Acura (Japanese: Akyura) is the upscale vehicle brand of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. The company used Acura to make its foray into the US, Canada and Hong Kong markets, which were dominated by domestic and European car manufacturers. Acura was the first to venture into the market with Japanese luxury cars. Hitherto, Japanese automobiles imported to US, were primarily economical and targeted at buyers looking for low-cost options.

Acura was introduced in Mexico in 2004 and to the Chinese market in 2006. Honda has plans to introduce the Acura brand in Russia by the end of 2008 and to the Japanese domestic market in 2010. Acura's debut in 1986 followed a 10-year period of research during which a new automobile division in Honda was created. The "first" Japanese luxury car brand gradually evolved into an award-winning lineup of vehicles that redefined luxury performance. Acura's forte for design innovation, engineering excellence and build quality was backed by Honda's reputation for reliability and low ownership costs.

The Integra, a sporty hatchback made Car and Driver's Ten Best list in 1986. In 1987, the Acura Legend won Motor Trend's prestigious Import Car of the Year trophy. In 1991, Acura introduced the popular NSX, a sports car that took on close rivals in the segment. In the 1990s, Acura's product line expanded, with the launching of luxury SUVs with the SLX, which did not garner much of the market share. An all-new SUV, the MDX, debuted in 2001 with family-oriented features, such as a third-row seat, a feature that gained popularity with buyers. In 2002, the company introduced the new Acura RSX sport coupe, followed by the sport sedan TSX in the 2004 model year. The midsize TL sedan saw a complete redesign in the same year, followed by a redesign of its RL luxury sedan in 2005.
Today, the Acura brand boasts of many luxury sedans, sports cars and SUVs with a lineup that includes the Acura RL, TL, TSX, MDX and RDX. As luxury autos, Acura offers buyers a high level of performance, driving pleasure; luxurious interior comfort, excellent styling and Honda's tradition of innovative technology. Acura has also been credited with having many firsts in the automobile -an all-aluminum car, in-dash satellite-linked navigation system and the VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system.


2008 Acura MDX
The 2008 Acura MDX ($40,195) is a well-balanced midsize, sport-oriented luxury crossover SUV. The MDX sports a V6 engine, AWD and seating for seven. The sporty MDX delivers an unprecedented combination of performance and functionality.

2008 Acura RDX
All-new for 2007, the Acura RDX ($33,195), a small, five-passenger luxury crossover SUV, has a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, capable of 240 horsepower. The SUV has a car-based body structure, fully-independent suspension and seating for four adults. For 2008, it carries minor updates which include an auto-dimming rearview mirror, memory for the driver seat and Bluetooth connectivity.

2008 Acura RL
The 2008 Acura RL ($46,280) is a large luxury sedan with a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 290 hp and 256 pound-feet of torque. The RL offers high-tech standard features, such as Bluetooth, keyless entry/ignition and a 10-speaker surround sound system.

2008 Acura TL
The 2008 Acura TL ($33,725) is a midsize entry-level luxury sport sedan with a 3.2-liter V6 engine that produces 258 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque. The TL offers value in a package that includes a standard voice-activated navigation system (with real-time traffic information), Bluetooth, leather-seating, power front seats, a sunroof, surround-sound system and a rearview camera (except the base model).

2008 Acura TSX
The 2008 Acura TSX ($28,190) comes in one fully loaded trim level with a 2.4-liter inline-4 that produces 205 horsepower and 164 pound-feet of torque. The TSX boasts of a long list of standard safety equipment, attractive exterior styling, a refined cabin with high-tech features and excellent driving dynamics.