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2009 Honda Legend reveals de-shielded Acura RL
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Legend
Remember when Superman chose to relinquish his super powers for love in the Man of Steel's first sequel? Without that 'S' on his chest, Clark Kent quickly got the crap kicked out of him by a truck driver. If the 2009 Acura RL (right) with its giant shield grille is Superman, then the Euro-only 2009 Honda Legend is surely Clark Kent. So many people have decried the new shield grille that we thought it'd be interesting to gauge reaction to the new Legend, which is basically the same car as the RL without the Acura overtones. To our eyes the Legend's new face is as boring and uninteresting as Acura's new grille is obnoxious, which truly does it make it the Clark Kent of cars.Gallery: 2009 Honda Legend
[Source: Autoblog Spanish]
PRESS RELEASE
Extensive Updates for the Honda Legend
- New 3.7 litre V6-engine with more torque, lower CO2 emissions and improved fuel efficiency
- Faster acceleration
- Extensive styling updates
- Revised automatic gearbox with faster shift times and more responsive paddle-shift
- Even greater refinement for noise absorption to enhance Active Noise Cancellation system
At the Moscow motor show, Honda has revealed the look of the re-styled Honda Legend to Europe.
This revised model gives a new edge to the top of the range Honda and responds to customer feedback on the current model. The most noticeable change is to the exterior style of the Legend, with new lights, bonnet, front wings, boot lid, bumpers and the adoption of standard 18" wheels.
Under the restyled bonnet is one of the most powerful V6 engines in this sector, giving the power of a V8 engine, while retaining the smoothness and fuel economy inherent to this layout.
The new engine has an additional 200cc that helps to give the new Legend greater torque across the whole rev range. Complementing this increase in capacity the 3.7 litre V6 has VTEC added to the exhaust valves, joining the system already fitted on the inlet side. These realised a 20% increase in torque in the mid-range. The result is an enhancement to the feeling of power, as well as the improved acceleration.
Coupled to this revised engine, is an all-new 5-speed gearbox that helps the driver exploit and enjoy the revised power unit. The new box has switched to a straight gate and empowers the driver with additional control over gear selection with revised steering wheel mounted paddle-shifters and new gearbox software. The new transmission reacts faster to changes in driver input even in the normal automatic mode and so gives the driver access to power when it's most needed.
The combined effects of the improved transmission and increase in torque mean that the new Legend can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds, 0.2 seconds quicker than before. Fuel economy and CO2 have also improved over the previous model, despite the improved acceleration performance.
Central to the concept of the current Legend is the cabin refinement which reduces the stress of modern motoring. This theme has been taken a stage further with the new car by equipping it with a suite of NVH reducing technologies. The most advanced of these is the Active Noise Cancellation system (ANC), which cancels out low frequency noise by playing the opposite wave form through the Bose sound system. New to the flagship is a new form of sound deadening mat that has improved noise reducing properties and is lighter than conventional materials. An acoustic windscreen and improved bushing complete these improvements to the already very refined Honda flagship.
Safety is a cornerstone of the Legend, and adds Active Head Restraints to its already impressive safety equipment. The new head restraints are similar in principle to the items found in the Civic and Accord models and compliment the reassuring ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure. Optional in some markets are the Adaptive Cruise Control and CMBS systems, which use millimetre wave radar to detect and help reduce the risk of collisions.
The chassis of the Legend has also received some attention to further enhance the Legend's rock solid, yet entertaining handling. Although the very advanced SH-AWD system remains unchanged the settings for the suspension have been altered to improve the ride and handling.
The already well equipped Legend gets some more revisions to compliment the new model. Rear seat passengers can now enjoy the benefits of heated seats, while the Bose Audio system now has a USB socket, to enable the easy connection of an iPod.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
dewuser 4:46PM (9/02/2008)
I'll take Acura's new grille obnoxious grille any day over Honda's bland grille
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Brian 5:01PM (9/02/2008)
How ever much I dislike the direction Acura has decided to go with their new cars I question why they didn't translate the MDX's grille onto the cars. It's grill at lease have some sharpness and texture to it which results in a much less rubber-made look.
Just a thought.... Anyone else agree?
thomas 8:48PM (9/02/2008)
i agree.... to some extent
i agree that the MDX has a better executer grille
but i can see how acura wants to differentiate its trucks (so to speak) from its cars
imagine if you will the same grille that everyone is crying about from acura's car lineup, but simply in a more subdued brushed finish like the MDX
i think that would make them look more refined as oposed to the bling
Bluestreak 4:47PM (9/02/2008)
Something as simple as a grille doesn't make or break a car design. Both the Legend and RL are boring to look at, though one is saddled with a conservative grille and one a... hideous one.
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stratojet 4:50PM (9/02/2008)
I am surprised nobody really noticed: it looks exactly like a Camry.
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jsjs 5:16PM (9/02/2008)
Actually, w/ that grille, the front-end is totally reminiscent of the Sonata.
Darrell 8:43PM (9/02/2008)
that's funny, because the Camry looks like a bloated previous-gen TL
ken_aisin 4:56PM (9/02/2008)
Autoblog staff: I hope Honda did pay you guys to applaud Acura's recent hideous designs for the U.S. market. If not, you guys must have some distinctive acquired tastes. First you praised the design of the hideous new TL, now you're praising this hideous RL grill. What's wrong with you guys?
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thomas 8:54PM (9/02/2008)
maybe they recognize that in todays highly competitive luxury market, car makers have to bold and offensive.
does anyone remember when a couple of German car makers used to make very conservatively designed sedans? and since they have both gone to different extremes to make their cars distinctive? and how people whined about how they thought they were ugly and how they should return to the way they used to design their cars?
and now look at the success BMW and Audi are enjoying.
jayage 5:01PM (9/02/2008)
Oh boy, aren't designers supposed to steal from the best? That rear looks like BMW 6, and that's not a very nice thing to say about a car...
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Sean 5:04PM (9/02/2008)
Clearly the Acura is the evil of 2 lessors.
As much as I like the RL, the Acura badge is too ugly. It is so prevalent that I am not won-over by its mechanical brilliance. I wouldn't buy it.
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Lee 5:06PM (9/02/2008)
Legend>RL
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tyson 5:32PM (9/02/2008)
x2
subzerohf 5:12PM (9/02/2008)
When was the last time you saw a late model RL on the road? Can't remember? Me too. Well, with the new grill, it makes it a little easier to remember, doesn't it? Although, the TL has almost the same hideous grill. It is sad that Honda has lost its magic. So sad.
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DL 5:24PM (9/02/2008)
Much easier on the eyes.
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Darrell 5:13PM (9/02/2008)
I've seen it so much, that I'm used to it. I would "take" the Acura than the Honda. then again, I would take the TL
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Jake 5:33PM (9/02/2008)
I think that we have a car company that has taken the crown from GM for being the most shameless at re-badging.
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Jason 6:58PM (9/02/2008)
That would make sense... if these two cars weren't offered on two separate continents. Acura doesn't exist anywhere in the world except North America, so how could they sell it as an Acura in Asia? Compare that to GM, who will sell you 4 different cars in the same country with different badges on the exterior, that being the ONLY difference between them (aside from minor options).
T4RBoarder 5:52PM (9/02/2008)
The honda looks better hands down, the new grille acrua is using on all of its cars simple ruins the look of them.
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iQuack 5:51PM (9/02/2008)
The new elephant seal snout on the RL is nominally repulsive, but the RL is a good car as are all Acuras.
My beef with the RL is that it's way overpriced. No need to spend $50K for the RL unless AWD is a requirement. The TL is a better choice for the money, and you can still get that lovely snout pictured below (if the link works):
http://www.yathin.com/trips/us/3/ptreyes/3/elephant_seal.jpg
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