For the sixth generation, Honda split the Accord into three separate models, designed for the Japanese, North American, and European markets. However, the wagon was discontinued in North America while the coupe was discontinued in Japan. This generation also spawned two distinctively branded performance versions for European and Japanese domestic markets, dubbed Type R and Euro R, respectively.
Japan: CF3, CF4, CF5 CL2, CL3
North America and Asia Pacific: CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4, CG5, CG6
Europe: CG7, CG8, CG9, CH5, CH6, CH7, CH8
On the origin of these models, it is rumored[32] that with the advent of the sixth generation Accord, “Honda England were let loose to build a car that would compete with Subaru and Mitsubishi’s Evo. They came up with the Accord Type R, a lightened (1200 kg) track version with no sound deadening and few luxuries(listed below)”. Honda Japan followed suit in 2000, “took the Accord Type R and developed the Accord Euro-R (hence the ‘Euro’pean tag)” which has a double wishbone front and 5-link rear suspension system,stiffer suspension and chassis, Helical limited-slip-differential, twin-piston brakes, dual twin silencer exhaust system, 16-inch alloy wheels, A exclusive “red-top” engine cover, white badged Euro-R meters, a strut tower bar, an exclusive Euro-R aluminium shift knob, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights,fog lights,body coloured retractable electric door mirrors, power windows, key less entry, air conditioning, driver and passenger SRS air bags, and ABS.Recaro seats and a leather-trimmed Momo steering wheel. As an option, there was a distinctive tall and functional rear spoiler wing that most customers opted for. The Accord Type-R featured 209 bhp (212ps, 155.9Kw) @ 7,200 rpm and 164 lb·ft (222 N·m) @ 6,700, while the Euro-R variant featured an improved H22A engine with 217 bhp (220ps, 161.8Kw) @7200 rpm and 164 lb-ft(220-Nm)@5500rpm. Apart from an improved H22A engine,Euro-R badged meters, and exclusive Euro-R aluminium shift knob,The JDM Accord/Torneo Euro-R and Accord Type-R are very similar. The Accord/Torneo Euro-R was later succeeded by the seventh generation Accord Euro-R, see article below for details.
Europe
The European Accord, also made in Swindon, was different in its styling and was also shorter than the Japanese- and American-market Accords. It was available as a sedan and a 5-door hatchback (liftback), with the U.S.-imported coupe completing the range. It was a platform improvement of the previous generation “European Accord”, a joint project with the Rover Group that created the Rover 600, as well as the Honda Ascot Innova. The design approval of the sixth generation Accord came in early 1995.
The standard Accord featured more items than the base models of similar cars (Ford Mondeo, Peugeot 406, Vauxhall Vectra, etc.) in its class. The basic S came with ABS, alarm, engine immobilizer, and air-conditioning, with the SE added the options of metallic paint, cruise control, climate control and later, satellite navigation. The 1998–1999 ES version came with all those features (except the satellite navigation optional), as well as a walnut and leather trimmed interior with heated front seats. This model was renamed as the SE Executive in late 1999.
The EU version had a minor facelift in 2001 including a revised grill, alloy wheels, bumpers and both rear and front lights. In 2001, the trim range was expanded with a Type-V; with leather trim as standard equipment, satellite navigation and a tiptronic automatic transmission as optional. The Sport model, which was as the SE, came with modified styling, spoiler, and a color-coded side skirt (as opposed to black plastic).
Other engines included a 1.8 L F18B VTEC engine rated at 138 hp (103 kW), a 2 L F20B6 VTEC engine rated at 145 hp (108 kW), as well as a 1.6 which was the entry level engine not offered in the United Kingdom, it produces 85 kW (114 hp). The Type-V model (2001–2003) included the F23Z5 VTEC engine, it was the largest engine that European 6th-gen Accord offered.
The Type-R, Type-V, and Sport trims can had a badge on the front grill and hood lid, though the pre-facelift models only signified Type-R on the front. The top of the range SE Executive only became identified as such in 2000 with a badge ‘SE EXECUTIVE’ on the hood lid. Walnut trim interior was also dropped for the SE Executive during the facelift, while a new climate control system was added.
Accord Type R (CH1, 1998–2002)
The Accord Type R was a performance variant of the standard Accord, sold in European markets. Apart from a similar yet different body, the European Type R is largely identical to the Japanese CL1 Euro R, including the same “red top” H22A engine; however, in a H22A7 version (compared to H22A for Euro R) producing a lower output at 212 PS (156kW; 209 hp) at 7,200 rpm and 164 lb·ft (222 N·m) at 6,700 rpm (compared to 220 PS (162 kW; 217 hp) for Euro R). The engine was mated to U2Q7 5-speed manual transmission with helical Torsen LSD. Recaro seats, leather-wrapped Momo steering wheel, stiffer suspension, dual exhaust (including 4–2–1 stainless headers), and an aluminum-alloy gear shift knob also came standard. Like the Euro R, the Type R was fitted with a factory body kit. Other differences from the standard model include hydraulic power steering on the Type R.
The R model was facelifted in 2001 with updates to the bumpers and fog lights, but removing the factory fitted bodykit. The electric radio aerial was also replaced, with a smaller “Bee Sting” style aerial situated at the rear of the roof line. The 5 speed gearbox was revised with stronger synchros in response to a number of failures on the earlier cars, and the exhaust was fitted with more subtle tips, angled downwards and unpolished in comparison to the pre-facelift’s straight chrome tips. The interior and other parts stayed identical.
Sales of the Type R were low; for example, less than two thousand were sold in the UK alone.