Honda Legend

     American Honda's luxury division introduced a 4-cylinder 2-door midsize coupe in spring 1996, as an early '97 model. Dubbed 2.2CL, it was the first Acura model to be designed and built in the United States. Also used in the latest Honda Accord, its 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine developed 145 horsepower. A companion 3.0CL, powered by a new 200-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engine, arrived in the fall of 1997.

      Assembled at Honda's plant in Ohio, along with the smaller Honda Civic, the CL was based on the same front-drive design as Honda's Accord. Styling and interior features differ, however. In size and price, the CL was slotted between the Acura Integra and TL. Both engines were produced in Ohio. Each used a single overhead camshaft, with four valves per cylinder and Honda's VTEC (variable valve timing) design. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard on the 2.2CL. A 4-speed automatic transmission was standard on the 3.0CL, and optional on the 2.2CL.Dual airbags and antilock 4-wheel disc brakes were standard on both versions of the CL. A standard keyless entry system eliminated the need for an exterior trunk lock. Leather upholstery was included in an optional Premium Package.

      The Acura Legend, sold as the Honda Legend outside the U.S., Canada, and parts of China, was a sporty luxury vehicle sold from 1986 to 1995 as both a sedan and a coupe. It was one of the first vehicles sold under the Acura  nameplate, and was the top-spec sedan under the Acura nameplate until being replaced in 1996 by the Acura RL (officially badged as the Acura 3.5RL). The 3.5RL was a rebadged version of the third generation Honda Legend.

First generation (1986-1990)

First generation

• The 1st generation Legend shared its engine, transmission, some chassis and other parts with the Rover 800 series models, sold in the United States under the Sterling  brand. The 1st generation of Legends was co-developed with Rover group and sold under the Rover name in the UK  and France.
• The Japan Domestic Market  version of the 1990 Legend (2nd generation) was the first vehicle offered with a navigation system, although it was not satellite-based and instead relied on accelerometers.
• The "replacement" for the Legend sedan is sold as the Acura RL  in North America, although Honda continues to sell it as the Legend in most other areas of the world.
• The tooling and intellectual property rights of the second generation Legend were licensed to Daewoo Motors  of South Korea, where a clone of the Legend sedan, called the Daewoo Arcadia, was produced from 1993 to 2000. During this period, Honda also held a small stake in Daewoo Motors.

Awards

The Legend coupe was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year  for 1987. The coupe also made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list  for 1988 through 1990.