  Most models of dark energy predict the beginning of the accelerated epoch at
z <= 1. However, there are no observational or theoretical evidences in favor
of such a recent start of the cosmic acceleration. In fact, a model of dark
energy coupled to dark matter is explicitely constructed that a) is accelerated
even at high z; b) allows structure formation during acceleration; and c) is
consistent with the type Ia supernovae Hubble diagram, including the farthest
known supernova SN1997ff at z~1.7 . It is shown that the accelerated epoch in
this model could have started as early as z~5.
