Drew Dowdell

Back in May, we reported about how The Family Sedan is on the Endangered List. At the time of that article, there were 6 sedans left that didn't have news about being canceled. That number has since dwindled to five as the news of the Nissan Maxima's pending extinction came out over the summer, leaving just the Accord, Camry, Altima, Legacy, and Charger. Today, Honda has refreshed its commitment to staying in the family sedan game with the release of the all-new 2023 Honda Accord. The new Accord is longer and sleeker, with a broad stance that builds on the latest Honda design language. The lineup has been simplified while retaining 6 trim levels that now correlate with the engine selection. Sorry speed fans, the 252 horsepower 2.0T with 9-speed auto is gone. The 11th-Generation Honda Accord will be powered either by a 192 horsepower / 192 lb.-ft 1.5 liter 4-cylinder turbo-charged engine that largely carries over from the previous generation (LX or EX) or a Atkinson cycle 2.0-liter naturally aspirated direct injected 4-cylinder paired with a two-motor hybrid system that produces 204 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft of torque(Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring). The hybrid system has fractionally less horsepower than the outgoing hybrid, but gains 15lb.-ft of torque. Honda expects 50% of Accord sales to be hybrid models. The 1.5-liter has received refinements with an upgraded direct-injection system, and high-rigidity crankshaft and oil pan to reduce engine noise. The CVT for the 1.5T has been updated to reduce noise and improve performance, including adding a step-shift program to simulate gear changes at full throttle. Honda was unclear about the design of the hybrid transmission. The exterior of the Accord has been simplified with a handsome, upright black-mesh grille. Overall length is up 2.8 inches with contributes to a longer hood and flowing fastback roof line. Full width narrow LED taillights contribute visually to the Accord's wide stance. The inside of the Accord was already the finest in the segment and while the materials have received upgrades, the design is evolutionary rather then revolutionary. A metal mesh dash spans the dash and conceals HVAC vents lending simplicity to the design. The front seats are Honda's new Body Stabilizing design that reduce fatigue on long drives. The awkward push-button transmission controls of the outgoing model have been replaced with a more traditional shift lever that has been angled 5 degrees towards the driver to allow room for larger cup holders to the right. Honda eschews the trend (thankfully) of iPad sized infotainment screens in favor of a relatively short 12.3-inch touch screen on hybrid models and a 7.0-inch unit on 1.5T models that doesn't overpower the dash. Noting the recent backlash against touch-sensitive controls, Honda wisely retains physical volume knobs and HVAC controls. Top of the line Touring models gain Honda's first integration of Google built-in. This includes most popular apps such as Google Assistant, Google Maps, and select others from the Google Play store, with select vehicle functions controllable from the Google Assistant. Touring models also come with Qi wireless charging, a 6-inch heads up display, and a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound system. Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on LX and EX models, while all Hybrid trims get upgraded to the wireless versions. All versions of the Accord infotainment system can receive over-the-air updates. On the safety front, the Accord's airbags are a new three chamber design meant to cradle the head and reduce neck rotation. Knee and rear-passenger side airbags are now standard. Honda Sensing has also received updates with a new wider angle camera, wider angle radar, and improved ability to recognize objects such as vehicles, pedestrians, white lines, curbs, bicycles, and motorcycles. The 2023 Accord will continue to be built in Marysville, Ohio where more than 12.5 million Accords have been produced since 1982. View full article

Having one variable speed controller makes a lot more sense from a manufacturing standpoint than multiple controllers depending on source. But charge rates are still going to be limited by the max rating on the wires and breakers in the owner's house.

The latest Bolt has DC fast charging. 100 miles in 30 minutes. Home charging at Level 2 is 26 miles of range per hour and that's probably maxing out a 50 amp circuit. The Q8 etron or Hummer EV will pull power at the same rates, but because those are both less efficient vehicles, it will be a lower range per hour.

Agree... it has impressive tech, but it lost all the character of being a Volvo. If I pulled the badges off it could be a GMC or Cadillac or Honda or Land Rover.

I'm not sure it i necessary. A standard 50 amp / 220V outlet will be sufficient to charge nearly any EV from 1% - 100% in 10 hours. Most people won't be charging like that. For example, if I am typically driving 40 miles a day and my charger can add 20 miles of range per hour, I'll get back to my programmed max charge in 2 hours. I don't see the need to spend thousands to install an 80 amp charger to charge in 1 hour and 15 minutes instead. Where these high speed charge controllers are an advantage is for DC fast charging. Charging at home can remain leisurely.

Yes, Euro homes are all 230V. I don't know what a typical amperage rating for their homes are. A 50 amp 220V circuit will still not get max speed on those GM Ultium and Audi vehicles. It only gets you to 12kW. You need 30 more amps to get the speeds GM is claiming in that graphic above. 64 hours to get a Bolt EUV from 1% to 100% on 110v.

Again, this is going to be a house limitation. The controller might be able to accept a higher rate, but the house probably can't provide it.

Only the newest of new houses will have the ability to put in an 80 amp circuit and even then, they'd have to be requested by the building buyer. Most homes get 150 amp standard or maybe 200 amp for a larger house. To have room for an 80 amp, you'll need a 250 amp or more box and not a lot of houses have that.

Not to put too fine a point on it... but that is BS. There just ain't no way. 22kWh at 110v is pulling 200 amps. I don't know how many houses in the US are wired to be able to pull that kind of power through a single outlet, but I'm pretty sure that number is fairly close to zero. My entire electrical panel is only rated for 200 amps and its pretty new. The highest rated standard 110v outlet it rated for 30 amps, which translates to 3.3 kWh. A Q8 trying to pull 22kWh at 110v will pop breakers or burn down houses. So there is some missing or mistranslated information from Audi here. That said, if you can afford a Q8 etron, you can afford to get a 50 amp 220 outlet in your garage. It averages like $600. I think there's something wrong with the Audi release. This isn't a manufacturer limitation, it is a physics limitation.

And I gotta say, that is a pretty impressive charge rate on the Q8 for a 110v outlet. I wonder what they are doing different to get that. For perspective, a Tesla can gain 6 miles of range an hour while a Bolt EUV can gain 4. Audi is claiming 32 miles of range an hour on Level 1.... when that is more like mid-range Level 2 speeds. That makes me think there is a misprint or translation issue.

Yeah, I sleep for at least 8, even if that only gets me to 50%, that's enough for my commute for the next day and then plug it in another 8 the next night.

After a long run of teaser images, Volvo revealed their new EX90 7-seat, all-electric SUV in Stockholm, Sweden today. This is the first in Volvo's goal of releasing one new fully electric car each year. By 2030, Volvo aims to sell only fully electric cars and be climate-neutral by 2040. That climate neutral pledge starts with the EX90 and its factories in the Charleston, South Carolina and China. Both production facilities are slated to be climate-neutral. Initially offered as with a twin-motor all-wheel drive and a 111kWh battery, the EX90 can produce up to 496 horsepower and 671 lb.-ft of torque in the performance edition. A milder version offered with 408 horsepower will have a range of 300 miles to a charge. On a fast charger, the EX90 can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. The Volvo EX90 supports Plug-and-Charge technology with compatible public charging stations, eliminating the need to activate the charging station with an account. All Volvo EX90s have the hardware needed to enable bi-directional charging to power your home, other electronic devices, or even charge another Volvo car. Volvo plans on enabling this technology in the future in select markets. This ability combined with a smart charging app allows EX90 owners to schedule charging at the most sustainable times, and once bi-directional charging is enabled, even use the vehicle's battery as a home power source during peak hours or sell that energy back to the grid. The sustainability of the EX90 continues beyond the powertrain. Approximately 15 percent of the steel, 25 percent of the aluminum, and 15 percent of the total plastic (105 lbs) is from recycled materials. Powerful Technology Inside The EX90's processing systems are powered by NVIDIA Drive AI platforms and Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. The Snapdragon platform uses the Unreal Engine to provide fast and high-qualify graphics on the in-car screens. The 14.5-inch center infotainment screen links you to information via a 5G connection and built-in Google and many of the most popular apps from the Google Play store while also offering wireless Apple CarPlay. An available Bowers & Wilkins audio system is the first to offer Dolby Atmos in a Volvo and includes headrest speakers for immersive sound. Phone-key technology is standard on the EX90. Your smartphone serves as your key and automatically unlocks the car and starts your personalized welcome sequence as you approach. Once inside, your personal profile will be loaded. Volvo = Safety Volvo has been associated with safety for decades and the EX90 aims to raise that expectation further. With its powerful computing systems, it is designed to learn about you and the world around you. New state-of-the-art cameras, radar, and lidar work in conjunction with over the air updates and data. These systems have the ability to see small objects on the road hundreds of yards ahead while inside the EX90 can monitor concentration, distraction, or fatigue and alert you with gentle nudge. If the worst happens and you are unable to respond, the EX90 will bring itself safely to a stop. And while not yet available, the EX90 is hardware ready for semi-autonomous driving in the future. The EX90 is expected to be available well-equipped for under $80,000 and Volvo is accepting pre-orders for the 2024 EX90 starting today for delivery in early 2024. All US market EX90s will be built in Volvo's South Carolina assembly plant. View full article