Background
After a period of developing idiosyncratic automobiles such as the Honda 1300 that met a lukewarm response in both Japan and North America, Honda considered pulling out of automobile manufacturing altogether by the early 1970s. However, Honda released a more conventional automobile in 1972 called the Civic which immediately reversed their flagging fortunes due to its economy, reliability and low cost in an era of rising fuel prices. Honda's CVCC technology, which would be later used in the Accord helped Honda meet emission standards of the 1970s and early 1980s without an expensive catalytic converter that kept costs down.
Buoyed by their success with the Civic, Honda turned their sights to developing a larger companion model. For the new model, Honda chose the name Accord, reflecting "Honda's desire for accord and harmony between people, society and the automobile."
Soichiro Honda was the owner of a Pontiac Firebird, to which the Accord's predecessor, the Honda 1300 bore a striking frontal resemblance. Initial planning done by Honda for what would become the Accord was for a sporty competitor in the pony car market, at roughly the size of a contemporary Ford Mustang powered by a six-cylinder engine.
With the continuing fuel crisis and tighter emissions regulations surrounding the automotive market, Honda engineers changed their focus on the Accord from a Mustang competitor and built upon the Civic's successful formula of economy, fuel efficiency and a front-wheel drive layout in a larger package.
In 1989, the Accord would be the first vehicle sold under an import brand to become the best-selling vehicle in the United States.
Read more about this topic: Honda Accord
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