THIS sounds like a wonderful script for the cult television series Mythbusters: Do red cars really go faster?

We were presented with an exciting opportunity to test the popular theory via Honda`s latest update of its acclaimed Accord Euro.

That`s because the addition of a racy new colour _ Milan Red _ is pretty much the key change for 2005.

This, some bigger 17 inch wheels, tweaked suspension and a full-size spare wheel instead of the unpopular space saver are the only enhancements to the superb sedan.

The modest update is testament to the confidence its makers _ and buyers_ have in the integrity of the model that has wowed the market since its arrival in 2003.

Backed by lashings of style, superb handling and performance and exceptional build quality, it has become one of the leading lights of Australia`s prestige car segment.

Pricing stays competitive, with the Accord Euro retailing at $33,500 for the manual version, $35,550 for the automatic and $40,500 and $42,500 for the luxury manual and automatic versions.

The Accord Euro is a sleek, agile and wonderfully engineered medium-sized chariot that offers European-standard refinement for a Japanese price.

The Accord name has an interesting history, dating back almost 30 years. It was born as a 1.6-litre two-door coupe that won the Wheels Car of the Year in 1977.

These days Honda maintains two distinctly different Accords, a decision that continues to create an element of confusion in the market.

In addition to the Euro, there is a wide-bodied Accord, which is bigger, more angular and less youthful. It comes with the choice of a four-cylinder or V6 engine.

The "base model`` Euro has an impressive array of standard features, including ABS with EBD, Vehicle Stability Assist, Traction Control, driver, passenger and side airbags, dual zone climate control, power windows and mirrors, 6-stack quality CD sound system, and remote central locking.

The Luxury version, which we drove, adds even more goodies, such as curtain airbags, rain sensor wipers, electric sunroof, front fog lights, headlight washers, and woodgrain panel trim.

There are also leather seats that can be heated during the cooler months.

The driver`s perch offers extreme comfort with an eight-way power adjustment, while the front passenger has a four-way control.

Back to the mythbusting.

Having previously driven a Nighthawk Black Pearl Euro and an Arctic Blue number, we had a benchmark to test the notion that a red exterior is swifter _ all within the confines of the laws of the land, of course.

And we are talking a serious red here ... Milan Red is bright enough to make an Alfa Romeo blush.

Matched to a black leather interior, the colour is simply stunning.

The latest Euro has the same delicious 2.4-litre DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that delivers a smooth 140kW of power at 6800rpm and 223Nm at 4500rpm.

In the test vehicle, it was delightfully matched to a slick six-speed manual gearbox. For another $2000 you can opt for a five-speed automatic with sequential shift.

The suspension has been made even more supple and irons out even the most savage of potholes.

After a thrilling week in the racy update, our conclusion is that unfortunately for urban myth enthusiasts, the red Euro is no fleeter of foot than its non-rouge siblings.

However, it certainly turns heads faster and is sure to speed up sales for Honda.