Honda Inspire

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Japanese Wikipedia.

The Honda Inspire (Japanese: ホンダ・インスパイア) is a luxury sedan introduced by Honda in 1990 and based on the Honda Accord chassis. The first Inspire debuted in 1990 as the Accord Inspire, a sister nameplate to the Honda Vigor, then the Honda Vigor was exported to the USA as an Acura. The Vigor/Saber and the Inspire were the same car sold at different retail channels in Japan, known as Honda Verno for the Vigor/Saber, and the Inspire at Honda Clio stores. The Inspire was developed during what was known in Japan as the Japanese asset price bubble or "bubble economy".

In 1995 the Inspire was updated by the second generation model, on a platform it shared with the Honda Legend, and exported to the US as the Acura 3.2 TL, while the Vigor nameplate was replaced with the Honda Saber. The longitudinal 2.5 L straight-5 engine layout and platform remained and was sold as the Acura 2.5 TL.

In 1999 these cars were replaced by the third generation TL that was based on the US-spec Accord platform, and largely designed and engineered in the US by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Raymond, Ohio. Manufactured in the US, these were imported into Japan as the new Inspire and Saber.

In June 2003, the fourth generation Inspire was introduced in Japan. It was the redesigned American-spec Accord. This Inspire marks the first time Honda introduced their Variable Cylinder Management technology. In October 2005, a fourth generation Inspire received a mild restyle, with new headlights, new taillights, revised interior and new colors. The Inspire targeted the Nissan Teana, the Toyota Mark X and numerous other entry level luxury cars from Japan.

In October 2007, the fifth generation of the Inspire was previewed at the Tokyo Auto Show. It is essentially a rebadged 2008 North American-market Accord with minor exterior and interior modifications.

First generation series CB5, CC2 & CC3 (1989–1995)

On October 12, 1989, the "inspired Accord" was introduced. The Honda Inspire was shared with the Honda Vigor, which was a strong selling luxuriously equipped JDM Honda Accord available only at Honda Verno dealerships. The Inspire was introduced before the recession developed in Japan in the early 1990s (known in Japan as the "bubble economy"), and Honda wanted a car that would compete with the Toyota Cresta and Nissan Laurel, with the unique 176 hp (131 kW) inline 5 cylinder Honda G engine, in a front wheel drive configuration. The Inspire was very successful for Honda. This 5 cylinder engine was also used in the JDM Honda Rafaga, which was a sedan.

The bodystyle was a 4-door hardtop, but it wasn't a true hardtop, using a "B" pillar between the front and rear passenger compartments, but used frameless side doors. Due to its exterior dimensions, it was not considered a "compact" based on Japanese vehicle size requirements, and as such, was very similar in dimensions to the Legend, with the only difference being that the Inspire had a 5 cylinder engine.

The Inspire offered a luxurious approach to the interior as a lower price alternative to the top level Legend, and both vehicles were sold at Honda Clio dealerships. Interior appearance was provided by the Japanese furniture company, Tendo Mokko, offering unique leather interior and genuine wood inserts for the dashboard and center console. A choice of wood inserts were offered.

The SOHC 4 valve per cylinder G20A Straight-5 cylinder was all new, with a choice of 2.0 L or 2.5 L engine displacement. The five cylinder was a compromise between the smaller, frugal but weaker 4 cylinder engine, and the larger, less fuel efficient V6 engine, as Honda wanted the engine to be a good match for the Inspire's luxury aspirations. The harshness typical of a 5 cylinder engine was minimized by adding a counter rotating balance shaft and improved engine motor mounts. The engine produced adequate torque, which helped its fuel efficiency.

The transmission is attached to the bottom of the engine, which allowed the powertrain to remain slightly behind the front wheels. This also gave the car a near perfect 50/50 front to rear weight distribution. The turning radius of the Inspire also was not as tight as its competitors, but the Inspire did have an advantage in adverse traction conditions.

Second generation series UA1 through UA3 (1995–1998)

The second generation Inspire was almost identical in its dimensions to the first generation 1986 Honda Legend, with that vehicle having been updated and enlarged to better fit the role of flagship for the Honda and Acura brands. The second generation Inspire was available with the Type I 3.2 L V6 offered in the Legend on July 6, 1995, while still offering the straight 5 in both 2.0 L and 2.5 L versions. The profile of this vehicle was reduced somewhat to 1,405 mm (55.3 in). The luxury approach was enhanced.

The Inspire, sold at Honda Clio dealerships, was also known as the Honda Saber (Japanese: ホンダ・セイバー) and sold at the Honda Verno sales network, and mechanically identical to the UA1-UA3 Inspire

November 8, 1996 saw the introduction of dual airbags for front seat passengers and anti-lock brakes as standard.

As the recession in Japan began to take hold, cost cutting measures began to appear in the reduction in the quality of the interior. The interior approach began to take on a more family sedan friendly appearance, with influences from the Honda Odyssey.

This version of the Inspire competed with the Toyota Camry Gracia, Mark II, Cresta and Chaser, the Nissan Cefiro and Skyline, the Mazda Millenia and the Mitsubishi Diamante.

Third generation series UA4 and UA5 (1998–2003)

The third generation Honda Inspire/Saber was introduced October 15, 1998, and was the first Honda designed and built in the USA and imported to Japan. It was based on the CG series, US-spec Honda Accord sedan, and closely related to the new Honda Torneo. Sales of the popular US-spec Honda Accord began to be affected by the SUV growing in popularity, and Honda decided to send some of the Accords being produced in the USA to Japan.

The Inspire no longer offered the Straight-5 engine, and instead offered the 3.2 L J32A V6 and 2.5 L J25A V6 with VTEC, and a choice of a 4- or 5-speed automatic transmission. The bodystyle was changed from hardtop to sedan as a result of the USA-spec Accord having been upgraded to meet USA requirements for improved side impact protection.

The Honda Saber was discontinued April 2003 along with the consolidation of the Honda Japan sales networks Primo, Clio and Verno.

Fourth generation series UC1 (2003-2007)

The fourth generation was introduced June 18, 2003. This vehicle was built at the Saitama Prefecture facility in Sayama, Japan.

This is the first vehicle that showcases Honda's "VCM" technology, on the 3.0 L J30A V6 with i-VTEC with a 5 speed automatic transmission. "HiDS" also made the options list. Honda also made available its "IHCC", the collision avoidance "CMBS", "C-MOS", which utilized a front mounted camera to assist in unwanted lane drifting.

A styling update appeared on November 4, 2005, changing both the front grille and rear tail lights. LED was introduced for the rear tail lights.

In September 2002, a straight-4 DOHC i-VTEC 2.4 L K24A engine was made available on the USA-spec vehicle only.

This model is sold in Southeast Asia market in the name Honda Accord. The engine available are 2.0L, 2.4L and 3.0L all in I-VTEC engine.

Fifth generation series CP3 (2007–present)

The fifth generation Honda Inspire was released on December 19, 2007 in Japan, with a further increased enhancement to the vehicles dimensions, which are on par with the second generation Honda Legend. The Inspire is now one level below the fourth generation Honda Legend, with a comparable level of luxury and refinement of the Legend. The AWD system, called "SH-AWD" is not available on this iteration of the Inspire, however. Honda technologies such as "CMBS", Adaptive Cruise Control, called IHCC and HDD navigation equipment are included.The power steering is now electric power assisted for better handling and response.

The Inspire now uses the base model V6 from the Legend. The Inspire has over the previous generations grown in all dimensions in that it is larger than the first and second generation Honda/Acura Legends built between 1985-1996, with a larger and more powerful V6 engine. It matches the dimensions of the fourth generation Honda Legend/Acura RL, and the Acura TL in every dimension almost exactly (wheelbase, length, width, and height). One of the primary differences between the Legend/RL, the Inspire, and the TL is that the Legend is built in Japan, the TL is built in the USA, and the Inspire is built at multiple locations.

This vehicle is now being made available in Thailand and Southeast Asia, using the 2.0L, 2.4 L DOHC K24A and 3.5L with i-VTEC under the name Honda Accord. There are few exterior and interior differences between this Inspire and the US-spec Honda Accord.

External links

• (Japanese) Official Japanese site
• (Japanese) Inspire family tree