I am thinking about writing a long piece for The Truth About Cars on the topic of Acura. Specifically, I want to argue that Acura was doomed from the start because the Legend was not offered with a V8 (unlike fellow upstarts Lexus and Infiniti). I also want to end the piece with my belief that the first gen TSX was the last great Acura.
What are your thoughts about the brand?
The original Legend was a brilliantly engineered car. But the Legend paled in power and paniche compared to both Infinity and Lexus.
ReplyDeleteThe lineup has been stale for almost a decade. The TLX is s proper step in the right direction.
Agree with you that the TSX was the last viable sporty Acura.
It's the Japanese Lincoln.
ReplyDeleteAgreed on the TSX.
Alan, that is actually a brilliant analysis. So true, I feel that both of these companies have lost their direction. Acura does not have the long brand history of Lincoln. But both companies have strayed away from what made them unique. Early Acura's did not v8s like Infinity/Lexus, but were much more driver centric. To me, the TSX was the apex of a reasonably priced driver oriented near luxury car.
ReplyDeleteI still have to give credit to Cadillac for reinventing their brand. That is how one reinvents a brand properly.
i can't say i've had strong feelings for any recent acuras. but i think we'd be remiss if we didn't give the company some credit for the integra. i grew up in the midwest in the 80s, and EVERYONE wanted one. disclaimer: i'm asian, so there is that...
ReplyDeleteAll good points. But what I really want to know is: who is the narrator? I totally know that voice, but I can't pin down who it is!
ReplyDeleteBut you know, Honda/Acura has never produced a V8 powertrain. (And no we don't count the Mk I Honda Crossroad, a rebadged Lando Discovery, which come to think of it is probably worthy of a long long footnote like this one.) Doing so would seem to go completely against the company ethos of efficiency.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth noting that in the domestic JP market too, the Honda lineup is much lamented among auto (not necessarily motorcycle) enthusiasts. Their product line is all about minivans big and small, and I think that's just a result of some pragmatic thinking that reflects the market demands. The US team gets to pick from this list, and minus the kei cars, it's slim pickings.
As a Honda fan, does it make me sad that the products have so easily catered to dullified demands of auto consumers as a whole? Sure. While it reminds me of when GM put a bunch of generic product managers in charge of its brands, I actually think the company's current execution is pretty decent.
(Did we ever talk about how I also used to lust after Honda paint colors? Phoenix Red on 3genPrelude, Riviera Blue on 1gen Integra, Horizon Gray 2gen Integra...)
Not sure if I'm working the Googles properly, but I mean just look at this stock chart. Turns out, they make dull, efficient boxy products that make money-printer sounds out the exhaust.
ReplyDeleteLeaving the lack of a V8 aside, the biggest failure of Acura was the lack of a RWD platform. Lexus and Infiniti both recognized that the only credible luxury cars were RWD. Of course both brands also proved that not all cars in the stable had to have RWD, but you had to have a proper flagship to get people interested and thinking your brand was a credible alternative to the Europeans at the time. Honda totally missed the boat on this with an all FWD stable. The Legend was a great car with a great engine, and had it been RWD we might think of Acura differently today. I do have a lot of love for the Vigor, Integra, RSX and the TSX, but the rest of the brand's cars always elicited a big fat "meh" from me.
ReplyDeleteBut what I really want to know is: who is the narrator? I totally know that voice, but I can't pin down who it is!
ReplyDeleteRicardo Montalbán?