9000RPM
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I don't think Honda is launching the brand Acura in Japan. It's been known for awhile that Honda is set to introduce MDX back into their homeland Japan.
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danielgr
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Well, what's surprising is that they keep the Acura sign, and not the Honda one. I mean, if they really want it to be a Honda, they could just have put the "H".
Also notice that they keep the "MDX" name too.
So, maybe this really means they're gonna "open" the Acura brand in Japan. And I'm thinking also in the new RL/Legend who's coming in Japan this summer. Maybe both MDX and Legend will now also be badged as Acura's in Japan. Maybe they just were too lacy, and don't even take one minute to put "H's" all around the car.
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fcd
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It looks to me that the car is right-hand drive as well. But then again they did add side markers so maybe it is an Acura. Only time will tell.
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FinalVibes
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That would be kinda neat to have the Acura brand around Japan. It might give Honda a better opportunity against Toyota. I just hope they don't change the model names. I prefer Legend and Inspire/Saber than 3.5RL and 3.2TL.
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md810
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This has nothing to do with anything, but I thought that it was weird to see a TL with Honda logos. I wonder if they'll launch Acura in Europe (UK, etc) as well. Any chances of them changing the names back in this country too???
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md810
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This has nothing to do with anything, but I thought that it was weird to see a TL with Honda logos. I wonder if they'll launch Acura in Europe (UK, etc) as well. Any chances of them changing the names back in this country too???
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enzojr
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If you look closely at the pictures, I think the MDX in the picture is left-hand drive, because the steering "hump" is on the left side of the vehicle.
Also, the bottom of the screen where it mentions the MDX *appears* to only be a disclaimer of a sort. Sorta like "The car pictured above is an American model - the Acura MDX".
My suggestion is that they just photoshopped a side marker light onto an American MDX picture and didn't bother with the badges (since the disclaimer is there). The Legend name is way too popular in Japan for them to alter it into the RL (only Honda NA is stupid enough to do that).
Another possibility is that Acura will offer something of a MDX Special Edition for Canada with the side marker lights (like the TL Type-S A-Spec).
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HardRevingBoi
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Well they have Lexus in the U.K as far as i Know but thats the only Japanese luxury brand that is in Europe at the moment. Am sure Acura would do pretty well in Europe, peoples in the U.K mostly complain that we have the RSX and they got stuck with the Civic, why we have the TL/CL and they only have the Accord, and such. As far as Acura in Japan? well I don't think it would work out too well since that have pretty much wat we have here Legend/RL, Inspire/Saber/TL/CL,Integra/RSX,Accord,TSX, and all the Honda vehicles. The only Acura they don't have over there is the MDX but thats not enough.
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ChthonicPowers
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HardRevingBoi wrote:
Well they have Lexus in the U.K as far as i Know but thats the only Japanese luxury brand that is in Europe at the moment. Am sure Acura would do pretty well in Europe, peoples in the U.K mostly complain that we have the RSX and they got stuck with the Civic, why we have the TL/CL and they only have the Accord, and such. As far as Acura in Japan? well I don't think it would work out too well since that have pretty much wat we have here Legend/RL, Inspire/Saber/TL/CL,Integra/RSX,Accord,TSX, and all the Honda vehicles. The only Acura they don't have over there is the MDX but thats not enough.
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Honda has had a very poor run in Europe for a long time now. In fact it was producing at such little capacity at its Swindon plant that Honda shifted CR-V's production to Swindon to bring down average cost per unit. Now CR-V is being exported from Swindon to US.
Additonally, Lexus isnt doing very well in Europe...even with all its resources.
Simple reason: Lexus doesnt have any heritage. Europeans love their cars to have a heritage..a history behind its name..especially true for luxury maruqee. And Lexus doesnt offer any heritage/history whatsoever.
So no. I do not foresee Acura brand outside US, Hong Kong (yes, its already there in Hong Kong) and/or Japan.
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MB4
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yeah...
wut ever the jdm mdx will look like
it won't have amber corner lights ....
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Bullwinkle
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I can't believe that Honda would be that sloppy to leave the 'A' on the MDX if there were not a reason. It took hours to make that graphic. It would take seconds to change the 'A' to an 'H'.
I have been to two customer previews of Honda prototypes (including the MDX) and the Honda types are nothing if not meticulous and deliberate. Nothing that the public sees happens by chance or whim. Nothing.
As I think about it, Acura in Europe makes sense, too. That would explain discontinuing the Integra. What if they started out with the MDX, RSX and new RL? And you could add CL's and TL's as well.
Though european's like heritage, they also like performance. Maybe Honda would have to go with a more performance-oriented brand image for Acura in Europe?
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enzojr
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The Integra hasn't been discontinued. The RSX as we know it is still known as the Integra everywhere else in the world. RL is known as the Legend, TL as the Inspire, so forth.
Both Nissan and Honda were forced into creating a luxury division cos Lexus wanted to go after the German rivals in 1989. In Japan right now, the emphasis is not so much on luxury (they like practicality and sportiness), hence it is somewhat unnecessary to create luxury divisions there.
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enzojr
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The Integra hasn't been discontinued. The RSX as we know it is still known as the Integra everywhere else in the world. RL is known as the Legend, TL as the Inspire, so forth.
Both Nissan and Honda were forced into creating a luxury division cos Lexus wanted to go after the German rivals in 1989. In Japan right now, the emphasis is not so much on luxury (they like practicality and sportiness), hence it is somewhat unnecessary to create luxury divisions there.
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ChthonicPowers
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enzojr wrote:
The Integra hasn't been discontinued. The RSX as we know it is still known as the Integra everywhere else in the world. RL is known as the Legend, TL as the Inspire, so forth.
Both Nissan and Honda were forced into creating a luxury division cos Lexus wanted to go after the German rivals in 1989. In Japan right now, the emphasis is not so much on luxury (they like practicality and sportiness), hence it is somewhat unnecessary to create luxury divisions there.
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Honda has gone on record to state that there will indeed be no Accord Type-R for Europe starting 2003. However, in the same statement they mentioned that if there is sufficient demand, then Honda will launch an Accord type-S model in Europe. That leads me to believe there will be no Acura for Europe since a Honda product will already be wearing a type-S emblem, essentially created for Acura brand.
Secondly, let me correct you on the launch dates for Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti.
Honda was the first Japanese company to launch a luxury car brand in US back in 1987. Toyota, and Nissan followed with Lexus and Infiniti in 1989.
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Babingatron
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ACTUALLY, Acura launched in 1986. Early 1986. I know it was not 87 because my aunt and uncle bought an 87 Integra RS at the end of 1986.
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danielgr
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Well, just to say that's funny to hear somebody refearing at Acura as "performace branch". For me, a performance branch is an R one, not a powerfull one.
For example, the US 3.0L accord with 240 Hp is not a performance car, nor the 260 Hp TL-S , the japanish Euro Accord with only 220 Hp, is what I call a "performance car".
Of course, it depends on people...
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BrassRox
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I have always wondered, what is the difference between the Inspire and Sabre? They both come in Type-S models, so I guess they're not positioned as the sport model or luxury model.
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Bullwinkle
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Correct me if I am wrong, but i thought that at this point, there is no Integra (our RSX) in Europe. I checked the Honda Germany site and there is no Integra there. I thought it was discontinued in Europe with the new generation.
Last edited by Bullwinkle on 01-18-2003 16:36
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jdsmeak
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Hey, just tried something out to test and verify whether there is a possibility that Acura brand may be revealed and marketed in Japan... go and enter http://www.acura.co.jp/ in your browser! It exists and is a valid domain name!!! Amazing, this may actually be a possibility!
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9000RPM
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They have very few cosmetic changes but Inspire is sold only in Clio owned dealership with Saber in Primo and Verno.
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ChthonicPowers
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Plus..Honda only sold 8 NSX's in UK last year...they were thinking about discontinuing it. I dunno if they'll go through with this or not.
Honda must've pulled the curtains for Legend in UK simply because it doesnt sell too well..not because they're going to relaunch it is Acura.
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YH
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Acura.co.jp is owned by Acura Inc. They are an online store, and they don't seem related to Honda.
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YH
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They say the pictures and the equipments are from a North America version of the Acura MDX.
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Wizard
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No Integra AND no Legend for now, in Europe. To me it appears Honda plans on expanding Acura brand worldwide, and the next destination would be Japan.
As far as the MDX picture goes, I found it interesting since it carried the Acura badge. There is no reason why Honda would put an 'Acura' on the website without a reason. Anyway, we might find out in couple of months.
It is possible that the redesigned Legend and Saber will be launched after MDX as RL and TL respectively in Japan, and Inspire (also the TL) and Accord could take care of upper market sedan for the Honda lineup.
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Power Of Dreams
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Inspire/Saber= USDM Accord V6
New Acura TL based on Accord
Honda can easily buy acura.co.jp, or just go with acura.jp.
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Integra_Heaven
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since i'm in Canada, I was curious about what are Clio, Primo and Verno (also seen those on Honda.co.jp)?
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Integra_Heaven
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they don't have a CL equivalent in japan, they only have the sedan
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Integra_Heaven
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86 in USA and 87 in Canada
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Integra_Heaven
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The RSX is sold in Canada and USA
The Integra is sold in Japan and Australia
No one in Europe that why they have Civic type R
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