Honda Legend

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Honda Legend
Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	Acura RL (1996-present) Acura Legend (1985-1995)
Production	1985-present
Class	Mid-size luxury car / Executive car (UK)
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 2-door coupe

Honda Legend (badged in the US as the Acura Legend and then as the Acura RL but as the Honda Legend in Europe): first Generation 1985 - 1990. The Legend was never vigorously marketed in Europe, possibly due to perceived overlap in the market place with its Rover cousin.

The Honda Legend, currently marketed as the Acura RL in North America, is a full-size luxury car made by the Japanese automaker Honda. It was originally developed as part of Project XX, a joint venture with the Austin Rover Group of England and was a twin of the Rover 800 series.

The Legend was initially a four-door sedan, with a two-door coupé added later. It was the model which launched Honda's upscale Acura brand in the United States.

The first-generation Honda Legend was manufactured from 1985 until 1989, with a second-generation model (also offered as a sedan and coupé) launching in 1990. The Rover 800 was not renewed, continuing on the old XX platform. The third-generation Legend was released in 1996.

The first and second-generation Honda Legend was known as the Acura Legend in North American markets from 1986-1995, and in 1996 the third-generation was renamed the Acura RL, while the Legend name continued on in Japan and other markets onto a third and fourth-generation.

The second-generation Legend was also manufactured by Daewoo in South Korea from 1993 to 2000 under the name of Daewoo Arcadia, for the domestic market mostly.

The third-generation model was offered as a sedan only. A mid-term facelift came in 1999.

The swoopier fourth-generation Honda Legend was launched on October 7, 2004 and became Japan's Car of the Year for 2004–5, marking the fourth time in five years that Honda has taken the award. The new car has a 300 PS (296 hp/221 kW) engine and an intelligent night-vision system to detect pedestrians.

The Legend went on sale in Australia for the 2007 model year, based on the third-generation RL.

Like the RL, it is most likely that the Legend will receive a facelift for the 2009 model year.

[edit] External links

• Photo comparison of Acura Legend and Daewoo Arcadia
• A little information on 2000 Daewoo Arcadia
• A great resource for Honda and Acura Legend owners.

[edit] See also

• Acura Legend
• Acura RL