1998 Honda Accord to be First Car Sold Nationally With Advanced Low Emission Technology
17 July 1997
1998 Honda Accord to be First Car Sold Nationally With Advanced Low Emission Technology
TORRANCE, Calif., July 17 -- Honda will build on its
reputation as a leader in clean air technology when it becomes the first
manufacturer to sell vehicles meeting California's stringent Low Emission
Vehicle (LEV) standard in all 50 states beginning with the introduction of the
all-new 1998 Accord, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
"This is the latest step in Honda's commitment to maintaining industry
leadership in developing fuel efficient and low emission vehicles," said Tom
Elliott, American Honda executive vice president. "This voluntary move by
Honda will make today's most advanced low emission technology for production
gasoline-powered automobiles available nationwide on one of America's most
popular carlines."
About 240,000 Accord LX and EX 4-cylinder models, or about 65 percent of
all Accords sold in the U.S., will feature the advanced low emission
technology. The new Accord will go on sale in late September and be built by
Honda of America Manufacturing in Marysville, Ohio.
"Air pollution is a national concern, not just a California problem,"
Elliott said. "In fact, one of every three Americans live in an area where
smog is a problem."
The California LEV standard is about 70 percent lower for NMOG (non-
methane organic gases, the main ingredient of smog) than the most stringent
federal standard.
"Honda engine technology has advanced to the point where it combines lower
emissions with excellent performance and fuel economy," Elliott added. "We're
also committed to maintaining the same price range with the new Accord. As a
result, we felt the time was right to take this voluntary step and begin
selling the Accord LEV models in all 50 states."
"According to Mary D. Nichols, the assistant administrator for air and
radiation at the Environmental Protection Agency: "This voluntary introduction
of advanced technology is a positive step toward cleaner air. Honda's
intention to offer these vehicles while maintaining the current price range
reflects the EPA's goal of having affordable cleaner vehicles available to
consumers nationwide."
The '98 Accord LX and EX models will be equipped with a new
150-horsepower, 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder engine that boasts a 15 percent increase
in horsepower compared to the '97 LX model. The new engine will feature a
more precise air-fuel management control system and Honda's patented Variable
Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC). VTEC provides stable
combustion during the engine startup period, which is extremely important to
reducing emissions to LEV levels. The LEV Accords also will be equipped with
a single, high efficiency catalytic converter.
Honda also is proceeding with previously announced plans to begin selling
a 1998 Accord model in California and certain Northeast states this fall that
will be certified as an "Ultra Low Emission Vehicle." The ULEV standard is
another 46 percent lower than the LEV standard for NMOG and this Accord model
will be the cleanest gasoline-powered production vehicle ever sold.
Honda has a long history of producing cleaner and more fuel efficient cars
that also meet the needs of consumers. The first of these clean air vehicles
was the 1975 Honda Civic CVCC, the first car in the world to meet strict
emission requirements of the 1970 Clean Air Act without the use of a catalytic
converter.
Honda also was the first manufacturer to offer a gasoline-powered car
meeting California's LEV standard when the 1996 Civic was introduced. The
Civic also went on to become the first gasoline-powered LEV vehicle sold in
New York and Massachusetts.
Earlier this year, Honda began leasing the EV PLUS, the first production
electric vehicle to use advanced nickel-metal hydride battery technology. In
addition, the company has announced plans to market the Civic GX natural gas
powered vehicle during the 1998 model year, which will feature the cleanest
internal combustion engine ever made, producing "almost zero emissions."
These accomplishments have earned the praise of industry and environmental
leaders including John Dunlap, chairman of the California Air Resources Board,
who noted: "More than any other automaker, Honda has risen to the challenge of
producing cleaner, low polluting vehicles."
SOURCE Honda
