Acura is the luxury vehicle marque of Japanese automaker Honda.[1] The brand was launched in the United States and Canada in March 1986, marketing luxury, performance, and high-performance vehicles. It was introduced to Hong Kong in 1991, Mexico in 2004, China in 2006, Russia in 2014 and Kuwait in 2015, and is also sold in Ukraine.[2] Honda’s plan to introduce Acura to the Japanese domestic market (JDM) in 2008 was delayed, due to economic reasons,[3] and later withheld as a result of the 2008 financial crisis.[4]
Acura holds the distinction of being the first Japanese automotive luxury brand.[5] The creation of Acura coincided with the introduction of a JDM Honda dealership sales channel, called Honda Clio, which sold luxury vehicles, joining previously established Honda Verno, followed by Honda Primo the following year. In its first few years of existence, Acura was among the best-selling luxury marques in the US. Though sales were down in the mid-to-late 1990s, the brand experienced a revival in the early 2000s, due to drastic redesigns and the introductions of new models.[5]
In the late 1980s, the success of the company’s first flagship vehicle, the Legend, inspired fellow Japanese automakers Toyota and Nissan to launch their own luxury brands, Lexus and Infiniti, respectively. The 1990 launch of the NSX, a mid-engine exotic sports car, offered a reliable and practical alternative to exotic European sports cars, and introduced Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system to the North American market. The 1993 Legend coupé featured Honda’s first use of a six-speed manual transmission, mated to a Type II engine. In the late 1990s, Acura produced a Type R version of its compact Integra coupé, which featured a reduced curb weight, a stiffer and lower suspension, and a high-output VTEC engine.
In the early 2000s, Acura introduced new models, including the company’s first all-original SUV, the MDX, and two models which replaced the Integra coupé and sedan, the RSX and TSX, respectively. Type-S versions of the RSX, CL, and TL were added to the brand’s lineup during that decade. Acura’s 2005 RL flagship introduced SH-AWD, a torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system. The 2007 RDX, a crossover SUV, featured the first North American use of a turbocharged Honda engine. In the 2010s, Acura debuted more new models, including the ILX, TLX, and RLX, the latter of which introduced Acura’s Jewel Eye LED headlights. A second generation NSX was launched in 2015 and features a twin-turbocharged mid-engine, a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, and Sport Hybrid SH-AWD.
Acura 1991 Legend – Sedan Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 1991 NSX Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 1995 NSX Online Reference Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 1997 NSX Online Reference Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2000 Integra – Hatchback Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2000 Integra – Sedan Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2001 Integra – Hatchback Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2001 MDX Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2002 CL Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2002 RSX Service Manual
Acura 2003 CL – 3.2 Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2006 RSX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2011 CSX – Navigation ManualOwner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2012 RL – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2013 ZDX – Advanced Technology Guide(PDF)
Acura 2013 ZDX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2014 TL – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2014 TSX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2015 ILX Hybrid – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2017 MDX Hybrid – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2017 NSX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2017 RLX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2017 RLX Hybrid – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2018 ILX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2018 MDX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2018 RDX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura 2018 TLX – Owner’s Manual (PDF)
Acura Integra Owners Handbook Instruction SRS Manual 1994
Acura MDX Owner Manual
Acura RL Manual
Acura TL_Manual_2004
Acura TSX Owners Handbook Instruction Manual 2010
Acura ZDX Owner Manual
- 1986
- Acura debuts in North America as the first Japanese luxury marque.
- 1990
- Acura dealerships in the US win their fifth consecutive first-place ranking on the Customer Satisfaction Index by J. D. Power and Associates
- Acura announces that it will expand research and development in the US
- The second-generation Integra is introduced
- 1991
- The Legend coupe wins Motor Trend’s “Import Car of the Year” trophy
- Honda’s VTEC technology is introduced in the NSX
- Acura is introduced in Hong Kong by Reliance Motors
- 1992
- The Legend and Integra are joined by the Vigor
- 1994
- The third generation Integra is introduced
- 1995
- Acura SLX (re-badged Isuzu Trooper) is introduced
- 1996
- The CL is introduced as a 1997 model
- The Legend is replaced by the RL and the Vigor is replaced by the TL
- 1997
- The Integra Type R is introduced
- The NSX receives 20 more horsepower with a larger 3.2 L V6 engine and a new six-speed manual transmission
- The Civic-based 1.6 EL replaces the Integra sedan in the Canadian lineup, while the Integra sedan continued U.S. sales until 2001
- 1999
- Acura SLX is discontinued
- 2000
- The MDX is introduced as a 2001 model along with a new CL
- 2001
- The MDX wins the Motor Trend “2001 Sport/Utility of the Year” award
- Civic-based 1.7 EL launched, replacing the 1.6 EL, in the Canadian lineup
- 2002
- The Integra is replaced by the RSX, which is a left-hand-drive version of the fourth generation Honda Integra
- The TL Type-S is introduced
- The NSX receives a cosmetic face-lift, with the retractable headlights being replaced with fixed ones. The suspension is also slightly revised, and an automatic transmission becomes optional
- 2003
- The CL receives a new six-speed manual transmission, before being discontinued later that year
- 2004
- Acura is introduced in Mexico by Honda de Mexico
- Third generation Acura TL is introduced
- The TSX is introduced and becomes a very competitive choice against popular BMW 3 Series
- The MDX receives a mid-model change with more horsepower
- 2005
- The NSX is discontinued
- The RSX receives a mid-model change and more horsepower in the Type-S
- The new Acura TL wins “Consumer’s Most Wanted Vehicle” at Edmunds.com
- Acura RL is introduced with the SH-AWD system
- Acura drops engine size from 1.7 EL model name
- Acura is introduced in China
- Acura RDX is introduced with SH-AWD
- Acura introduces CSX to replace EL, and is only sold in Canada
- The RSX (as well as the Honda Integra) is discontinued
- The TSX gets mid-model change with 5 more horsepower
- 2007
- Acura MDX receives a redesign
- Acura TL Type-S is reintroduced, and the CSX Type-S is introduced in Canada
- 2008
- Acura leaves the Hong Kong market
- Acura introduces the new RL, which receives a mid-model change redesign
- Acura introduces new TSX at the New York Auto Show
- 2009 model year
- Acura TSX receives a redesign.
- Acura TL receives a redesign
- Acura RL receives a mid-model change
- Acura CSX receives a mid-model change
- 2010 model year
- Acura introduces all new ZDX
- Acura MDX receives a mid-model change
- Acura RDX receives a mid-model change
- Acura TSX receives an optional V6 engine from the TL and a minor mid-model change
- 2011 model year
- Acura TSX Sport Wagon is introduced
- Acura CSX is dropped
- 2012 model year
- Acura TL gets mid-model change
- Acura TSX Special Edition is introduced
- 2013 model year
- Acura ILX is introduced
- Acura RDX receives a redesign
- Acura RLX is released to the market.
- Acura MDX is redesigned.
2014 model year
- Acura is introduced in Russia.
- Last year for both TSX and TL.
- Acura ZDX is discontinued.
- RDX little changes
- Last year for ILX hybrid, leaving Acura with the RLX Sports Hybrid (that will be coming soon)
2015 model year
- Acura is introduced in Kuwait in April 2015.
- The 2015 Acura TLX is introduced and was expected to go on sale in summer 2014.
- The TL and TSX are retired, with the TLX taking its place.
- The ILX hybrid is dropped, leaving only the 2.0 and 2.4 engines.
2016 model year
- Acura leaves Russian market[25]
- A new generation NSX is introduced.
- Honda Motor Company filed a trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office to register the ‘CDX’ name, which is rumored to be for a sub-RDX Acura vehicle.