Cover to Lift on New Accord ‘in Near Future’

LOS ANGELES – A new-generation Honda Accord will be shown “in the near future,” reveals John Mendel, senior vice president-automobile operations for American Honda Motor Co. Inc.

Mendel told Ward’s earlier this month January’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit “would be a little early” to show the midsize car but insisted the vehicle was not delayed.

Mendel, speaking on the sidelines of the auto show here, now is a bit more mysterious as to the timing of the unveil.

“You’ll see a strong indication of what the vehicle will look like,” he says when asked if the model to be shown will be a concept or production version of the car.

Meanwhile, Mendel says he is pleased with sales of the new Acura RDX small cross/utility vehicle.

Entering a segment occupied in the U.S. only by the BMW X3, the RDX has been able to quickly take a 40% share of the sector, he says.

It might be short-lived, however, as several new models, including the Land Rover LR2, enter the market.

“There are a lot of other entrants coming into that segment in the next 18 months, so we think there’s going to be a lot of activity,” Mendel says.

Since going on sale in August, 4,766 RDXs have been sold, Ward’s data shows.

“Dealers are happy with the car; they think they can sell more,” Mendel says.

Honda had about 6,500 units in stock in the U.S. at the end of October, according to Ward’s data.

Doing even better is Honda’s new ’07 CR-V. In October CR-V sales set a monthly record at 20,413 units, doubling October 2005 deliveries.

Mendel says Honda isn’t concerned yet about demand outstripping capacity. The ’07 CR-V now is built in the U.S. at Honda’s East Liberty, OH, plant. Previously, it was assembled in the U.K. for the U.S. market.

“We’re very pleased with it. I hope we’re out of capacity,” Mendel jokes.

Honda typically has sold about 150,000 CR-Vs annually.

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