Honda Announces 1998 Prices
25 September 1997
Honda Accord '98 Prices up an Average of $110 DX Pricing Unchanged/V-6 Prices Down $950
DETROIT, Sept. 25 -- Prices for the all-new 1998 Honda Accord
line-up of Sedan and Coupe models, benefiting from the most comprehensive
redesign in the best-selling model's 22-year history, will be priced an
average of just 0.5 percent or $110 more than '97 models on a sales weighted
basis, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
The new 1998 Accords move into the mid-size class with much larger
interiors and offer enhanced safety and security features; more powerful, more
fuel efficient and cleaner engines; improved ride and handling; and an
extended list of standard equipment. Accord Sedan models are on sale today.
Coupe models go on sale Oct. 25.
The lowest-priced Accord model, the DX Sedan, is unchanged at $15,100,
despite the addition of an AM/FM/cassette stereo, three-point rear center
seatbelt and an immobilizer theft-deterrent system that is now standard on all
Accord models.
The most popular Accord model, the LX Sedan with an automatic
transmission, which currently accounts for about one-third of all Accords sold
and nearly half of all Sedans, has a price increase of just $100 or 0.5
percent to $19,090.
Prices of Accord Sedans powered by the new 3.0-liter, 200-horsepower VTEC
V-6 engine will drop $950 and start at $21,550 for the Accord LX V6 Sedan.
"All the efforts to reduce costs during the research, development and
engineering stages, coupled with increased domestic content levels and further
savings in manufacturing efficiencies, have allowed us to greatly increase the
value of the new Accords, with virtually no increase in the price," said Dick
Colliver, American Honda executive vice president. "The end result is a
combination of performance, features and value."
The new Accords have an EPA domestic content rating of 97 percent. The
new V-6 engine -- and virtually all Accord transmissions -- are now made in
the U.S. In addition, Honda of America Manufacturing's Marysville Auto Plant
in Ohio is the exclusive manufacturer of the new Accord Coupe and Sedan.
The popular LX Sedan features a new 2.3-liter, 150-horsepower engine with
Honda's patented VTEC (variable valve timing electronic control) technology,
the first application of VTEC in the Accord LX. The new engine produces
twenty more horsepower than last year's and is coupled to a new automatic
transmission with direct-electronic shift-control, for smoother gear changes.
All LX and EX Accords with the 4-cylinder VTEC engine meet California's
stringent Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standard and will be sold in all 50
states. Fuel economy matches last year's EPA city/highway rating of 23/30
mpg.
In addition to the immobilizer system, three-point rear center seatbelt
and new powertrain, the '98 LX Sedan also adds a micron air filter to its
improved air conditioning system, two-way driver's seat height adjustment, a
fold-down rear seatback with armrest pass-through, rear cup holders, a
sunglass holder and sunvisor slide extenders.
The LX Sedan has a long list of standard equipment that includes dual
airbags, power assisted front disc/rear drum brakes, effort-sensitive
rack-and-pinion power steering, adjustable steering column, power windows,
power mirrors, power door locks, cruise control, rear window defroster and
intermittent speed sensitive windshield wipers.
Sedan models boast an interior volume of 101.7 cubic feet, an increase of
seven cubic feet compared to the '97 model. That's four more cubic feet than
the Toyota Camry and larger than the Ford Taurus.
The Accord Coupe, which goes on sale in late October, features dynamic new
styling distinctive from the Sedan, and for the first time is available with a
V-6 engine.
MODEL TRANSMISSION 97 MSRP 98 MSRP $CHANGE
ACCORD DX SEDAN-4 CYL 5-SPEED MANUAL $15,100 $15,100 * $0
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 15,900 15,900 * 0
ACCORD LX SEDAN-4 CYL 5-SPEED MANUAL 18,190 18,290 100
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 18,990 19,090 100
W/ABS 19,840 19,690 (150)
ACCORD EX SEDAN-4 CYL 5-SPEED MANUAL 20,700 20,800 100
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 21,500 21,600 * 100
W/LEATHER 5-SPEED MANUAL 21,850 21,950 100
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 22,650 22,750 * 100
ACCORD LX V-6 SEDAN 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 22,500 21,550 * (950)
ACCORD EX V-6 SEDAN 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 25,100 24,150 * (950)
ACCORD LX COUPE-4 CYL 5-SPEED MANUAL $17,990 $18,290 $300
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 18,790 19,090 300
ACCORD EX COUPE-4 CYL 5-SPEED MANUAL 20,500 20,800 300
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 21,300 21,600 * 300
W/LEATHER 5-SPEED MANUAL 21,650 21,950 300
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 22,450 22,750 * 300
ACCORD V6 LX COUPE 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC N/A 21,550 N/A
ACCORD V6 EX COUPE 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC N/A 24,150 * N/A
Destination and handling: $395 (unchanged)
*California Emission Charge: $100 (CA, NY, MA, CT)
SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.