HONDA is aiming to take on the big boys in the sports saloon market by launching a rival to the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes.
The German car makers currently rule the roost leaving mainstream models such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra being forced to discount heavily to maintain sales.
Ford is hoping that its sporty new Mondeo will change all that and now Honda is hoping to get in on the act with new GT versions of its family-sized Accord saloon.
This will arrive just in time for the September plate change to consolidate the company's improving corporate sales performance.
Honda says that fleet sales so far this year are up by 68 per cent but declines to offer actual figures so it is to be assumed that they are relatively low.
That could change with the arrival of the Sport GTs that are challenging the dominance of their German rivals in the image department.
The new Accord Sport GT 2.2 i-CTDi features dark chrome door handles and front grille, 17-inch alloy wheels in dark graphite with a Premium White Pearl paint option.
There is also sports suspension, a rear boot spoiler, smoked headlights and fog lights, carbon-effect inlay fitted within the dashboard and centre console, red illuminated dials, voice-activated satellite navigation, a premium audio system with a six-CD changer, cruise control and Bluetooth hands free telephone.
It will cost £20,767 in saloon form with a Tourer version on offer for a bit more.
There is also a new entry-level diesel-engined Accord SE costing from £18,600 which is aimed at junior executives.
It has 16-inch alloys, stability assist, six-speed gearbox and Bluetooth hands free telephone.
By way of comparison the Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI SE is £18,967, Audi's A4 1.9 TDI SE costs £21,075, the Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Life hatchback is £18,235 and Ford' new Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Zetec weighs in at £18,695.