Acura Legend

Acura Legend
1991-1993 Acura Legend sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	Honda Legend
Production	1986–1995
Assembly	Saitama, Japan
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury car (sedan) Mid-size (coupe)
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan
Chronology
Successor	Acura RL Acura CL (Coupe)

First generation
1988 Acura Legend "LS" sedan
Overview
Production	1986–1990 KA1-6 chassis
Body and chassis
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Related	Rover 800-series Sterling 825/827
Powertrain
Engine	2.5 L C25A V6 2.7 L C27A V6
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Sedan: 108.7 in (2,761 mm) Coupe: 106.5 in (2,705 mm)
Length	1986-88 Sedan: 189.4 in (4,811 mm) Coupe: 188 in (4,775.2 mm) 1989-1990 Sedan: 190.6 in (4,841 mm)
Width	1989-1990 Sedan: 68.9 in (1,750 mm) 1986-88 Sedan: 68.3 in (1,735 mm) Coupe: 68.7 in (1,745 mm)
Height	Sedan: 54.7 in (1,389 mm) Coupe: 53.9 in (1,369 mm)

Second generation
2nd-gen Acura Legend coupe
Overview
Production	1990–1995 KA7/KA8 - chassis
Designer	Yusuke Saitoh (1988)
Layout	Longitudinal front-engine, front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	3.2 L C32A V6
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Coupe: 111.4 in (2,830 mm) Sedan: 114.6 in (2,911 mm)
Length	Sedan: 194.9 in (4,950 mm) Coupe: 192.5 in (4,890 mm)
Width	71.3 in (1,811 mm)
Height	1990-92 Coupe: 53.5 in (1,359 mm) Sedan: 55.1 in (1,400 mm) 1993-95 Coupe: 53.7 in (1,364 mm)

The Acura Legend is a luxury car manufactured by Honda. It was sold in the U.S., Canada, and parts of China under Honda's luxury brand, Acura, from 1986 to 1995, as both a sedan, which was classified as a Full-size car, and a coupe, which was classified as a Mid-size car. It was the first flagship sedan sold under the Acura nameplate, until being renamed in 1996 as the Acura 3.5RL. The 3.5RL was the North American version of the KA9 series Honda Legend.

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. trade representatives, restricting mainstream car sales. 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.

Honda introduced the model in Japan on October 22, 1986 to be their premier luxury model, and in North America for the 1987 model year, as the top of the line model for its then-new Acura lineup. 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. Sedans received the new engine for 1988.

The Legend was the first production Honda vehicle to offer a V6 engine. 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 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 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.