View source for Acura Legend

{{Infobox Automobile
|name=Acura Legend
|image=[[Image:Acura Legend 1.jpg|250px|1991-1993 Acura Legend sedan]]
|aka=[[Honda Legend]]
|manufacturer=[[Honda]]
|production=1986–1995
|class=[[Mid-size]] [[luxury car]]
|successor=[[Acura RL]]
|assembly=[[Saitama, Saitama]], [[Japan]]
|body_style=2-door [[coupe]]<br>4-door [[sedan (car)|sedan]]
|layout=[[FF layout]]
}}

The '''Acura Legend''', sold as the '''Honda Legend''' outside the [[United States|U.S.]], [[Canada]], and parts of [[People's Republic of China|China]], was a sporty [[luxury vehicle]] sold from 1986 to 1995 as both a [[sedan (car)|sedan]] and a [[coupe]]. It was one of the first vehicles sold under the [[Acura]] nameplate, and was the top-spec sedan under the Acura nameplate until being replaced in 1996 by the [[Acura RL]] (officially badged as the Acura 3.5RL). The 3.5RL was a rebadged version of the third generation [[Honda Legend]].

==First generation (1986-1990)==

{{Infobox Automobile generation
|name=First generation
|image=[[Image:1st-Acura-Legend.jpg|250px|Acura Legend sedan]]
|production=1986&ndash;1990
|engine=2.5 L ''[[Honda C engine#C25A|C25A]]'' [[V6]]<br>2.7 L ''[[Honda C engine#C27A|C27A]]'' [[V6]]
|transmission=5-speed [[manual transmission|manual]]<br>4-speed [[automatic transmission|automatic]]
|wheelbase=Sedan: {{Auto in|108.7|0}}<Br>Coupe: {{Auto in|106.5|0}}
|length=1986-88 Sedan: {{Auto in|189.4|0}}<br>Coupe: {{Auto in|188|1}}<br>1989-1990 Sedan: {{Auto in|190.6|0}}
|width=1989-1990 Sedan: {{Auto in|68.9|0}}<Br>1986-88 Sedan: {{Auto in|68.3|0}}<Br>Coupe: {{Auto in|68.7|0}}
|height=Sedan: {{Auto in|54.7|0}}<br>Coupe: {{Auto in|53.9|0}}
}}

Honda introduced the model in 1985 in Japan to be their premier luxury model and in 1986 [[North America]] as the range-topping model in its then-new Acura lineup. Sedan models came to market first, powered by a {{Convert|151|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 2.5&nbsp;L [[Honda C engine#C25A|C25A]] [[V6]] with coupes appearing for 1987 powered by a new {{Convert|161|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 2.7&nbsp;L [[Honda C engine#C27A|C27A]] engine. Sedans received the new engine for 1988. Production of the first generation models ended in 1990 as a second generation version became available.

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.  Manual-equipped models could sprint to {{convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} in under 8 seconds and reach a top speed of {{convert|135|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}.  Sedan models had a coefficient of drag of .32, while coupes were only .30.

Technical highlights included a 24-valve V6 engine, variable length intake manifold, double-wishbone suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, air bag and an information system that could monitor maintenance intervals, fluid levels, and fuel economy.

[[Image:First Gen Legend Coupe.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Acura Legend coupe]]

In 1989, the sedan received some minor tweaks with new one-piece front headlamps, a new front bumper, a revised trunk lid, new tail lights, and new alloy wheels.  Inside, a revised dash and seat cloth patterns is also noticeable.  By that time all Legends came equipped with a driver airbag and 4-wheel anti-lock brakes.  High end LS models featured a trip computer and electronic vehicle monitoring system in the center console and a Bose sound system.

For the 1990 model year, all Legends received body-colored side mirrors.  Legend coupes received a revised body-colored front grille, new red & clear tail lights, and improved front seats.  LS model coupes also received a trunk-mounted lip spoiler.  LS models received burlwood interior trim.
{{-}}

==Second generation (1991-1995)==

{{Infobox Automobile generation
|name=Second generation
|image=[[Image:6MTCWP-bde08.jpg|250px|2nd-gen Acura Legend coupe]]
|production=1991&ndash;1995
|engine=3.2 L ''[[Honda C engine#C32A|C32A]]'' [[V6]]
|transmission=5-speed manual<br>4-speed automatic<br>6-speed manual
|wheelbase=Coupe: {{Auto in|111.4|0}}<Br>Sedan: {{Auto in|114.6|0}}
|length=Sedan: {{Auto in|194.9|0}}<br>Coupe: {{Auto in|192.5|0}}
|width={{Auto in|71.3|0}}
|height=1991-92 Coupe: {{Auto in|53.5|0}}<br>Sedan: {{Auto in|55.1|0}}<Br>1993-95 Coupe: {{Auto in|53.7|0}}
}}

Second generation units became available for the 1991 model year, now using a {{Convert|200|hp|kW|-1|abbr=on}} SOHC ([[Honda C engine#C32A|C32A]]) engine mated to either a standard 5-speed [[Manual transmission|manual]] or an optional 4-speed [[Automatic transmission|automatic]]. The second generation Legend was a larger, more streamlined-looking car (drag coefficients were actually higher at .34 for sedans and .32 for coupes).  The Legend offered a host of features seen on luxury cars of today including speed-sensitive steering, hands-free telephone, automatic climate control, heated leather seats, heated mirrors, 4-wheel [[Anti-lock braking system|ABS]] disc brakes, seat belt pretensioners and soft-close vacuum-operated doors (coupes only).

For 1991 and 1992 the Legend sedan was available in Base, L, and LS trims; the coupe remained available in L and LS through its entire run.  The higher-end LS cars added climate control, a power 4-way passenger seat, burled walnut interior trim, and body colored side moldings.  Honda made significant upgrades for 1993, making a {{Convert|230|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} "Type II" version of the SOHC C32A engine standard on all coupes, along with a 6-speed manual transmission.  1993 also saw the addition of dual airbags as standard equipment all trims, the deletion of the black molding on the entry level cars, and a new wheel design with fewer spokes on the sedans (16 spoke vs. 20 spoke).  The Type-II manual transmission coupe posted a quarter mile time of 15.3 seconds with a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds, and had a top speed of {{convert|163|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}.

[[Image:'91-'95 Acura Legend.jpg|thumb|left|1994-1995 Acura Legend sedan]]

In 1994, all Legends received new front bumpers, a new front grille (L&LS Sedans only), revised trunk lids, and a power tilt-telescoping steering column; the word "Legend" was now spelled out in individual letters on the back.  The base sedan, 4DR STD transmission, was dropped, while a new GS sedan became the new top-line variant, sporting the {{Convert|230|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} "Type II" engine, upgraded brakes from the coupe, sport suspension from the coupe, a body colored version of the 1991 to 1993 grille, the same standard 6-speed manual found on the coupes as well as the special 16" 5 spoke LS Coupe wheels (Better known as "GS Wheels"). Also in 1994, the LS version of the sedan lost the standard manual transmission, it was only available with an automatic transmission.

Added for 1995 was a limited-production SE sedan -- essentially a Legend L with a two-tone paint scheme, pre-1993 15" 7 spoke LS Coupe wheels, "Special Edition" floor mats, and automatic transmission.

==Trivia== 
{{Trivia|date=January 2008}}
*The 1st generation Legend shared its engine, transmission, some chassis and other parts with the [[Rover 800]]-series models, sold in the United States under the [[Sterling (car)|Sterling]] brand.  The 1st generation of Legends was co-developed with Rover group and sold under the Rover name in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and [[France]].

*The [[Japan Domestic Market]] version of the 1990 Legend (2nd generation) was the first vehicle offered with a [[automotive navigation system|navigation system]], although it was not satellite-based and instead relied on accelerometers.

*The "replacement" for the Legend sedan is sold as the [[Acura RL]] in [[North America]], although Honda continues to sell it as the Legend in most other areas of the world.

*The tooling and intellectual property rights of the second generation Legend were licensed to [[Daewoo Motors]] of [[South Korea]], where a clone of the Legend sedan, called the [[Daewoo Arcadia]], was produced from 1993 to 2000. During this period, Honda also held a small stake in Daewoo Motors.<ref>{{cite web|
 |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1992/10/29/hond_1.php
 |title=Honda-Daewoo Partnership Partnership Details
 |publisher=International Herald Tribune
 |date=[[October 29]], [[1992]]
 |accessdate=2007-05-22
}}</ref>

*On an episode of MTV's reality show "Cribs", hip-hop artist Ludacris owns a 1993 Acura Legend Sedan, which he calls his favorite car.<ref>http://www.acura-legend.com/vbulletin/f9/ludacriss-champagne-93-sedan-pics-video-74003/</ref>

==Awards==
The Legend coupe was ''[[Motor Trend]]'''s [[Car of the Year|Import Car of the Year]] for 1987. The coupe also made ''[[Car and Driver]]'' magazine's [[Car and Driver Ten Best|Ten Best list]] for 1988 through 1990.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

*[http://www.acura-legend.com The Acura Legend/RL community] A site dedicated to the Legend
*[http://www.arnach.net/service Acura Legend G1/G2 Service Manual] Online service manuals for the Legend G1 (1986-1990) and the G2 (1991-1995).
*[http://www.geocities.com/colincliff2/trim.html Legend Trim Packages] Page with detailed info on the trim levels that were available on US Legends.
*[http://www.geocities.com/colincliff2/changes.html Model year changes] Page with detailed information about the differences between Legend model years.

==See also==
*[[Honda Legend]]

{{Honda}}
{{Acura}}

[[Category:Acura vehicles|Legend]]
[[Category:1980s automobiles]]
[[Category:1990s automobiles]]
[[Category:Coupes]]
[[Category:Flagship vehicles]]
[[Category:Front wheel drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Mid-size cars]]
[[Category:Sedans]]