 Honda Accord EX-V6 coupe. Click image to enlarge |
Article and photos by Jeff Burry
Since hitting the shores of North America, Honda has produced its share of two-door coupes – think of the Civic, Prelude, and late 90s version of the Accord. The very first Accord to be sold in North America was a 1978 model, and it was actually a two-door hatchback.
For the most part, these models offered consumers safety, reliability, practicality and refinement with just the right amount of sportiness for those who wanted to separate themselves from the masses.
For the 2003 model year, Honda decided to add the word performance to that list by offering up the all-new Honda Accord Coupe V6 with a six-speed manual transmission, dubbed the EX 6MT. This Accord was most definitely a performance-oriented vehicle, although it might have been hard to tell from exterior appearances.
  Honda Accord EX-V6 coupe. Click image to enlarge |
So what separated this Accord from the garden-variety model? Well for starters, the 3.0-litre single overhead cam (SOHC) all-aluminum engine, which produced an impressive 240 horsepower, was tweaked with a revised air intake and single-chamber resonator, giving it a sportier “burble” as one mashes through the six gears.
Add to that a short-throw, aluminum-topped shifter (the same one found in the early version Honda S2000) that purposely and flawlessly took even the most novice driver through the gears. It is a near-perfect blend of safety and reliability with just the right amount of nasty mixed in for the performance-minded.
Combine all that with an ergonomically-designed interior and you had a winning combination. The black leather seats (the only colour option available in Canada) were wide, deeply contoured, heated and had extra side-bolstering complete with ten-way power adjustability for the driver.
Additional standard equipment included a power sunroof, six-disc in-dash CD player, premium sound system, dual climate controls, remote keyless entry, multi-function cruise and radio controls mounted on the three-spoke steering wheel, heated mirrors and traction control.
Simply put, this was one well-equipped Accord Coupe, and with power to boot. An optional navigation system incorporated into the sound system’s display was available in the U.S., but not Canada.
The exterior was, quite frankly, understated and perhaps purposely so, offering a nice blend of curves combined with a high belt-line. As with most coupes, the roof sloped aggressively towards the rear, giving the car a very sporty profile while shaving some rear head room for adult passengers.
