Fact Sheet

History of the Acura Automobile

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By Rob Wagner
eHow Contributing Writer
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History of the Acura Automobile
History of the Acura Automobile
Honda Motor Company

The Honda Motor Company created the luxury Acura brand in 1986 to compete against rival Japanese luxury cars Infiniti (Nissan) and Lexus (Toyota). Its image is based on a line of high-performance vehicles Honda produced for the racing circuit. In its debut, the Acura was offered as a sedan or hatchback, and was powered by a V-6 engine. It continues today as an upscale luxury sports sedan and SUV.

    First Models

  1. The debut 1986 Acura sedan.
     
    The debut 1986 Acura sedan.
    The Legend and Integra were the first Acura models.
  2. NSX

  3. The NSX has proved itself as a high-performance sports car.
     
    The NSX has proved itself as a high-performance sports car.
    To establish its racing pedigree, in 1990 Acura produced the New Sports eXperimental, or NSX, a mid-engine, all-aluminum sports car.
  4. Marketing

  5. The 1991 Integra did not garner much excitement among buyers.
     
    The 1991 Integra did not garner much excitement among buyers.
    Poor marketing and uninspired body design almost doomed Acura in the late 1980s as sales were slow, but Acura's relatively easy adaptability for engine performance tuning by car enthusiasts helped push it through the slowdown.
  6. Competition

  7. Interior of the 2010 Acura TL.
     
    Interior of the 2010 Acura TL.
    In 1999, the Acura 3.2 TL debuted to compete against the BMW 3-series as an entry-level luxury car.
  8. SUV Market

  9. The 2007 Acura RDX sport utility vehicle.
     
    The 2007 Acura RDX sport utility vehicle.
    The all-wheel drive RDX sport utility vehicle, powered by a 300-horsepower V-6 powerplant, was introduced in 2006 as a premium-level SUV.
  10. Performance

  11. The Acura ARX-01b competed at the 2008 American Le Mans race.
     
    The Acura ARX-01b competed at the 2008 American Le Mans race.
    The NSX added to Acura's high-performance reputation and furthered a sales boost after 2001 with consistent wins at the Sports Club of America, the 24-Hour Daytona and IMSA GT Championship races.
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