Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Please note that gratuitous links to your site are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments.
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this thread(Page 1 of 1)
smj @ May 5th 2008 9:22AM
The reason for switching from Legend to RL is that the general public did not associate "Legend" with Acura. They needed to come up with the anonymous and innocuous "RL" so as to more closely associate the car with the brand.
Dustin @ May 5th 2008 1:11PM
Exactly. Maybe someday people will just let go of this topic and move on.
Kotse @ May 5th 2008 1:13PM
I'd say it's more of marketing the "Alpha-Numeric" nomenclature (Audi "A4", BMW "3**", MBZ "E***", etc..) by Acura/Honda to the masses thinking they should be with the "In" crowd/big league to cash in big $$$...wrong ACURA!
I've been saying this all along, dropping the big name equity "Legend" by Acura for the lame "RL" name sales-wise is a...CURSE!
psarhjinian @ May 5th 2008 2:53PM
I'd agree that dropping "Legend" wasn't a hot idea, but "TL" certainly seems to be doing better than "Vigor". I'd say the jury's out on Integra vs. RSX.
Typesbad @ May 5th 2008 5:01PM
smj has it right. The advantage of alphanumeric names is people invariably refer to the brand rather than the model. specifically, people refer to their "Lexus" or "Mercedes" rather than "GS" or "C-Class". This actually calculates to a measurable difference in brand image, and more importantly, Brand loyalty. It was when the brand referral effect was found to be working on Japanese rivals, Lexus and Infiniti that Acura decided to make the change.
Frankly, I don't really mind. "Legend" was always a bit overblown and "Integra" was just as bland as all the other generic "-a" names like Sentra, Maxima,Corolla, Sephia and so on.
Brad @ May 7th 2008 4:28AM
Some of you are on the right track...we did a case on this in my marketing strategy class. They found that consumers really associate the alphanumeric naming scheme with luxury cars, and the Legend, et. al. weren't cutting it. Once they switched, sales shot through the roof and people started saying they drove an Acura instead of a Legend, thus reinforcing the brand name and building brand equity. It's super lame marketing speak, I know, but that's what happened.