Acura

After a decade of research and development, Acura's debut in 1986 marked the beginning of a bold and spectacularly successful venture: the creation of an entirely new automobile division, and the first Japanese luxury car brand. Garnering awards from the very start, in 1987 the Acura Legend won Motor Trend's prestigious Import Car of the Year trophy, and the Integra made Car and Driver's Ten Best list the same year. Acura's penchant for building high-performance, innovative, and meticulously crafted vehicles developed into an award-winning line of vehicles that perpetually redefines luxury performance.

History.
Turning heads and exploding with engineering prowess, the stunning NSX sport coupe hit the streets in late 1990, blending mathematics and metaphysics to create what Motor Trend called the best sports car ever built. This aluminum bodied supercar made a quantum leap in automotive innovation by incorporating complete comfort and reliability into an exotic sports coupe.

Continuing to advance their pioneering line of automobiles, Acura moved into the sport utility vehicle field with the unveiling of the legendary MDX, which proceeded to win Motor Trend's Sport/Utility of the Year award in 2001. 2003 brought the redesign of the popular TL, striking a chord with the tech-savvy consumer by offering innovations like Bluetooth and DVD-Audio. And in 2004, the all-new 2005 RL made its much-anticipated arrival with the most powerful Acura engine to date, North America's most advanced all-wheel drive systemthe revolutionary Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and North America's first real-time traffic feature.

Looking into the future, Acura designs concept cars like the visionary RDX, an urban adventure vehicle that combines high-tech functionality, street performance, and the versatility of an SUV. From new business models to new technologies and manufacturing processes Acura has blazed a path of innovation and achievement all but unrivaled in the automobile industry. Attractive design, muscular engine power, benchmark technology and everyday practicality have made Acura the favorite of a new generation of enthusiast drivers.

Innovation.
Acura's heritage of innovation perpetually redefines state of the art in luxury automobiles. A steadfast commitment to Research & Development continues to pioneer industry firsts in fields such as structural design, safety, all-wheel drive systems, voice recognition, and cleaner engine technology.

The Drive-by-Wire Throttle System" brings a sophisticated electronic system normally found in racecars to the Acura gas pedal. And the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system introduces North Americas first independent torque-distribution control system to increase turning precision as well as safety.

Intelligent design propels the VTEC engine, another first that improves fuel efficiency at low rpm and boosts engine output at higher velocities. The tremendous passion Acura has for forward-thinking has led to safety advancements like Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE), building crash protection right into the frame of the car. Acuras innovative spirit continually pushes the envelope, staying on the cutting edge by sharpening the edge itself.

20th Anniversary.
With its seminal launch in 1986, Acura was the first Japanese automaker to sell luxury-performance cars in the United States. It was a bold move, but one that proved remarkably astute when the first two vehicles were introducedthe Legend luxury sedan and the sporty Integra series. Right out of the gate, Acura vehicles won a myriad of awards and accolades, and by the second year, it was the best-selling luxury-performance import nameplate in the country.

Over the past 20 years, Acura has continually redefined the driving experience with an array of groundbreaking models and technological firsts. Today, with additions like the RDX sport utility vehicle and a new design facility slated to open in Torrance, California, the Acura reign continues. And it's mightier than ever.

(source: Acura)

Brief History.
-1990 :: Acura dealerships in the US win 5th consecutive first-place ranking on the Customer Satisfaction Index by J. D. Power and Associates. Expansion of research and development in US announced.

1991
The Acura Legend coupe won Motor Trend's prestigious Import Car of the Year trophy.

Honda's revolutionary VTEC is introduced in the NSX.
Acura introduced in Hong Kong by Reliance Motors

1997
Integra Type-R introduced. Highest Hp/liter (108) of any production car.

2001
MDX won the prestigious Motor Trend "2001 Sport/Utility of the Year" award

2004
Acura introduced in Mexico by Honda de Mexico

2005
Acura TL wins "Consumer's Most Wanted Vehicle" at Edmunds.com