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Acura

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Image:Acura_logo.png right|200px|Acura logo '''Acura''' is a Japan Japanese brand name used by Honda in the United States US, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong since March 1986 to market luxury car luxury automobiles and Luxury car near-luxury vehicles. The brand will be expanded to the China Chinese market in 2006 and the Japan Japanese domestic market in 2008. Acura is credited with creating or being the first to tap into a market for luxury Japanese cars outside Japan. Before Acura, automobiles from Japan were primarily economical and were seen as reliable above all else. Other Japanese luxury brands (Toyota's Lexus and Nissan's Infiniti) sprang up in North America shortly after Acura's introduction of the Legend, a V6-powered coupe and sedan, and the Integra, which was offered with a 4-cylinder engine only. Automotive journalists were impressed particularly by the Acura Legend. In 1989, Acura introduced the Acura NSX NSX, a swoopy 276-hp two-door sports car. The NSX, an acronym for "New Sports eXperimental", was hailed as the first (and perhaps, to date, the only) Japanese car capable of taking on Ferrari and Porsche. The car's meticulously engineered quality and sterling reliability were icing on the cake. Unfortunately, after this strong start, the mid- to late 1990s, Acura's model line-up became less and less inspiring and consequently, sales suffered. During this time, Acura switched to an alphanumeric formula for nomenclature. The 1996 3.5RL, which replaced the well-loved Legend, was seen by many as the epitome of Acura's new-found blandness. Its sluggish 210-horsepower V6 (later bumped to 225 hp) and front-wheel drive, together with anonymous styling that cautiously aped the larger, more powerful and more engaging Lexus LS400, did little against more prestigious, attractive and faster offerings from BMW, Audi, and Lexus, among others. Even the swoopy NSX lost sales as Acura barely changed the car from its original 1989 trim. Despite these letdowns, Acura did gain prominence in the 1990's with a younger group of people; the import tuner set. Parent company Honda's reputation as a maker of easy to tune and rev-happy engines with this demographic rubbed off onto Acura, and the Integra became a popular tuner car. This reputation has continued to this day, especially with the new RSX and TSX (see below.) In the early 2000s, Acura refreshed its line-up, arguably beginning with the introduction of the MDX, a popular three-row crossover SUV based on the Honda Odyssey minivan. The MDX replaced the slow-selling SLX, which was little more than a rebadged Isuzu Trooper. The MDX was a car-like and fun-to-drive crossover SUV with little off-road capability that catered smartly to the demands of the luxury SUV market. It was given top honors by Car and Driver in its first comparison test against seven other SUVs. Other cars in Acura's line-up during this time included the 3.2 TL, 3.2 CL, RSX (formerly the Integra), and the supercar, the NSX. A new TL debuted in 2004, equipped with sharp, Italianate styling and a 270-hp V6, and available with a 6-speed manual transmission led to a dramatic increase in sales for Acura. The same year, Acura introduced the TSX, a European-market Honda Accord loaded with features, as a cheaper alternative to the BMW 3-series. This model became the only 4-cylinder sedan in Acura's line-up, replacing the Integra sedan. A new RL debuted in 2005, this time with a 300-hp V6, more exciting styling, and innovative Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), a system capable of sending almost all of the RL's power to just one wheel in a turn. Acura's new models—particularly the RL and TSX—have been well received by the motoring press. However, with the US Big Three recently (re)introducing sport sedans with rear wheel drive and V8 engines, some predict that Acura (who is the only Luxury manufacturer not to offer V8s and along with Saab is the only one to use FWD exclusively) may need to rethink its design philosophy once again. In the future, Acura will introduce the RDX, a smaller SUV set to feature the RL's SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive). It should debut in mid-2006 as a 2007 model. And while the slow-selling NSX has been discontinued for the 2006 model year, Acura has promised a redesigned model sometime in 2007-2009, currently known only as the Honda HSC.

History
*'''1990''' **Acura dealerships in the US win their fifth consecutive first-place ranking on the Customer Satisfaction Index by J. D. Power and Associates. Acura announces that it will expand research and development in US. *'''1991''' **The Acura Legend coupe wins Motor Trend's prestigious Import Car of the Year trophy. **Honda's revolutionary VTEC technology is introduced in the NSX. **Acura is introduced in Hong Kong by Reliance Motors. *'''1997''' **The Integra Type-R is introduced. *'''2001''' **The MDX wins the prestigious Motor Trend "2001 Sport/Utility of the Year" award. *'''2003''' **TSX is introduced as replacement for the Integra sedan. Integra, first introduced in 1986, was long overdue for a redesign. TSX becomes very competitive choice against popular BMW 3-series. *'''2004''' **Acura is introduced in Mexico by Honda de Mexico. **3rd generation Acura TL is introduced and immediately becomes the best selling luxury car in America. *'''2005''' **The new Acura TL wins "Consumer's Most Wanted Vehicle" at Edmunds.com **Acura RL is introduced with revolutionary SH-AWD system *'''2006''' **Acura will be introduced in China. **Acura RDX will be introduced with SH-AWD

Future models
*2007 Acura RD-X RD-X compact crossover SUV

Current models
*Acura MDX MDX (crossover SUV) *Acura RL RL (full-size sedan) *Acura RSX RSX (sports coupe) *Acura TL TL (mid-size car mid-size sports sedan) *Acura TSX TSX (mid-size car mid-size sports sedan) *Acura CSX CSX (compact car compact sedan) (replacement for the Acura EL, only available in Canada)

Discontinued models
*Acura EL EL (compact car compact sedan; only available in Canada) *Acura Integra Integra (sports coupe and sedan, replaced by the Acura RSX RSX and the Acura TSX TSX) *Acura Legend Legend (luxury sedan and coupe, replaced by the Acura RL RL and Acura CL CL) *Acura Vigor Vigor (mid-sized sedan, replaced by the Acura TL TL) *Acura CL CL (luxury coupe, replaced by the Honda Accord EX V-6 Coupe) *Acura SLX SLX (SUV, replaced by the Honda_MDX MDX) *Acura NSX NSX (exotic car exotic coupe)

Timeline

1986
The Acura brand is introduced to North America by Honda. *Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra (new) **Acura Legend Legend (new)

1987
*Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra **Acura Legend Legend

1988
*Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra **Acura Legend Legend

1989
*Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra **Acura Legend Legend

1990
New 2nd-generation Acura Integra Integra introduced. *Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra (new 2nd-generation) **Acura Legend Legend

1991
New Acura Vigor Vigor model added to Acura's line-up. New 2nd-generation Acura Legend Legend introduced. New Acura NSX NSX model introduced. *Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra **Acura Legend Legend (new 2nd-generation) **Acura NSX NSX **Acura Vigor Vigor (New)

1992
Minor update to 2nd-generation Acura Integra Integra. *Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra **Acura Legend Legend **Acura NSX NSX **Acura Vigor Vigor

1993
*Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra **Acura Legend Legend **Acura NSX NSX **Acura Vigor Vigor

1994
New 3rd-generation Acura Integra Integra introduced. *Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra (New 3rd generation) **Acura Legend Legend **Acura NSX NSX **Acura Vigor Vigor

1995
New 2nd-generation Acura Vigor Vigor introduced as Acura_TL TL. *Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra **Acura Legend Legend **Acura NSX NSX **Acura TL TL (new) (2nd-generation Vigor)

1996
New Acura SLX SLX SUV model introduced. (Not sold in Canada) New 3rd-generation Acura Legend Legend introduced as the Acura RL RL. *Models sold: **Acura Integra Integra **Acura NSX NSX **Acura TL TL **Acura RL RL (new) (3rd-generation Legend) **Acura SLX SLX (USA only)

1997
New Acura EL EL (based on Honda Civic Civic sedan) is introduced. (Canada only) New 2-door coupe Acura TL TL introduced as Acura CL CL. *Models sold: **Acura CL CL **Acura EL EL (new) (Canada only) **Acura Integra Integra **Acura NSX NSX **Acura TL TL **Acura RL RL **Acura SLX SLX (USA only)

1998
Acura Integra Integra receives a minor update. *Models sold: **Acura CL CL **Acura EL EL (Canada only) **Acura Integra Integra (generation 3.5) **Acura NSX NSX **Acura TL TL **Acura RL RL **Acura SLX SLX (USA only)

1999
New 2nd-generation Acura_TL TL introduced. *Models sold: **Acura CL CL **Acura EL EL (Canada only) **Acura Integra Integra **Acura NSX NSX **Acura TL TL (New 2nd generation) **Acura RL RL **Acura SLX SLX (USA only)

2000
No Acura CL CL model for 2000. *Models sold: **Acura EL EL (Canada only) **Acura Integra Integra **Acura NSX NSX **Acura TL TL **Acura RL RL

2001
New 2nd-generation Acura CL CL coupe introduced. New Acura MDX MDX luxury SUV introduced. New 2nd generation Acura EL EL model. (Canada only) *Models sold: **Acura CL CL **Acura EL EL (New 2nd-generation) (Canada only) **Acura Integra Integra **Acura NSX NSX **Acura MDX MDX **Acura TL TL **Acura RL RL

2002
New 4th-generation Acura Integra Integra introduced as the Acura RSX RSX. Honda NSX NSX is updated. *Models sold: **Acura CL CL **Acura EL EL (Canada only) **Acura MDX MDX **Acura NSX NSX (minor update) **Acura TL TL **Acura RL RL **Acura RSX RSX (new) (4th-generation Integra)

2003
*Models sold: **Acura CL CL **Acura EL EL (Canada only) **Acura MDX MDX **Acura NSX NSX **Acura TL TL **Acura RL RL **Acura RSX RSX

2004
New 3rd-generation Acura TL TL introduced. New Acura TSX TSX sports sedan introduced. Minor update to 1st-generation MDX. *Models sold: **Acura EL EL (Canada only) **Acura TL TL (new 3rd-generation, still based on North American Honda Accord) **Acura TSX TSX (European Honda Accord) **Acura MDX MDX (Minor Update) **Acura NSX NSX **Acura RL RL **Acura RSX RSX

2005
New 2nd-generation Acura_RL RL introduced. Acura_RSX RSX receives a minor update. *Models sold: **Acura EL EL (Canada only) **Acura TL TL **Acura TSX TSX **Acura MDX MDX **Acura NSX NSX **Acura RL RL (new 2nd-generation) **Acura RSX RSX

2006
*Models sold: **Acura CSX CSX (Canada Only)

See also
*Honda *VTEC *Honda Type-R

External links

- Acura Canada
- Acura China
- Acura Mexico
- Acura USA *[https://estore.honda.com/ Acura Accessories and Parts (Official)]
- AcuraZine: Enthusiast Community
- Reliance Motors (Hong Kong)
- Temple of VTEC
- Honda to launch Acura Brand in Japan (Edmunds) {{Acura}} Category:Acura Category:Prestige vehicles de:Acura es:Acura fr:Acura hr:Acura it:Acura ja:ã‚¢ã‚ãƒ¥ãƒ© no:Acura fi:Acura sv:Acura th:à¹?à¸à¸„à¸´à¸§à¸£à¸² tr:Acura {{catmore}} Category:Honda Category:Luxury car manufacturers Category:Prestige vehicles fr:CatÃ©gorie:Acura
{| cellspacing=1 cellpadding=0 class="toccolours" align="center" |align="center" rowspan=11|Image:Acura_logo.png center|100px|Acura logo
A division of
Honda||align="center" colspan="32"|'''Acura road car timeline, 1980s-present''' ({{edit|Template:Acura}}) |- |align=center rowspan=2 colspan=2 bgcolor=#F0F0F0|'''Type''' |align=center colspan=10 width=15% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|1980s |align=center colspan=10 width=15% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|1990s |align=center colspan=10 width=15% bgcolor=#F0F0F0|2000s |- bgcolor=#F0F0F0 |0||1||2||3||4||5||6||7||8||9 |0||1||2||3||4||5||6||7||8||9 |0||1||2||3||4||5||6||7||8||9 |- align=center |bgcolor=#F0F0F0 colspan=2| Compact |colspan=10 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=7 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=4 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura EL EL |colspan=5 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura EL EL |colspan=4 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura CSX CSX |- align=center |bgcolor=#F0F0F0 rowspan=2| Small |bgcolor=#F0F0F0| Coupe |colspan=5 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=5 rowspan=2 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura Integra Integra |colspan=4 rowspan=2 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura Integra Integra |colspan=8 rowspan=2 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura Integra Integra |colspan=6 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura RSX RSX |colspan=2 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |- align=center |bgcolor=#F0F0F0| Sedan |colspan=5 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=2 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=6 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura TSX TSX |- align=center |bgcolor=#F0F0F0 colspan=2| Mid |colspan=10 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=2 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=4 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura Vigor Vigor |colspan=3 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura TL TL |colspan=5 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura TL TL |colspan=6 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura TL TL |- align=center |bgcolor=#F0F0F0 rowspan=2| Large |bgcolor=#F0F0F0| Coupe |colspan=6 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=5 rowspan=2 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura Legend Legend |colspan=5 rowspan=2 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura Legend Legend |colspan=1 bgcolor=#D0D0D0 | |colspan=3 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura CL CL |colspan=1 bgcolor=#D0D0D0 | |colspan=3 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura CL CL |colspan=6 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |- align=center |bgcolor=#F0F0F0| Sedan |colspan=6 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=9 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura RL RL |colspan=5 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura RL RL |- align=center |bgcolor=#F0F0F0 colspan=2| SUV |colspan=10 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=6 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=4 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura SLX SLX |colspan=1 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=10 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura MDX MDX |- align=center |bgcolor=#F0F0F0 colspan=2| Sports |colspan=11 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |colspan=15 bgcolor=#C0C0C0 |Acura NSX NSX |colspan=4 bgcolor=#D0D0D0| |} Category:Automotive timeline templates {{PAGENAME}}

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