American Honda will debut the all-new Accord Hybrid, the world's first V-6-powered hybrid vehicle, at dealerships nationwide on December 3, 2004. The new hybrid Accord will be priced at about $30,000 and marketed as a performance car, according to the automaker. The Accord hybrid is a version of Accord's most upscale model, the EX. They both use the 3.0-liter V-6. But with the addition of the electric motor and cylinder deactivation, the hybrid model is more powerful and fuel efficient than the EX. The hybrid version produces 255 hp compared with 240 for the EX. Torque is up 20 pounds-feet to 232. The estimated fuel economy rating is 30 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway, higher than the 21/30 for the Accord EX and almost the same as the 31/38 of the gasoline-powered Civic EX with automatic transmission. Acceleration performance from 0-60 miles per hour and from 50-70mph is reduced by one half second compared with the already powerful and sporty Accord V-6 Sedan.