![]() In 1987, Acura's first full year of sales, they sold 109,000 cars with the flagship Legend sedan accounting for 55,000 sales and the rest were of the smaller Integra. Toyota introduced the Lexus ES, Nissan introduced the Infiniti J30 and Ford utilized the Taurus platform and named their new sedan the Lincoln Continental. The goal of the Legend was to compete with rivals Toyota Crown and the Nissan Cedric and Gloria, but due to its 1986 introduction worldwide, Toyota, Nissan and other companies like Lincoln took notice of the markets reaction to the Legend and later the Vigor and offered vehicles that addressed the executive size car. The success of these models, particularly the Legend, led to competing Japanese luxury brand ventures ( Toyota's Lexus that began development in 1983 as the F1 project, and Nissan's Infiniti who began development in 1985 by revising their Japan-only flagship Nissan President in the late 1990s Mazda planned but never launched its own Amati luxury division). It was mechanically related to the Rover 800 series, while the Integra was an improvement of the Honda Quint hatchback. The Legend was the result of Project XX, a joint venture Honda entered into with the UK's Austin Rover Group. Precision Crafted Automobiles." Its initial offering consisted of two models: the executive class Legend and the compact class Integra, available as a five-door and three-door hatchback. Acura was the first Japanese luxury brand, introduced under the slogan, "Acura. market, so it was more profitable for Japanese automakers to export more expensive cars to the U.S.įollowing a decade of research, Honda opened 60 new dealerships in North America by 1986, to support its Acura automobile division. The Japanese government imposed voluntary export restraints for the U.S. The brand was created around the same time as Japanese rivals Nissan and Toyota developed their respective Infiniti and Lexus premium brands. The logo is derived from the caliper, a precise design tool representing the meticulous attention to detail that goes into every car. The Acura name is derived from the Latin “acu,” meaning mechanically precise or done with precision. A second generation NSX was launched in 2016 and features a twin-turbocharged mid-engine, a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, and Sport Hybrid SH-AWD. The 2007 RDX, a crossover SUV, featured the first North American use of a turbocharged Honda engine. Acura's 2005 RL flagship introduced SH-AWD, a torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system. Type-S versions of the RSX, CL, and TL were added to the brand's lineup during that decade. In the early 2000s, Acura introduced new models, including the company's first all-original SUV, the MDX, and two models which replaced the Integra coupé and sedan, the RSX and TSX, respectively. In the late 1990s, Acura produced a Type R version of its compact Integra, which featured a reduced curb weight, a stiffer and lower suspension, and a high-output VTEC engine. The 1993 Legend coupé featured Acura's first use of a six-speed manual transmission mated to a Type II engine. The 1990 launch of the NSX, a mid-engine exotic sports car, offered a reliable and practical alternative to exotic European sports cars, and introduced Honda's VTEC variable valve timing system to the North American market. In the late 1980s, the success of the company's first flagship vehicle, the Legend, inspired fellow Japanese automakers Toyota and Nissan to launch their own luxury brands, Lexus and Infiniti, respectively. Though sales were down in the mid-to-late 1990s, the brand experienced a revival in the early 2000s, due to drastic redesigns and the introductions of new models. In its first few years of existence, Acura was among the best-selling luxury marques in the US, outselling established brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The creation of Acura coincided with the introduction of a JDM Honda dealership sales channel, called Honda Clio, which sold luxury vehicles, joining previously established Honda Verno, followed by Honda Primo the following year. Īcura was the first luxury division established by a Japanese automaker. Plans to introduce Acura to the Japanese domestic market in the late 2000s did not eventuate due to the financial crisis of 2007–2008. The company has also previously sold cars in China, Hong Kong, Russia, and Ukraine. Acura sells cars in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, and Kuwait. The brand was launched on March 27, 1986, marketing luxury and performance automobiles. Acura is the luxury and performance division of Japanese automaker Honda, based primarily in North America. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |