Honda says that its next hybrid electric vehicle will be its midsize Accord, the automaker's best-selling model. Slated to arrive later in the 2004 model year, the Accord Hybrid will use Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system and feature variable cylinder management, a combination said to offer V-6 performance with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder Civic. Importantly, this hybrid model will offer even higher performance than the already sprightly 240 horsepower V-6 Accord, bringing hybrid power further into the performance realm.

This marks the first application of Honda's variable cylinder management, a feature that will deactivate three of the V-6 engine's six cylinders under specific conditions to deliver greater fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance.

This marks the first application of Hondas variable cylinder management, a feature that will deactivate three of the V-6 engine's six cylinders under specific conditions to deliver greater fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance.