'While major engineering and overall stying of the car has been completed, we are still working on the interior packaging. Our focus for the next few months will be on detail items and we are trying to come up with ideas which will make the car particularly easy to drive and convenient to use,' Honda UK national fleet manager Nicholas Phillips said at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

It is the first time Honda has sought input directly from the public. From next week, Phillips will be writing to major corporate users about the new Accord, which is due to be launched across European markets toward the end of next year. Like the current car, it will be built in three centres - Japan, America and Swindon. But though Honda's world model will share a common platform, cosmetic changes will reflect the needs of local markets.