Thoroughly redesigned and featuring a host of new standard and available technologies, the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe offer the greatest range of active and passive safety credentials of any vehicle in Honda’s history. From new collision-avoidance technologies to passive-safety features, the new Accord models help the driver avoid a collision in the first place – and, if one occurs, help protect against injury. For instance, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) is standard, and available new safety technologies include Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).
Collision safety engineering in the 2013 Accord is also significantly enhanced, thanks to a next generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. More extensive use of high-tensile steel allows a high level of protection to be provided while reducing the weight of vehicle structures. An important evolution of the previous ACE system, ACE improves occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Like other Honda models, the new Accord also has an impact-absorbing front body design to help attenuate energy in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian.
Inside, passive-safety features include a total of six airbags, including dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, improved new SmartVent™ front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. The new SmartVent side airbag construction helps mitigate the risk of excessive airbag deployment force while eliminating the need for the prior Accord’s Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS). SmartVent also allows improved heating of the passenger seatback on EX-L and Touring models.
Independent and government crash-test results were not available at the time of publication for this press kit. However based on internal testing, both the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe are expected to earn a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and 5-Star ratings in federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests.
Traditional safety engineering has focused on keeping vehicle occupants safe in a collision. But throughout many vehicle generations, Honda has equally emphasized “active safety,” the ability to avoid a collision in the first place, along with advanced features that can help reduce injuries to pedestrians. Now the new 2013 Accord takes this safety focus a step further with the availability of several new Honda technologies. The 2013 Accord features a broader array of available active- and passive-safety features than any Honda vehicle in history. New safety technologies available for the Accord include:
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW) – detects a possible collision with another vehicle
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW) – alerts drivers when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use
Active safety features
- Advanced Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control
- Anti-lock brake system (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Available Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Available Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Auto-locking doors
Passive safety features
- Revised Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™)
- New high-tensile steel unit body
- 3-point seat belts in all seating positions
- Front seat belts with automatic tensioning system
- Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags (SRS)
- Front side airbags
- Side curtain airbag system (front and rear seats)
- Front seat design to mitigate rear collision injuries
- Side-impact door beams
- Pedestrian-injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle
- Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)
- Child-proof rear door locks
Collision Safety
Collision safety capability is enhanced in the 2013 Accord, thanks to the newly revised Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, while the more extensive use of high-tensile steel allows protection to be provided with less weight. While official testing had not been completed at press time, internal Honda results indicate that the Accord will earn 5 Stars (the top rating) in federal NHTSA crash testing, along with Good crash ratings (the top level) and a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Projected test results include:
Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™)
The 2013 Accord utilizes the latest version of Honda’s proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body-structure technology to enhance occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Like the original ACE, the new ACE utilizes a network of connected structural elements – with an improved design and a greater use of high-tensile steel – to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment and can help to more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles in a crash. Additionally, ACE helps minimize the potential for under-ride or over-ride situations that can happen during head-on or offset frontal impacts with a larger or smaller vehicle.
Unlike most conventional designs that direct frontal crash energy only to the lower load-bearing structures in the front end, ACE actively channels frontal crash energy to both upper and lower structural elements, including the floor frame rails, side sills and A-pillars. By creating specifically engineered “pathways” that help distribute these frontal impact forces through a greater percentage of the vehicle’s total structure, ACE can more effectively route them around and away from the passenger compartment to help limit cabin deformation and further improve occupant protection. Integral to the ACE concept is its unique front polygonal main design structure. (See Body section for more information.)
Pedestrian Injury Mitigation Design
The Accord has an impact-absorbing front body design to help absorb energy in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian. Research by Honda shows that the following features can dramatically improve a pedestrian’s chance of survival if struck by a moving vehicle:
- Impact-energy absorbing hood
Space is provided between the underside of the hood and key powertrain components, allowing the hood to bend and deform if contact is made with either an adult or a child pedestrian. - Deformable hood hinges
Hood hinges are designed to deform easily. - Energy-absorbing fender mounts and supports
Front fender mounts and brackets are designed to deform easily to help absorb impact energy. - Deformable windshield wiper pivots
Wiper pivots are designed to deform and break away easily. - Impact energy-absorbing front bumper
The front bumper beam is designed to serve as a cushion that helps absorb impact energy.
Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) is an Electronic Stability Control system that works in conjunction with the Accord’s Drive-by-Wire™ throttle and its 4-channel ABS systems to enhance control capability while the vehicle is accelerating, braking, cornering or when the driver makes a sudden maneuver. VSA functions by applying brake force to one or more wheels independently while also managing the engine output to help the vehicle maintain the driver’s intended path of travel.
The VSA system constantly analyzes data from sensors that monitor wheel and vehicle speed, steering input, lateral G forces and yaw rate. It compares the driver’s control inputs with the vehicle’s actual response. Whenever the actual response falls outside of a predetermined acceptable range, VSA intervenes with a corrective action. For instance, if VSA detects an oversteer condition, the system may apply braking force to the outside front and rear wheels to counteract the unintended yawing effect. In the event of understeer, VSA may apply braking to the inside rear wheel while reducing engine power to help return the vehicle to its intended course.
VSA also provides a limited-slip differential effect for the front wheels by applying braking force to a slipping wheel, thereby redirecting driving force to the wheel with more traction. VSA is calibrated to function in a near-transparent manner, and in many cases a driver will not even be aware of its operation. However, anytime the system engages, an indicator light flashes in the instrument cluster. While the driver can deactivate the VSA stability enhancement and traction-control functions via a switch on the instrument panel, ABS remains fully operational at all times.
Brake Assist
A function of the VSA® system, the Brake Assist feature recognizes emergency braking situations and quickly applies added braking force once the driver has initiated braking. Brake Assist is controlled by a special logic in the system that evaluates the pedal application rate and force to recognize a panic-stop situation. At that point, the VSA modulator pump increases braking pressure while the pedal is still being pressed to ensure maximum stopping force, an action that helps shorten braking distance as much as possible.
Advanced 4-Channel ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution
The Accord’s 4-channel anti-lock braking system incorporates Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) circuitry that automatically proportions force based on the vehicle’s weight distribution. (See Chassis section for more information.)
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
The Accord EX-L and Touring model each feature a new Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system as standard equipment. When the system detects a vehicle ahead and determines that collision is possible, it provides the driver with visual and audio alerts to encourage avoidance actions. The Accord will not automatically brake, and the driver remains responsible for safely operating the vehicle and avoiding collisions. The FCW system can be activated and deactivated by a button on the lower left portion of the instrument panel.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
New for 2013 on the Accord EX-L and Touring Sedan and EX-L Coupe models, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) uses an upper front windshield camera (the same camera used on the EX-L FCW system) to visually read the lane lines on the road. If the driver begins to drift out of a detected lane without using the turn indicator, the system will provide the driver with visual and audible alerts.
Comprehensive Airbag Technology
Consistent with its role as a vehicle safety leader, Honda continues to provide advanced airbag technology throughout its product lineup. Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, redesigned front side airbags and side-curtain airbags are standard equipment on the 2013 Accord.
Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags (SRS)
Every Accord Sedan and Coupe is equipped with dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags (SRS). One or both of these airbags will be deployed only in the event of a sufficient frontal impact. If deployed, the airbags are capable of being inflated at different rates depending on crash severity, seat-belt usage and/or other factors. Front airbags are designed to supplement the seat belts to help reduce the likelihood of head and upper body injuries in frontal crashes.
Driver and Front Passenger SmartVentTM Side Airbags
Driver’s and front passenger’s side airbags mounted in the outboard area of each front seatback are designed to help provide pelvic and thorax protection in the event of a severe side impact. In the 2013 Accord, a revised side airbag design allows the side airbags to deploy in a manner that mitigates the risk of injury to a smaller seat occupant, eliminating the need for the previous-generation Accord’s passenger side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS). On Accord EX-L and Accord Touring models, which are equipped with heated front seats, the elimination of OPDS allows space for an additional heating element in the seatback of the front passenger seat.
Side Curtain Airbags
All outboard seating positions in the new Accord Sedan and Coupe include a side curtain airbag system. The side curtain airbags deploy from modules in the roof in the event of a sufficient side impact, providing a significant level of head protection for outboard occupants. A first for Honda, the new side curtain airbags now have a wider deployment profile to enhance ejection mitigation. This application is two years in advance of new safety regulations going into effect in 2015.
Front 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System
Three-point seatbelts are standard for all seating positions. The front seatbelts are equipped with automatic tensioners to help minimize injury potential in a frontal collision. When an impact occurs, the automatic tensioner tightens the seatbelt (shoulder and lap) to help hold the seat occupant firmly in position, but then slightly relax the pressure to minimize the chance of injury from the seat belt itself. The front seatbelts of the Sedan also feature adjustable-height shoulder anchors.
Driver’s and Front Passenger’s Seat-Belt Reminder
To help increase seat-belt usage, a reminder for the driver and front passenger has been incorporated into the instrument cluster. After starting the vehicle, a weight sensor detects whether the front passenger seat is occupied. If the driver or front passenger has not already fastened the seat belt, an icon in the cluster illuminates and a chime sounds as a reminder to do so.
Revised Front Seat Design
A new front seat design that helps mitigate the likelihood of neck injury in a rear collision eliminates the need for the active front head restraints found on the previous-generation Accord. Featuring specially calibrated spring settings in the seatback and bottom cushions, this design is intended to help mitigate the severity of neck injuries in the event of a rear impact.
Adjustable Head Restraints for All Seating Positions
All front and rear seating positions feature individually adjustable head restraints. The rear head restraints comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for rear passenger head restraints that took effect for any all-new 2011-model-year-and-later vehicle. The new rules closely specify the size, position and operation of the rear-seat head restraints.
Child Safety Features
Two Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child seat-mounting positions are built into the outboard rear seats. The LATCH system utilizes both an upper child-seat tether anchor and dedicated lower-anchor points that are built into the body of the vehicle. These help ensure correct mounting of a compatible child seat. A third upper tether is located in the rear center position. Accord Sedan models also feature childproof rear door locks. When engaged, they permit the rear doors to be opened only from the outside, thereby helping to prevent accidental opening by a child.
Auto-Locking Doors
The Accord is preprogrammed to automatically lock all doors when the vehicle reaches approximately 10 mph and unlock the driver’s door when the vehicle is shifted into Park. This auto-locking system can be programmed to lock the doors three different ways and unlock them in five different ways to accommodate owner preferences. The system also can be deactivated (in whole or in part) if desired.
Auto-Locking Options
- Doors lock when the vehicle reaches approximately 10 mph (factory setting)
- Doors lock when the shift lever is moved out of the Park (P) position (CVT and 6AT models)
- Auto-locking fully deactivated
Auto-Unlocking Options
- Driver’s door unlocks when the shift lever is moved to the Park (P) position (factory setting) (CVT and 6AT models)
- Driver’s door unlocks when the ignition is switched to the Accessory (I) position or the vehicle is turned off (Accord models with Smart Entry)
- All doors unlock when the shift lever is moved to the Park (P) position (CVT and 6AT models)
- All doors unlock when the ignition is switched to Accessory (I) position or the vehicle is turned off (Accord models with Smart Entry)
- Auto-unlocking fully deactivated
Safety RD Facilities
Honda operates two of the world’s most sophisticated crash-test laboratories, both of which were created to help develop improved safety designs and technologies. One facility, located in Tochigi, Japan, contains the world’s first indoor multi-directional car-to-car crash testing facility and plays a critical role in the development of enhanced designs for occupant safety, pedestrian injury mitigation and vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility.
The second facility is located at Honda RD America’s development center in Raymond, Ohio, where Honda performs advanced testing on all North American-developed models. The facility features the world’s first pitching test sled, which aids efficiency by enabling economical and speedy crash-test simulations with certain interior safety components, such as seats and seatbelts, prior to conducting a crash test with an actual vehicle. It also features one of the world’s highest-resolution impact barriers, which enables precise measurement of the distribution of impact load forces on a vehicle.
Accord Accessories
A line of Honda Genuine Accessories was developed simultaneously with the Accord to provide vehicle personalization for the Honda owner. Like all Honda Genuine Accessories, the Accord accessories are covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty if installed by the dealer at the time of original vehicle purchase. Accessories for the 2013 Accord include:
- Front grille
- Front under-spoiler
- Side under-spoiler
- Rear under-spoiler
- Body side-molding
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Wing/decklid spoiler
- All-season floor mats
- Illuminated side sills
- Rear seat cover
- Cargo net
- Trunk tray
- Trunk hooks
- Remote engine starter
Manufacturing and Warranty
The Accord is manufactured1 in Ohio by Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. The vehicle is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile Limited Vehicle Warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile Corrosion Limited Warranty.
Honda Environmental Leadership
Honda is a leader in developing numerous leading-edge technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Honda has led the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) rankings of overall vehicle environmental performance since 2000, and a Honda vehicle has topped the list of America’s greenest vehicles, from the America Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), for 11 consecutive years.
In 2006, Honda became the first automaker to announce voluntary CO2 emissions reduction targets for its global fleet of automobile, powersports and power equipment products and its global network of manufacturing plants. Today, the company is striving for even greater reductions in CO2 emissions that contribute to global climate change, while also working to minimize waste, water use and the total environmental footprint of its operations worldwide.
1 Honda products are produced using domestic and globally sourced parts.
2 Based on 2013 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
3 Compatible with select phones with Bluetooth® only. Your wireless carrier’s rate plans apply. State or local laws may limit use of texting feature. Only use texting feature when conditions allow you to do so safely. Drive responsibly. Some state laws prohibit the operation of handheld electronic devices while operating a vehicle. For safety reasons, always launch your audio application or perform any other operation on your phone or audio device only when the vehicle is safely parked.
4 The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any such use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license.
5 XM services require a subscription after 90-day trial period. Subscriptions governed by SiriusXM Customer Agreement; see www.siriusxm.com. If you decide to continue your XM service at the end of your complimentary trial, the plan you choose will automatically be renewed and you will be billed at then-current rates until you call XM at 1-800-967-2346 to cancel. Fees and programming subject to change. Available only to those at least 18 years of age in the 48 contiguous United States and D.C. ©2012 Sirius XM Radio Inc. Sirius, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries.
6 Windows Media® is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
7 The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
8 Preliminary EPA fuel economy ratings and gas-electric range rating determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage ratings not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage and range will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
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