Accord Wants No Shocks in Title Race

Honda said it expects its Accord to edge out the Ford Taurus as the best-selling car in the United States for the fourth straight year.

The title of top-selling car has enormous clout in marketing. It has taken on a tinge of Japan vs. America as Taurus sales gains have left the Accord with only a slim lead.

January-August figures show Taurus sales trailing Accord sales by 24,262 vehicles. In 1991, Accord beat Taurus by nearly 100,000 vehicles.

Part of the Taurus advance has come on the strength of “buy American” sentiment and part because of Japanese price increases forced by a strong yen.

Still, Honda expects to sell 390,000 Accords this year--”enough to maintain the No. 1 position,” said Thomas Elliott, American Honda executive vice president.