accord Hybrid Sedan features a standard leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, an AM/FM/XM audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD changer, dual-zone automatic climate control, power windows, mirrors and door locks and a HomeLink remote system. The only factory option on the Accord Hybrid Sedan is the Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System with voice recognition.



<U>Key chassis features:</U>
Front double wishbone suspension
Rear subframe-mounted, 5-link double wishbone suspension
Electric Power Steering (EPS)
4-wheel disc brakes with 3-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Electronic Brake Distribution
Advanced Traction Control System with integrated Creep Aid System
16" alloy wheels with 215/60 R16 tires
Front double wishbone suspension

<U>Chassis Overview</U>
The suspension and steering set up for the Accord Hybrid Sedan is essentially the same as that of the existing Accord EX V-6, except for the adoption of electric power steering (EPS) versus a traditional hydraulic power rack and pinion steering set up in the Accord EX V-6.

The 7th-generation Accord's 4-wheel double wishbone suspension continues to be one of the most sophisticated arrangements in the mid-sized sedan class. The front double wishbone suspension ensures accurate tracking at all vehicle speeds, while the rear 5-link double wishbone suspension mounted to the car's subframe helps to limit body roll during cornering and also isolates the cabin from road noise.

Electric Power Steering also contributes to higher fuel economy (engine power is not needed to pump the hydraulic system). While similar to the performance-oriented steering systems used in the Honda S2000 and the Acura NSX, the high-mounted EPS system in the Accord Hybrid is designed to provide complete steering operation during idle stop mode.

The Accord Hybrid Sedan also employs a similar braking system as to that of the Accord EX
V-6, which includes ventilated discs in the front and solid discs in the back. Braking is further enhanced by a standard 3-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake distribution (EBD). Accord Hybrid has wider 215/60 R16 tires compared to those on the EX
V-6 Sedan.

<U>Front double wishbone suspension</U>
The Accord's double-wishbone front suspension is designed to maintain a stable ride under all driving conditions, including hard acceleration, braking and cornering. With a large lower arm connected directly to the front subframe and a smaller upper arm positioned high, above the wheel and tire, this suspension is able to isolate wheel movement and minimize the effects of bumpy roads intruding into the passenger cabin.

<U>Rear Five-link Suspension</U>
Mounted entirely to the Accord's rear subframe, its rear five-link double wishbone suspension is meant to keep the vehicle flat during hard cornering and minimize the amount of roll steer associated with most independent rear suspensions. By providing precise camber and toe control, this double wishbone suspension helps to keep a flat tire contact patch between the Accord and the road. Each of the five tubular steel links is designed to keep the rear wheels upright through their full range of movement in all conditions, including cornering at higher speeds.

With a compact design, the Accord's rear suspension was also developed to minimize the space it takes up behind the rear wheels, and thus maximize the cargo area in the Accord Hybrid's trunk. With the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) of the IMA system mounted behind the rear seats, Accord Hybrid continues to have over 10 cubic feet of cargo area (11.2), down only 2.8 cu.-ft from a traditional Accord V-6 Sedan.

<U>Electric Power Steering (EPS)</U>

To allow for power steering operation during idle stop mode and further reduce fuel consumption while enhancing steering accuracy, the Accord Hybrid employs a modified version of the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system used in the S2000. This electric steering rack eliminates the need for power from the gasoline engine to regulate hydraulic pressure as in a traditional rack-and-pinion setup. Instead, a high-output motor replaces the oil pump. In addition, the high-mount design allows for longer tie rods, which reduces the amount of unwanted steering feedback during bumpy drives.

<U>4-wheel disc brakes</U>
With large, 11.1" ventilated front discs in front and solid disc brakes in the rear wheels, the Accord Hybrid continues to have one of the most effective braking arrangements in the mid-sized sedan segment, delivering smooth, linear and stable braking performance across a broad range of conditions and braking loads. The braking system is further enhanced by a standard anti-lock braking system and electronic brake distribution.

<U>ABS</U>
The standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) from the Accord V-6 carries on in the Accord Hybrid. This arrangement incorporates wheel sensors at each wheel and three control channels to modulate braking pressure. With this type of system, the ABS control unit is able to monitor wheel speed at each wheel and adjust braking pressure to each of the front drive wheels or both rear wheels jointly. As such, wheel lockup is avoided in virtually all driving conditions, including situations where one side of the vehicle has significantly less traction than the other. This is critical in the Accord Hybrid's ability to maintain steering control during hard braking in normal and adverse road conditions.

<U>Electronic Brake Distribution</U>
The ABS system is further enhanced by Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) which adjusts braking pressure front-to-rear, based on the weight distribution of passengers and/or cargo. Weight distribution is determined via the relative difference in rotational speed of the front and rear wheels. Greater braking pressure, and subsequently stopping power, is directed to the rear wheels when cargo loads in the rear are heavier. This contributes to a more controlled stop, and in conjunction with the front double wishbone suspension minimizes "brake dive" during hard braking.

<U>Traction Control System</U>
An advanced Traction Control System (TCS) has been added to the Accord Hybrid to help harness the increased horsepower. Similar to previous Honda TCS systems, the Accord Hybrid's system uses wheel sensors to monitor the rotational speed of each wheel.

When wheel-slippage is detected at any wheel (higher rotational speed), the TCS pulses the brakes until traction is regained and all four wheels are again traveling at the same speed. The Accord Hybrid's TCS system is most effective at low speeds when the vehicle is accelerating on a split-traction surface.

Specific to the Accord Hybrid's traction control system is the additional Creep Aid System, which prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards after a restart during idle-stop. Without creep aid, the brake actuators are released fully when a driver releases the brake pedal. Thus, slow foot movement from the brake to the accelerator could allow the vehicle to roll backwards if stopped on a hill. In the Accord Hybrid, however, the TCS system recognizes the idle-stop status and upon pedal release slowly reduces brake pressure from each of the wheels. In doing so, each brake caliper maintains a small amount of braking pressure until the driver accelerates the car.

The Civic Hybrid and Insight, hybrid-powered cars without traction control, controlled this rolling situation with a separate creep aid clutch attached to the CVT transmission. By incorporating the Creep Aid System into the Accord Hybrid's TCS, Honda was able to save weight and production costs.

<U>Tires</U>
Standard wheel size for the Accord Hybrid continues to be 16 inches, but wider 215/60 R16 tires surround each. The wider tires allows the Accord Hybrid, which weighs approximately 120 pounds more than an Accord EX V-6 and has 15 more horsepower, to maintain a larger contact patch for handling, steering and traction performance on par with the regular gasoline-only powered Accord V-6 Sedan.

<U>Mechanical:</U>
3.0L i-VTEC V-6 engine
More powerful IMA system
255 hp @ 6000 rpm
232 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm
Hybrid Idle Stop
Variable Cylinder Management(TM) (VCM(TM))
Dual scroll hybrid air conditioning compressor
Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) system
Modified 5-speed automatic transmission
Electric Power Steering (EPS)
Enhanced Traction Control System (TCS) with creep aid system
Instant mobility flat tire repair system (IMS)

<U>Powertrain</U>
In balancing the seemingly contradictory goals of high fuel efficiency and high performance, Honda combined the 3rd generation IMA system with the all-new Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system that alone generates substantial fuel savings when full engine power is not needed (as in highway cruising and deceleration). Working together, the two systems provide exceptional fuel efficiency benefits when the engine is not at full capacity, but mid-sized class-leading power when the car is at full throttle. Overall, the VCM system helps to maximize highway fuel economy while the IMA system helps to maximize city fuel economy.

The engine used on the Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan is primarily the same as that of the Accord V-6, but with a few modifications to save weight and to allow for the use of Honda's VCM system. Foremost among these changes is the implementation of Honda's advanced i-VTEC system in place of the VTEC system of the Accord EX V-6.

Without any help from the electric IMA system, this 3.0L engine provides 240 hp and 217 lb.-ft of torque, but utilizes some lighter weight materials than the original version used in the standard Accord EX V-6.

First introduced to North America in the all-new 2005 Odyssey minivan, Honda's innovative Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system has now been engineered to maximize fuel economy in the Accord's 3.0L i-VTEC V-6 in concert with the IMA system. It works by monitoring speed and throttle action to determine if full engine power is required, if not - as in steady cruising or minor acceleration, the rear bank of three cylinders is deactivated. Further efficiency is achieved when the fuel injection system cuts fuel to the three active cylinders when the car is decelerating or braking - a feature similarly employed in most Honda vehicles.

Additional efficiencies are gained by the use of lightweight magnesium for certain engine parts, and the Accord Hybrid Sedan's engine incorporates a new engine head to manage the VCM system. A new airflow sensor and a 2-axis belt drive with an auto tensioner help to maintain maximum efficiency and prevent power losses due to friction.



<U>Transmission</U>
A specially modified version of the existing 5-speed automatic transmission was specified for the Accord Hybrid Sedan. This new transmission is more compact than that in an Accord EX V-6 Sedan and is specially designed to work with the IMA's electric motor to maximize the motor's ability to regenerate electricity during regenerative braking.

The transmission uses a high response lockup clutch torque converter for improved fuel efficiency while an integrated electric oil pump helps provide smooth and quick restarts of the engine after idle stops. With a slightly wider range of gear ratios than the automatic transmission in an Accord EX V-6, acceleration is quick from the line and the taller 5th gear helps conserve fuel during highway cruising.

5-Speed Automatic Overdrive
5-Speed Manual Overdrive
6-Speed Manual Overdrive

<U>IMA Operation</U>
Though drivers will notice a different experience when it comes to the reduced frequency of fuel stops, the actual driving experience is virtually identical to that of a traditional Accord EX V-6. The complex processes that make the Accord Hybrid the fuel efficient car that it is would go unnoticed if not for the small IMA display integrated into the car's speedometer.

At startup, the Accord Hybrid's engine runs at idle speed until the driver increases the throttle to begin accelerating. During acceleration, all six cylinders of the Accord Hybrid's 3.0-liter engine are active, with the IMA system helping if hard acceleration is required. If this is the case, the blue indicator bars in the Accord's IMA display will light to show that the IMA is in Assist Mode.

When the driver minimizes accelerator input at cruising speed, a number of fuel saving operations begin. First, the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system can deactivate the engine's rear bank of three cylinders to effectively cut fuel consumption in half. At the same time, the IMA's Intelligent Power Unit turns the IMA motor into a generator to begin regenerative braking and the IMA display's green bars illuminate to show the level of electrical energy being created. If, during cruising, power is required to maintain speed, the IMA motor will offer assist while the rear cylinders remain inactive.

As the vehicle begins to slow and the driver applies the brakes, more electricity is created through regenerative braking and the VCM system cuts fuel to the active front bank of three cylinders to further conserve fuel.
As the driver continues to apply the brake, the IMA system can completely idle-stop the engine when vehicle speed drops below 8 mph. An indicator in the instrument panel's tachometer flashes to alert the driver that the car is idle-stopped. When the driver releases the brake pedal, the IMA motor instantaneously spins the engine back into action with all six cylinders firing at idle speed. Occasionally, the idle stop feature is disabled when driving on a hot day and full air-conditioning power is needed by the hybrid air conditioning system. At all other times, idle stop can be activated once the vehicle speed exceeds approximately 10 mph.

BlueIntegraBoy

iTrader: (5)

Wow, sounds like this would be the choice over an Accord EX. More power and better gas mileage.

CRX_1.8T

interesting

eg_type_r93

not feelin the stylin...

137

my mother has the v6 model... that **** hauls ***** man.

Todapwr

damn thats a lot of info

CRX_1.8T

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 137 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my mother has the v6 model... that **** hauls ***** man. </TD></TR></TABLE>

they run a 14.7 stock

@ries

Thats pretty damn nifty.

Thumbup

eL

Thats hot

ki3t

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thats hot </TD></TR></TABLE>

I concur. More power and less gas

darkcvc

nice

eh6

I've looked around but I can't find the MSRP for the Hybrid model. Anyone know the price?

swifty4u

Are you serious with the avatar?

I read about this system in motortrend or the like..hot Quicker and fuel efficient.honda is sick

RockLee`

his avatar is nice! !@!#!@#!#!@#!@#!!@#@#! !# !!@# !@ !@#

Quail

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by swifty4u &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Are you serious with the avatar?

I read about this system in motortrend or the like..hot Quicker and fuel efficient.honda is sick </TD></TR></TABLE>

largest producer of motorsport engines in the world i believe? definitely is in England

^MikeG

i see a nipple...

eh6

Someone reported the nipple hahaha. New avatar is censored. Anywho does anyone know the starting price for the new Hybrid?