The Legend (right) is set for a new lease of life. Honda is secretly developing a new luxury rival to Mercedes' S-Class and BMW's 7-Series. According to our sources, engineers have opted for 4WD and V6 VTEC power - and a 300bhp prototype was testing at Honda's Takasu track in Japan days ago.

When the Legend arrives in 2005, it will join the Inspire. Effectively a 'baby' Legend, this is powered by a 250bhp 3.0 V6 with the latest version of Honda's i-VTEC. It uses all cylinders when accelerating, but only three while cruising, boosting economy. It won't come here, but the technology will be used on future models.

Read more about it:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?...38933

 

yeah baby, bring back the legend! That new one sounds sweet, a big luxury sedan that can run with the big BMW M5's from Acura!!

 

if they (honda) are serious about competing against the top dogs, as in the e-class, 5 series and the lexus ls, honda needs to produce a v8. as a import enthusiast, we all understand the technology of a v6 that can make good #'s. but to the guy buying the car, he sees an acura with a v6, going for the same price as a lexus v8. I think the Legend should be the size of a 5 series with a 4.0 - 4.2 v8, available with a manual transmission.

 

I agree, but I highly dought honda will make a V8 for a production car(but I wish they would)if they did, you can bet your ***, some crazy **** is going to put on in a civic/S2k

 

the v6 using all cyl when accelerating then shutting down 3 cyl to save fuel is suppose to be in the accord.. in a few years (2005 rumored)

-I too agree that honda needs to release a v8. Also, i highly doubt honda can make anything that can out class the new M5. The new m5 is gonna have a v10 (500+hp) And since honda's philosophy with 'moderately' cheap cars, small displacement, fuel efficiency, etc etc.

-the article indicated that the "legend" will be using a 3.5L v6. making 300hp. The nsx pple have found out that the pre 2nd gen nsx is going to up the displacement to 3.5L and make about 350hp. So assuming the new engine in the legend will be the same as the nsx's 3.5l? Anyone with further info?

-btw, wasn't the RL the rename of the Legend? I haven't seen the sale numbers for the RL.. but i do know in my area.. there aren't that many new RL's on the road

 

Yeah honda needs to use something like this in either the new legend or NSX...

 

That beast looks like it would make some serious HP/TQ

 

they have kept the legend name in europe and asia, will they bring it back in the US? i dislike how acura has changes to all letters when they had some good names such as integra, legend, vigor and inspire(TL in asia). names with meanings, something honda is good at. i really don't understand why a luxury has to have a v8...it is nice. but the v6 with 4wd in our E-class does extremely well and moves along better than my integra...the 3.2l v6 only has 220hp and 250 lb-ft. it move 2 tons extremely well and gets well over 30mpg on the highway. plus, they didn't offer the v8 with 4wd until this year, oh well. i do however prefer rwd to fwd for a luxury car, fwd is a comprimise.

 

the RL is the 3rd generation legend.

 

yes, i am aware of that. but they have kept the legend name in all other markets. and the above article is from a british magazine. i would like to know if they will get rid of RL and bring back the legend name.

 

I would love it more than anything if they came out with the all wheel drive legend but thats all rumors I'm just going to wait and see but if it does happen the price tag on that would be in the upper $40,000 to rich for my blood

 

all other markets have the legend still, but the "legend" will not come back to the US, they are going to stick with the RL name.

you could always import a left hand drive one from another country (that uses the honda name)

 

or just change the emblems

 

Will this have the 2nd electric engine like the Dualnote did?

 

the Dualnote seemed to be the "inspiration" for the next-gen rl and nsx motor. albeit much different tuning and drivetrain placement.