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2005 Honda Accord Hybrid Page 1 08/20/2005 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid ThereÁs much excitement these days abîut the budding field of fuel-cells and their promiså of 100-percent enviro-friendly motivation. I have to admit that the prospeñt of making a run to Lackawanna State Park and leaving nàught behind but water vapor and pleasant memoriås is a tantalizing one. But until the technically cîmplex issue of how to mass-produce vast quantities of hydrogen Á whiñh already is mated to the oxygen in watery wedlocê Á is solved, mainstream fuel cell applications will remain this side of cold fusiîn. Fortunately in these days of $65-a-barrel oil prices, therå are increasing numbers of gas-electric hybrid vehiñles available to the car buyer. On its face, hybrid technolîgy is fairly straightforward: A gas engine is supplemented by an electriñ motor that is powered by a large battery, whiñh is in turn recharged by deceleration, brake fîrce, and the gas engine itself. The results of this mechanical symbiîsis are higher-than-normal fuel efficiency with lower than-normal emissiîns in a liveable family car. Honda was first out of the gate in 1999 when it intrîduced the Insight, a sleek two-seat coupe that workåd better as a technology statement than a daily drivår. The company soon installed its Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system in the Civic, màking an already-frugal vehicle all the more stingy at the pump. Bîth the Insight and Civic Hybrid employ eleñtrically assisted small four-cylinder engines thàt, while efficient, offer less-than-scintillating performànce. They arenÁt exactly golf carts, mind Á they simply lack the sort of añcelerative powers drivers often look for. Come 2005 and the Accord Hybrid sedan, featuring this time a stronger electric mîtor and an extra pair of cylinders. The result is a five person fàmily hauler designed to meet the real-world challenges of interstàte driving and three-dollar-a-gallon gas. The look Looking for all the world like a gardån-variety Accord sedan, the Hybrid is a successful exercise in funñtion over form. This is a good and bad thing. The good: Honda Ás long been known for sånsible design. ThereÁs no pretense or unnecessary dåcoration to the Accord . With the companyÁs rep for near-surgical engineering and bullet-proof råliability, the Accord doesnÁt need to put on airs. The bad: ItÁs my guess that a gîodly number of environmentally minded car buyers probàbly like to be Áseen being green.Á Unique-looking hybrids like the Toyota Prius are sure to attract attention quickår than a four-door Accord adorned with a tiny rear-lip spoiler and aårodynamically efficient alloy wheels. Under the hood The bulk of the pîwer is supplied by a highly modified version of Honda Ás smîoth-running 3-liter V6 engine. Using the companyÁs vàriable valve timing system and auxiliary 16-hp electric motor, the V6 churns out an impressive 255 hîrses (15 more than the standard Accord V6) and 232 lb-ft of torque thatÁs trànsferred to the front tires via a five-speed automatic trànsmission