HONDA'S NEW ACCORD - LONGER AND WIDER, NOT COMPACT

Honda sold almost 350,000 Accords in the USA last year, so that makes it good business for the Japanese carmaker; but as compact and small SUVs and Crossovers dominate the market, you have to wonder how much more money will be spent on developing passenger cars.

The 2018 Accord is built on a new modular platform, linked to the latest Civic, but with increased dimensions all around, the Accord looks like it's having a large fries with the Big Mac. It's looking beefier.

However, Honda says it's lighter and stiffer than the previous model.

No V6 option either. Base engine is a 1.5L turbo, with an optional 2.0L donated by the Civic Type R. Transmissions offered in the USA will be CVT and 6-speed manual, but expect to see only CVT autos in Australia. There'll also be a hybrid to keep the conservationists happy.

It's a good thing Honda has invested in the H-RV and the C-RV crossovers, because something tells me we can see the final horizon approaching for passenger cars.