Acura
Categories: Cleanup from October 2005 | Acura | Luxury car manufacturers | Automobile manufacturers
Acura is a Japanese brand name used by Honda in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong since March 1986 to market luxury automobiles. Acura is largely 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 (Lexus and Infiniti) sprang up in North America shortly after Acura's initial introduction of the Legend and later the Integra - two vehicle names the company no longer uses.
Contents |
History
- 1990
- Acura dealerships in the US win 5th consecutive first-place ranking on the Customer Satisfaction Index by J. D. Power and Associates. Expansion of research and development in US announced.
- 1991
- The Acura Legend coupe won Motor Trend's prestigious Import Car of the Year trophy.
- Honda's revolutionary VTEC is introduced in the NSX.
- Acura introduced in Hong Kong by Reliance Motors
- 1997
- Integra Type-R introduced. Highest Hp/liter (108) of any production car.
- 2001
- MDX won the prestigious Motor Trend "2001 Sport/Utility of the Year" award
- 2004
- Acura introduced in Mexico by Honda de Mexico
- 2005
- Acura TL wins "Consumer's Most Wanted Vehicle" at Edmunds.com
Future models
- 2007 RD-X compact crossover SUV
Current models
- MDX (crossover SUV)
- NSX (exotic coupe)
- RL (full-size sedan)
- RSX (sports coupe)
- TL (midsize sports sedan)
- TSX (midsize sports sedan)
- EL (compact sedan; only available in Canada)
Discontinued models
- Integra (sports coupe and sedan, replaced by the RSX and the TSX)
- Legend (luxury sedan and coupe, replaced by the RL and CL)
- Vigor (mid-sized sedan, replaced by the TL)
- CL (luxury coupe, replaced by the Honda Accord EX V-6 Coupe)
- SLX (SUV, replaced by the MDX)
Timeline
1986
The Acura brand is introduced to North America by Honda.
1987
1988
1989
1990
A new 2nd generation Integra is introduced.
1991
New Vigor Model added to Acura's lineup. New 2nd generation Legend is introduced. Acura NSX introduced.
1992
Minor update to 2nd generation Integra.
1993
1994
A New 3rd generation Integra is introduced.
1995
New 2nd generation Vigor introduced as TL.
1996
New SLX SUV model is introduced. (Not sold in Canada) New 3rd generation Legend introduced as the RL.
1997
New Civic sedan based EL is introduced. (Canada only) New 2 door Coupe **TL introduced as CL.
1998
The Integra receives a minor update.
1999
New 2nd generation TL is introduced.
2000
No CL model for 2000.
2001
New 2nd gen CL Coupe introduced. New MDX Luxury SUV introduced. New 2nd generation EL model. (Canada only)
2002
The new 4th generation Integra is introduced as the RSX. The NSX is updated.
2003
2004
New 3rd generation TL introduced. New TSX sports sedan indroduced. Minor update to 1st generation MDX
- Models Sold:
2005
New 2nd generation RL introduced. The RSX receives a minor update.
Related Topics
External links
- Acura USA
- Acura Canada
- AcuraZine: Enthusiast Community
- Official Acura Accessories and Parts Site
- Reliance Motors (Hong Kong)
- Acura in Mexico
A division of Honda | Acura road car timeline, 1980s-present () | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||
| Compact | EL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small | Coupe | Integra | Integra | Integra | Integra | RSX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sedan | TSX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid | Vigor | TL | TL | TL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large | Coupe | Legend | Legend | CL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sedan | RL | RL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUV | SLX | MDX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | NSX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||