#Acura legend upgrade#
#Acura legend series#

Sedan models had a drag coefficient of 0.32, while coupes were only 0.30. Manual-equipped models could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in under 8 seconds and reach a top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h). The Legend won Car and Driver's Ten Best three years in a row and Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1987. Rover also wanted to return to the American market when they had reportedly sold only 1,500 cars in 1971, and a brief return in 1980, selling 800 Rover SD1s by offering the Sterling. The joint development produced the Legend and the corresponding British version was the Rover 800-series, which was badged under the Sterling brand in the United States and competed with the Legend. The Rover Company had a long established reputation as a luxury car in the United Kingdom and Europe, demonstrated with the Rover P6, and Honda wanted to introduce a luxury car for both domestic Japanese and the United States markets. The Legend was a result of a joint venture with Britain's Austin Rover Group called Project XX that started in November 1981 with the Austin Rover-Honda XX letter of intent signed by the two companies to replace the Rover SD1 and to provide a luxury vehicle for Honda. The 1987 Acura Legend LS coupe would be the first Japanese car to offer a driver's side airbag. The Legend was the first production Honda vehicle to offer a V6 engine. Sedan models came to the market first, powered by a 151 hp (113 kW) 2.5 L C25A V6, with coupes making their first appearance in 1987, powered by a new 161 hp (120 kW) 2.7 L C27A engine. Honda introduced the model in Japan on October 22, 1985, to be their premier luxury model, and in North America for the 1986 model year, as the top of the line model for its then-new Acura lineup.

Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive Tetsuya Mizuno, Yukio Kurosu, Yoshio Ui (1982, 1984)

The initial success of the Legend and Honda's Acura division in competing against established European and American luxury manufacturers would lead to Toyota and Nissan creating the Lexus and Infiniti brands, respectively, to compete in the luxury car market.

trade representatives, restricting mainstream car sales. The opportunity for Japanese manufacturers to export more expensive models had arisen with the 1980s voluntary export restraints, negotiated by the Japanese government and U.S.

#Acura legend series#

The 3.5RL was the North American version of the KA9 series Honda Legend. It was the first flagship sedan sold under the Acura nameplate, until being renamed in 1996 as the Acura 3.5RL. and Canada under Honda's luxury brand, Acura, from 1985 until 1995 as both a sedan, which was classified as a full-size car, and a coupe, which was classified as a mid-size car (similar to how the Honda Accord is set up today). And Acura obviously digs the celebrity afterglow after all, we haven’t seen the RLX on many album covers.The Acura Legend is a mid-size luxury/executive car manufactured by Honda from Japan.

The Legend is back and better than ever.” The guy clearly loves his Legend. Ludacris himself said, “Seeing the car that has been such a big part of my life brought back to beyond its original condition was a real gift. The car also received a custom Warm Cashmere and Ice Pearl paint job, as well as a Pioneer sound system.Īgain, if you’re having trouble wrapping your mind around a wealthy rapper/actor keeping his ancient Acura, don’t just take it from us.

#Acura legend upgrade#

As Marek puts it, “We wanted to put our own stamp on the Legend while retaining the essence of the original that Ludacris has worked so hard to maintain over the years.” To that end, the car got a two-inch suspension drop, 18-inch Rays wheels, a set of 215/40 Bridgestone performance tires, and an upgrade to six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes. The car underwent a “complete ground-up restoration” at the Acura Design studio in L.A., and a few modern embellishments were added by Acura’s global creative director, Dave Marek, during the two-month process.