More audio, mileage for the 2011 Honda Accord

Honda's updated 2011 Accord sedan and coupe will hit dealerships in mid-August. The Accord gets a refresh inside and out, a new leather-equipped Special Edition model and a handful of other interior upgrades.

Fuel-economy improvements--a result of improved aerodynamics, less engine friction and new gear ratios--mean 34 mpg on the highway for the four-cylinder and 30 mpg for the V6. The V6 also gets variable cylinder management that deactivates up to half of the cylinders for efficient cruising.

The sedan gets a redesigned grille, front bumper, rear deck lid and a new wheel design. The coupe gets a new grille and new brake lights.

For power, Honda will stick with the same 2.4-liter I4 making 190 hp and 177 lb-ft for the EX and LX models, and a 3.5-liter V6 making 271 hp for the EX V6 and EX-L.

A five-speed manual is standard on four-cylinder models while a five-speed automatic is optional. For V6 models, the five-speed auto is standard with the six-speed manual only available on the Accord EX-L V6 coupe.

New interior features for 2011 include paddle shifters on the EX-L V6 coupe, a USB audio interface and a rearview camera on cars equipped with the navigation package. All models get new seat fabrics and an updated instrument panel. Additionally, Honda moved buttons on the control stack for easier use.

Three audio systems are available, ranging from a single-CD, 160-watt system to the navigation-enabled, seven-speaker, six-disc, 270-watt premium setup. All models include WMA playback and auxiliary audio input.

Pricing for the new Accord will be released later this month.

By Jake Lingeman