reprises the wide n' curvy haunches of the last-gen JZA80 Supra. The front lights even replicate the lamp placement of the JZA80, and the C-pillar also echoes that of its predecessor. BC's rendering even showcases the FTHS's trick carbon-fibre rims, as well as its bonnet “bulge”, however one thing we'd liked to have seen carried over from the FTHS concept was its sexy rear light cluster. Instead, Best Car chose to go with some kind of Ferrari/Elise type arrangement.

the leader for combined adult, child and pedestrian safety in the large family car class. Add to this the advanced active safety features of the Accord and customers can experience the most effective safety technologies put into practice with our goal of providing safety for everyone,” said Ken Keir, Senior Vice President of Honda Motor Europe.

In addition, EuroNCAP has, for the first time, published Whiplash ratings for the front seats and the Accord achieves a score 2.26 out of 4.
Safety Profile of the Honda Accord

Complementing an armoury of passive safety features is an outstanding array of dynamic systems delivering even greater security. VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) is standard across the range and is designed to assist the driver in maintaining control during cornering, acceleration and sudden manoeuvres by applying braking to the right or left hand wheels as necessary and modulating the engine torque output as required.

Motion Adaptive EPS
The new Accord also features an innovative system in which the capabilities of both VSA and the car's Electric Power Steering are brought to bear. Called Motion Adaptive EPS, it detects instability in slippery conditions both during cornering and under braking and automatically initiates steering inputs aimed at prompting the driver to steer in the correct direction.

The input is barely noticeable and control of the steering remains with the driver at all times. But this supporting steering torque is enough to prompt the driver to act intuitively and the driver's reaction as a result is enough to regain stability or to shorten braking distances, allowing control to be maintained.

ADAS optional across the range
Optionally available on the Executive grade of the 2.2 i-DTEC and 2.4 i-VTEC is Honda's Advanced Driving Assist System (ADAS), a suite of three ground-breaking technologies that raise safety to a new level. The first of these is the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) which uses a camera to detect the car deviating from a traffic lane and provides steering torque when necessary, thereby reducing the burden of motorway driving while at the same time enhancing safety.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses a millimetre-wave radar to maintain a consistent distance to a vehicle directly in front, for more relaxed, less tiring driving: and Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS) monitors the following distance and closing rate between the Accord and the car directly in front of it, warning the driver when a collision is likely and helping reduce impact when a collision becomes unavoidable.

These systems complement the Accord's passive safety features which include front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, dual stage front airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, full length curtain airbags and ISOFIX fittings and tether anchor points for secure child seat fixture on all models.

There are also front seat active headrests which are triggered when the occupant is pushed into the seat in the event of a rear impact, so causing a rigid plate to activate a link to the headrest which pushes it forward to support the head.

Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
Progressively introduced throughout the Honda range, the Accord's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure provides significantly enhanced occupant protection in a variety of real-world crash conditions.

A front-mounted polygonal main frame is designed to prevent cabin deformation by distributing forces through multiple major load bearing pathways - and away from the passenger compartment. This is particularly important where a frontal collision occurs between vehicles of differing heights, weights or frame construction.

To achieve top level, side impact safety, Honda's engineers have increased the side section of the frame and chosen different material specifications to provide the desired level of stiffness and strength for critical areas, without adding unnecessary weight.

The new Accord also incorporates many of the pedestrian-protection design features already familiar from recent Honda models, including windscreen wiper pivots designed to break away on impact, energy absorbing front wing mounts and bonnet hinges alongside an unobstructed area beneath the bonnet allowing greater space for deformation.

Theta Turbo GDI, all with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai is also using lithium polymer batteries, instead of lithium-ion, which have more power density and use a gel electrolyte instead of liquid one, making batteries smaller and more reliable.

Stop-start technology is also included in the architecture for further improved fuel economy. Hyundai plans to begin introducing its Hybrid Blue Drive Architecture next year in “Blue” editions of its Accent and Elantra models.

(known as Borrego in other markets), Lotze Innovation (Optima or Magentis), Forte (Cerato or Spectra) and Soul.

The Korea Design Awards are sponsored by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, and supported by the Korea Institute of Design Promotion. The annual awards are considered the definitive design awards in Korea.