Silva announced his farewell on Monday in an emotional video message on Chelsea's website
Amongst those four-door sedans is the Honda Accord, which has served multitudes over the last four decades or so. This week, we turn our thoughts to the prime variant of the newly refreshed 2017 Honda Accord. It's got a V6 engine and a Sport badge.
Over the last 41 years, the Japanese 3-box car has grown in size with each of its eight generations, but its style quotient seemed to have plateaued. The 9th generation model, thankfully, possesses more flair and drama. The nip-and-tuck given in 2012 has given it a sharper and sleeker profile - resembling its upscale cousin, Acura. The new 2017 model - whose dimensions measure 4,905mm in length, 1,805mm in width and 1,465mm in height - is essentially the same car from 2012, albeit with a few tidbits that enhance its aesthetics further. The highlight of its facelift is the cluster of dazzling LEDs that play the part as headlamps, underlined by more LEDs that pose as DRLs. Separating the headlamps is a chrome-laden multi-bar grille; below it is a honeycomb grille flanked by fog lamp strips.
The cash cows for Honda are the models with the default 2.4-litre inline 4-cylinder engine. They are cheaper to buy and run. However, if you wish to avoid engine drone associated with a CVT transmission, and appreciate smooth engine operation and better power delivery, spare some more dough and get this V6 Sport model which engages a 3.5-litre V6 engine prepped with Honda's i-VTEC technology. Unlike an American sedan, it's not just about namesakes like displacement and cylinder count; V6 Sport delivers a healthy dose of horsepower to play with, specifically 276 horses that are ready to jump through the gates at 6,200rpm; it comes with a top torque rating of 343Nm available at 4,900rpm. Also, this engine loves the rev.
On the road, all recent generations of the Accord have demonstrated an innate sense of balance and poise - and this one is no different. There is plenty of traction to swing you around corners and bends without disappointment. The Electric Power Steering provides sufficient amounts of feedback and is fairly accurate. But the cherry on top of the icing is the composed ride quality that is happy to deliver the tired individual from office to home without adding to skeletal pain.
Just like an SUV, utility is the Honda Accord's middle name. Higher models like this V6 Sport get intelligent dual zone climate control. And unlike older Civics, which suffer from weak air conditioning, the HVAC system in this car keeps this 5-seater greenhouse cool and breezy. During our test drive, we played out music through the 7-speaker audio system through Bluetooth and USB ports. But for the Dh130,000 price tag, Honda could have equipped it with a premium audio system like Bose or Harman Kardon.
The Honda Accord has always been synonymous with words like reliability and functionality; its residual value rivals the best-in-class, making this more of an investment than an expense. The facelift for the 2017 Sport models ushers out the dormant sporting appeal of this 5-seater - thanks to details like striking LED headlamps and rear spoiler - while the smooth V6 engine will satisfy your power cravings without burning a hole in the pocket. Perhaps that infotainment system's functionality and sensitivity need some work and the competition may beat it on certain metrics, but as an everyday "sports" sedan, almost nothing compares.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com
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