India-bound 2016 Honda Accord (facelift) - Rendering

Could be launched in India at the 2016 Auto Expo.

The ninth generation Honda Accord is receiving a mid-life facelift for next year, which would be launched in the USA first later this year. Based on recent spyshots that reveal the facelifted design, rendering artist Theophilus Chin has come up with a near-accurate render of the 2016 Honda Accord that clearly previews all the changes for Honda's executive saloon.

Exterior changes include new front and rear bumpers, a larger single bar chrome grille housing the ‘H’ badge, new LED headlamps, bootlid-integrated spoiler, and chrome highlights for the bootlid and bumper.

On the engine lineup, the Accord for North America will get powertrain updates switching to the updated Pilot-sourced 3.5-liter V6 engine with direct injection technology and a new 9-speed automatic transmission. Also on the cards is the inclusion of Honda's new 1.5 litre turbocharged VTEC four-cylinder, which will debut in the US under the hood of the tenth-generation Honda Civic.

Also Read: Honda India continues teasing the upcoming Honda Jazz

For the Indian market, Honda Cars India’s officials maintain that the company “is committed” on re-introducing the new Accord in the country, and even showcased the sedan at last year’s Auto Expo. Last year, we heard from an official source that the car would be introduced during the current financial year and another report placed its launch during the 2016 Auto Expo.

Along with the petrol-powered variants, Honda could also introduce the hybrid variant. If launched, it will go head-to-head with the locally assembled Toyota Camry Hybrid and make use of incentives offered by the recently-announced FAME policy.

2015 Honda Accord (current model) - Image Gallery

[Source: Paultan.org]