Acura

“Precision Crafted Performance.”

Red 2021 Acura NSX

A Brief History of Acura

1986 Acura marketing T-shirt

Let’s rewind to 1986. Top Gun dominates the box office, Whitney Houston blasts on the radio, and The Cosby Show is the most popular program on television. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and Christie Brinkley is America’s hottie. It’s the year of Challenger, Chernobyl, and Pan Am Flight 73. The Mets win the World Series, and power suits and cropped tank tops are haute couture. Life is good, and it’s about to get even better because, in March, Honda unveils its bold passion project known internally as “Channel II.”

Channel II is more than just a new model; it is a new theoretical perspective of what a Japanese automaker can do and become. It will revolutionize the luxury car industry and give Japan a seat at the table with European luxury automakers. It will change the definition of luxury and what people expect from their cars. Simply put, Channel II changes everything. In March of 1986, Honda unveils Channel II as Acura, from the Latin prefix acu, meaning mechanically precise or sharp. From then on, the world of luxury cars would never be the same.

1986 Acura Legend

Acura debuted with the Legend, a boxy 24-value fuel-injected V-6 sedan with independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. The 2.5-liter engine produced a modest 151 horsepower and 154 lb-ft, propelling it to 60 mph in a respectable eight seconds. The Legend came standard with a premium audio system and air conditioning. In 1987, the first full year of sales, Acura sold 55,000 Legends, fueled primarily by the Legend’s double-wishbone front suspension modeled after Honda’s Formula One team. The updated suspension gave the Legend superior ride quality and agility.

1986 Acura Integra

If the Legend was executive class, then the Integra was its sexier younger sibling. Debuting with a fuel-injected 1.6 liter 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with a dual-overhead-camshaft that cranked out 113 horsepower and roared to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds, the Integra was no stick in the mud. Channeling design vibes from Toyota’s MR2, the Integra featured a calibrated suspension system and large disc brakes, earning it the title of one of the best-handling cars on the road. Selling well over 200,000 units by the close of the decade, the success of the Integra firmly established Acura as a viable contender in the luxury car market. It inspired Toyota and Nissan to follow suit with their luxury car brands, Lexus and Infiniti.

Acura kicked off the 1990s with the introduction of the NSX, a V-6 mid-engine, rear-wheel drive Ferrari-killer that shredded the asphalt with 274 horsepower and howled to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The NSX was the first all-aluminum production car, becoming one of Acura’s many firsts. Acura was also the first to include in-dash GPS navigation, super-handling all-wheel drive (with torque vectoring), and a three-row unibody SUV.

2025 Acura logo

Despite starting the decade with a blast, the 90s proved disappointing for Acura. Diminishing sales and an enigmatic switch to alphanumeric car names (3.2 TL, anyone?) sent Acura engineers back to the drawing board. As Y2K drew closer and the end of the world imminent, Acura found a motley crew of supporters in young enthusiasts. The tuner subculture adopted Acuras because of their reputation for “rev-happy” engines. The result? Acura earned a loyal cult following among tuners and forever cemented its reputation in street racing. As Carson Daly, Christina Aguilera, and Blink-182 swooned America over the precipice of Y2K, Acura was already planning its resurrection.

Rising like a phoenix from the ashes, Acura sloughed off the dismal 90s with a flurry of activity in the nascent years of the new millennium. They introduced the practical MDX, the stylish RSX, and the titillating TSX. The RDX, a compact crossover SUV, and the mid-size MDX would become flagship models for Acura and its best-selling vehicles in its history.

Silver 2025 Acura ZDX BEV

Today, Acura offers a modest Rolodex of five models - the Integra, TLX, MDX, RDX, and ZDX. The ZDX is the love child of Honda’s partnership with GM and uses GM’s Ultium battery platform and EV architecture. This unlikely romance creates a crossover with a low center of gravity, a near 50/50 weight distribution, and an adaptive air suspension. But if you really want to experience Acura’s soul, look no further than the Integra Type S DE5. Built for the track, the Type S DE5 features a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo that produces a ridiculous 360HP and 340lb-ft. You don’t have to be an adrenaline junkie to appreciate this work of art.

Over the past 39 years, Acura has stretched the limits of what a luxury car brand can be and should be. Through their innovative designs, passion for precision, and standardization of luxury features, Acura has crafted a reputation for reliability, performance, and enthusiasm. This millennial car brand knows what it wants and doesn’t ask for permission. Begun as a proof-of-concept project for Honda, Acura has established itself in the land of giants, and this little halfling isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Silver 2021 Acura NSX

Alex TheHoward - Team ModernChassis

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