The first Honda Legend coupe and sedan. Honda Legend: Far East legend Engine on Honda legend markings

A Honda model that lives up to its name. A truly legendary car, but unfortunately underestimated in our country. Perhaps due to a lack of information and a high price even for secondary market.

Indeed, the information is extremely scarce, sometimes contradictory. Let's try to put together a complete picture, since there is an opportunity to learn everything first-hand and try it out yourself.

So, meet the Honda Legend, aka Acura RL. Body KB 2004-2010 years of release with restyling in 2008.

The Legend represents the best that Honda could create. Despite the fact that formally the car belongs to the business class, at the time of its entry into the market in terms of technical innovations and equipment with options Legend was in no way inferior, and in some ways even surpassed the executive class cars of the most famous brands. It is not for nothing that in the USA this model was the flagship of the luxury brand Acura and in prestige and cost was on a par with the top cars of the German troika.

The Legend was produced in all markets, it exists in both right-hand and left-hand drive versions and in all markets it is equipped with a single 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine producing 295-305 hp, an exclusively automatic five-speed gearbox with the ability to manually shift both paddle shifters and automatic transmission lever, as well as the proprietary and most advanced all-wheel drive system in the world at that time, called SH-AWD. A 3.7 engine appeared on the restyled model, in fact the same, with the same power, but slightly increased torque. Externally, restyling almost completely changed the appearance of the model, there are also minor changes in the cabin (for example, natural wood trim appeared on the center console in the area of ​​the automatic transmission lever, and the rear passengers got heated seats)

The cost in the secondary market is 650,000 - 1,200,000 rubles.

Basic characteristics of basic modifications:

Ground clearance, mm ……………………… 145

Curb weight, kg ………………………. 1820

Fuel consumption ……………………. …… city 15-17l / highway 9-12l

The main competitors according to the owners: Audi a6 3.2 / 4.2 Quattro, BMW 530Xi, Mercedes E350 4Matic, Volvo S80 T6 / V8 AWD, Infiniti M35, Lexus GS430 AWD, Cadillac CTS 3.8 AWD.

The main advantages of the Honda Legend according to the owners:

• highest reliability
• unique all-wheel drive system SH-AWD, has no analogues in the class
• calibrated chassis settings: comfortable sport
• good dynamics
• excellent handling
• high safety
• very high quality interior trim, better than that of Japanese competitors
• rich basic equipment, higher than that of German competitors
• many unique high-tech systems in the equipment, which are not even in the representative cars

The main disadvantages of the Honda Legend according to the owners:

• Not such a prestigious brand as the competitors, not too rich in appearance
• high price in the secondary market
• salon not too spacious for this class
• an expensive system of squibs of the fired hood (a new one costs more than 200 thousand rubles)
• limited visibility
• harsh suspension, like BMW
• there are flaws in the interior design and mistakes in ergonomics
• small trunk
• not liquid, difficult to sell on the secondary market

Details

Engine

V6 3.5l engines (after restyling 3.7l) of the J35A series equipped with the VTEC system produce 295-305 forces (versions for different markets having the same actual performance on paper looked different). The engine is very high-torque, while torsional. In addition to the flagship sedan in derated versions, it was installed on the American models Acura MDX, Honda Redgeline, Honda Pilot, Honda Odissey 3.5 and on the Japanese luxury minivan Honda Elysion.

The engine is well-developed, very reliable, it also runs on 92 gasoline, although the manufacturer recommends filling it with 95. It pulls perfectly from the very bottom to the red zone of the tachometer. At low revs, it provides very smooth and quiet, but confident acceleration and moves the two-ton sedan like a feather in the wind.

In the kick-down mode, the start is also smooth, but then there is a very noticeable two-stage pickup, accompanied by the juicy signature sound of the Honda engine. Acceleration from 0-100 km / h is not too fast (a little over 7 seconds), but this is precisely because of the smoothly tuned start, further acceleration is very powerful. And the feeling when acceleration presses into the back of the chair, first at 3000 rpm and does not release until 4500, and then, instead of falling, presses even more .... Well, in general, to understand this, you need to feel it yourself. Traction is excellent.

They say that the motor is easily chipable and even turbulent. Reconfiguring the computer removes the smooth start and immediately removes 2 seconds in acceleration to 100 km / h. Impressive. Although it is not very clear why such a sharp acceleration for an essentially comfortable car. Still, the standard settings are more in line with the status and philosophy of this model.

Automatic transmission

The gearbox is not particularly remarkable, it works imperceptibly, has a manual shift mode using paddle shifters or an automatic transmission lever. Has no family problems, paired with the engine works flawlessly.

Now for the fun part. The abbreviation SH-AWD stands for Super Handling All Wheel Drive, the name speaks for itself, the main task of this system is not to crawl through the mud, but to provide better handling. For a nearly two-ton, five-meter car, this is a pretty daunting task, but Honda's engineers did an excellent job of it.

The uniqueness and progressiveness of the transmission scheme lies in the fact that due to the use of electronically controlled clutches, the car in a split second can transfer up to 90% of the torque to one wheel! This is especially true when cornering, when the outer rear wheel turns out to be the most loaded wheel and it is to it that the entire thrust flow is transmitted in order to maximize the potential of the engine.

In practice, this gives the following advantage: if, when passing a fast turn on any other car of that time, even an all-wheel drive, overdo it with gas, the electronics will artificially brake the inner wheels to prevent the car from slipping into drift / skid; on the Legend, instead of slowing down the unloaded inner wheels, the electronics will tighten the outer ones and thus allow you to go through the turn much faster and at the same time safer.

On slippery surfaces, the advantage is also obvious, it is enough to have one wheel engagement for the car to start confidently moving without losing trajectory and sudden loss of control when other wheels slip.

This is not to say that the operation of this system is absolutely invisible, on ice at hard pressing the car swings a little on the gas pedal, but all this happens very safely and the wobbling does not require alignment from the driver's side. In general, in conditions when another car would already be spinning like a top, the Legend, twisting, confidently moves forward.

In normal modes, the operation of SH-AWD is visible only on the on-board computer (in its menu there is a display mode for its operation), the driver does not feel it in any other way.

Suspension and steering

Despite the fact that the car is not at all for those who drive Civics or Accords, that is, not for typical Honda cars, the suspension here is not stiff according to the canons of the class. No, it is noticeably softer and more comfortable in relation to the same chord, but it is still harsh on medium irregularities. Shaking does not shake, but the knock is felt. Well this is a Honda!

Thanks to this knock down, the road keeps excellently, especially at high speed. The corners pass like a lightweight sports hatchback.

It drives well too, but not as sharp as the younger models.

Like all Honda multi-link links, it has a fair amount of reliability and strength.

Body

Not everything is clear with the design. Still, the Japanese have their own ideas about how luxury models should look. Or maybe the fact is that the external design was not developed at the request of marketers, but at the request of engineers.

In my opinion, the car is beautiful both before and after restyling, and in the pre-styling version there are magnificent rear diode lights, reminiscent of two suns at sunset. Well, very beautiful. And there are beautiful elements on the front, such as wings that resemble two inverted kayaks, or headlights that resemble the cannons of an intergalactic ship.

The door handles with LED spotlights are a masterpiece. A beautiful and convenient solution. Since an alarm system with a two-stage door opening is installed on the car from the factory, when the button is pressed, the driver's door first opens and it is its handle that is illuminated from the outside with a pleasant pearl light, then the other doors open and their illumination is accordingly turned on.

But in general, I must agree that there are much cheaper cars that outwardly throw more dust in the eyes. Well ... probably the Legend as a true samurai should be modest and not demonstrate his superiority for the time being. And there is something to demonstrate.

Safety

For example, the Honda Legend is one of the world's first production vehicles with active pedestrian protection in the form of a retractable hood. Or also one of the first and one of the few still machines with a segmented power frame. Crumple zones are divided into segments, each of which has its own load calculated. This design not only provides the highest level of safety in any collision, but is also able to partially absorb some of the impact force in a collision with more light car reducing the risk of injury for its passengers. By the way, such a power structure of the body, following the Honda Legend, appeared on the Mercedes-Benz S in the 221m body.

In addition, the car is equipped with an adaptive head lighting system that looks into a turn, but even this system works according to a certain algorithm: when turning right, both headlights turn at a large angle, when turning left, only one headlight turns as wide as possible - this is done in order to when turning left, do not accidentally blind the drivers of oncoming vehicles.

So as a true samurai, Honda Legend is not only a very formidable and well-trained warrior, but also a noble one, cares about others.

Naturally, all this stuff needs to be hidden somewhere, and therefore, with such an impressive body size, the interior does not differ much.

Salon

The salon as a whole makes a very pleasant impression both in terms of the level of performance and the materials used, it fully corresponds to the class of the car and is in no way inferior to luxury German cars.

So in the interior trim, natural wood is used, perforated leather of excellent quality, which does not stretch or wipe over time (which usually happens on Japanese cars), high quality plastic, elastic, velvety, where it is adjacent to leather in its texture, it is very hike at her. The pockets in the doors are generally covered with either leather-vinyl, or some other material imitating leather. The only exceptions are cars for the domestic Japanese market, where a significant part of the cars were sold with velor seats, but the same door panels perforated leather, - a strange combination, it looks like the seats are not from this car. Also, on the Japanese versions, a significant inconvenience is caused by the inscriptions on the hieroglyphs in the computer menu and on some buttons.

The leather on the steering wheel and center tunnel is not perforated and is smoother than the leather used on the seats.

The chairs are very comfortable, wide enough, the lateral support is average, with a lot of electrical adjustments - this is the norm. Distinctive feature active head restraints with adjustable head restraint (as on the reference BMW 7 seats).

In total, three color schemes are used in the interior trim: strict black, cozy beige and some kind of incomprehensible gray (by the way, it is often found in Acura RL).

The equipment also corresponds to the best representatives of the class. There is everything you need. Including an excellent music system with a subwoofer and an active noise cancellation function from BOSE, by the way, the same is installed on the representative Audi A8 / S8. Surprisingly, many people know about this system on Audi, but few people know that exactly the same is on Honda.

Good noise insulation, curtains on the rear and side rear windows, separate climate control, trunk and gas tank flap with electric lock, seat memory, sunroof, etc. - self-evident things in a car of this class.

But there is also a fly in the ointment! Moreover, against the background of expensive materials, it looks far from a teaspoon.

Firstly, many owners do not like the design of the center console and, in particular, the similarity of the buttons with those on the younger models.

Secondly, the poisonous blue illumination of the door handles and the leg area, which does not fit into the general style, at all. Wasn't there a different color for the bulbs ?!

Thirdly, the door handles themselves could be made of metal, but they were made of plastic. A strange decision for a luxury car, although it is not a fact that the chrome plated would fit into this interior better.

Fourthly, the most significant drawback in my opinion is the back seat for only two passengers. No, the third can be seated, but a wide transmission tunnel will interfere with his legs, he will sit on a hill on the cushion of the sofa, and his head will rest against the plafond of a separate spotlight from the headphone outputs. Such unequivocal hints that the third one is superfluous there. For side passengers, everything is very comfortable: wide-opening doors and comfortable armrests, a molded sofa and even recesses in the ceiling to make the naked room more spacious. Why then it was necessary to make a third headrest (by the way, they are electrically powered and fold from the driver's seat like on Mercedes) - it is not clear.

Fifth, the wide A-pillars seriously limit the view. But this is more of a feature, the very unique power frame of the body is hidden in them.

Sixth, not too voluminous trunk with a high floor. Again, this is a feature. It was caused by the fact that it was necessary to hide the tricky transmission, the power frame, and the multi-link suspension somewhere.

Unique options

What else? Yes, a lot. For example, active cruise control with lane keeping function on road markings. Technically, this feature is available on all machines, but software enabled only on machines for the Japanese market. Another feature for the home market is the night vision system. The same as on the flagship Mercedes. Or the emergency call function available in the Acura RL, in the event of a problem or emergency, the driver just needs to press one button and send an SOS signal to a single center, from where his location will be determined and the necessary assistance will be sent. A similar system is optionally available in older Volvo models.

Maintenance and repair

The car is very reliable, but technically quite complex. It is definitely not worth buying with the last money. Consumables are inexpensive, but there are many of them, and major repairs and body parts are at the level of the same Audi or Mercedes.

Firstly, 300 forces entails a high transport tax and more expensive insurance.

Secondly, the positive displacement engine and all-wheel drive transmission require a priori more Supplies than the usual Japanese runabouts. Oils, candles, filters, rubber bands - there is much more of everything here. At the same time, like all Hondas, the car requires only original technical fluids or analogues with manufacturer's tolerances - they are not cheap.

Thirdly, if something breaks down due to complete neglect or an accident, repairs will be expensive. This is a full-fledged modern business class, technically challenging. Units and assemblies, even contract ones, are very expensive.

Summary

Full business class. A car that demonstrates technology and luxury at a level best cars of its time, but at the same time retains the famous Japanese reliability and Honda drive. Not too bright outwardly in terms of the level of technological load it looks like a spaceship against the background of competitors.

Not a typically high level of engineering and equipment for the Japanese, but typical reliability.

If you don't care about the car brand, you are financially secure enough to service a business class car and you need a safe, sophisticated car that will never let you down, the Honda Legend is your choice!

The diligence with which Japanese automakers are trying to compete in business and premium class with the German "monsters" in recent years has garnered respect. One of the brightest fruits of their activities can be called sedan honda Legend.

Dmitriy..

Without much enthusiasm, he meets the car according to its "clothes", but after a closer acquaintance, he is in no hurry to part with it.

At first glance, the car is not impressive. However, as well as from the second. The recognizable "Honda" style is present, but there is nothing more to say in terms of design - it does not catch on. As well as the design of all competitors of this model does not catch on. Maybe this is due to the subjective characteristics of my perception of this class? ...

The same Accord, in my opinion, looks, maybe cheaper, but much nicer. So look at the photos and draw your own conclusions. As for the interior, there is, of course, nothing to complain about in the cabin. Black leather and wood inlays are in perfect harmony with the shiny edging of the instruments. The quality of materials and workmanship, of course, does not cause any complaints. The doors close with a "tasty" "Mercedes" thud, tactile sensations when using a variety of buttons at a height. Even the only one hiding cigarette lighter socket from the point of view of technology and aesthetics is more perfect than any representative of the domestic auto industry as a whole.

On the record! Honda legend

Honda is in good standing in Russia, but here's the paradox, the company's top model - the Legend - is sold, to put it mildly, not very well. Will restyling help her?

There are several reasons for the low demand. The main ones are a relatively high price, the only equipment and appearance from the category of "neither an American nor a Japanese." This car looked somehow sluggish, despite the fact that inside it was hidden an advanced filling from a technical point of view, it concerned mainly all-wheel drive. Let me remind you that the SH-AWD, created under the leadership of the legendary Honda transmission genius Yasuga Sibahata, was ahead of its time. Today, such transmissions have begun to be created by all and sundry, but a few years ago, only Mitsubishi and Nissan went to the competitors of Honda. It was the four-wheel drive that they did not touch. And why? The Super Handling All-Wheel Drive has done its job exceptionally well so far. On dry asphalt, to the last, it keeps the car on the trajectory, quickly transferring the torque between the wheels. The understeer of a large business-class sedan in this light can be called almost neutral, which inspires respect. The system can be monitored by looking at a special monitor that is built into the tidy. The bars show where and how many Newton meters are being "weighed" by the system at a given moment. Therefore, asphalt driving along the trajectory becomes an exciting experience behind the wheel of a Honda.

Limit of functions. Honda legend

We got our hands on the new Honda Legend long before the premiere planned for the Moscow Motor Show. The car was at our disposal for the whole day. But even a day was enough to understand - another star of an expensive business class was lit on the Russian stage.

However, this is for us the Honda Legend - a novelty, and, for example, in Japan, the sedan has been sold since 2004. Perhaps this is why, if you put Legend on a par with her classmates, she will seem a little conservative in appearance. At the same time, the "Japanese woman" has a like-minded person - would it ever occur to someone to call the appearance of the E-class ultra-fashionable or avant-garde?

However, the Honda Legend is impressive irrespective of - especially the wedge-shaped front end: huge elongated headlights with reflector cannons inside, a broken false radiator grille, a hood with beautiful stampings and ribs ... Definitely, there is something Japanese fighting in those eyes! However, others will call the Legend design calm. The only significant remark is that the wheels are too small by today's standards. This would be 18 inches ... But such discs can be ordered from dealers.

The car interior is light and spacious. Perhaps, Legend is one of the leaders in terms of space in its segment. In the Lexus GS and BMW 5-series, it is much closer, even the Mercedes-Benz E-class and Audi A6 seem a little smaller. But this is if you sit behind the wheel. I get out of the car and open the back door, sit down "behind me". In principle, I fit without any problems, but my knees touch the back, and in order to have enough space for my feet, the front seat had to be slightly raised. However, when the seat of the right front passenger is moved forward, the rear is very relaxed. It is a pity that the second row does not offer any special amenities. Well, except for the curtains on the windows and the ventilation system nozzles.

The build quality is traditional for expensive Japanese cars - you can't fault it. And the materials are good. Soft plastic, smooth leather, wood ... The plastic of the front panel is curious - an elegant pairing of smooth curves at the top and a rectangular silver center console. On it the attention is first of all drawn by a massive washer with the inscription "enter". Aha, the Japanese answer to European multimedia systems! I swing and spin the wheel, and pictures appear on the screen, replacing each other. Small auxiliary buttons are located around the washer, each one opens access to a specific menu section. It cannot boast of branching - everything is quite simple. The animation and color scheme are modest. But I was surprised to find a calculator, a compass and a unit decoder inside the system. However, this is also quite Japanese.

The leather multifunctional steering wheel pleases the eye and the hand, behind the steering wheel there are large control lobes for a 5-speed "automatic". The automatic transmission selector, trimmed with leather and silver plastic, is also good. However, there are questions about the clarity of his work. The first time I constantly skipped by reverse gear, getting to neutral ... As for the seats, everything here is in the best traditions of the genre - comfortable, decent fixation, all the necessary electrical adjustments.

I slam the door, start the engine. Here it is done with the usual key. In the Japanese version - a chip card, and start - with a button. However, all this is nonsense. More importantly, for Europeans, Honda tweaked the suspension harder, giving the car a driver's character.

However, this became clear a little later. And first, I appreciated the level of acoustic comfort. Immediately after launch, the V6 is completely invisible, and only when the revs reach 4500, you can hear a velvety rumbling. Honda is proud to say that the model's soundproofing is the pinnacle of modern technology. The most advanced lightweight materials are used, which most effectively dampen noise and vibrations. Legend is really quiet. In motion, from monotonous low-frequency sounds (the rumble of rubber or exhaust, for example), the Active Noise Cancellation system saves the noise. With the help of two microphones located in the passenger compartment, it monitors unwanted "acoustic accompaniment". And then ANC inverts it and reproduces the signal in antiphase through the speakers of the audio system.

The motor runs exceptionally smoothly. It unwinds very quickly and shows its best qualities when the tachometer needle approaches the red zone. 295 h.p. from 3.5 liters is a very decent indicator. And, by the way, typically Honda's - the company has always been famous for its resourceful and powerful naturally aspirated engines... The powertrain is a little lazy in the zone low revs however spinning gives excellent traction. There is a spark of madness in it - when the arrow, having overcome the middle zone, soars to the limiter. This is a direct merit of VTEC. The “automatic” with an intelligent algorithm of work is also trying to keep up with the driving style. I liked that the manual control mode of the automatic transmission makes the driver fully responsible for switching, and if he gape, the motor will honestly hang on the limiter. The engine responds to pressing the floor gas pedal quickly, there are practically no delays. The brakes are tenacious.

However, it is not the engine, not the gearbox, or even the sound suppression system that is the highlight of the car. The Legend is equipped with one of the most technically advanced all-wheel drive transmissions available today. The solutions used in Super Handling All-Wheel Drive are unique, thanks to them the sedan has excellent driving characteristics. It should be noted that the creator of the all-wheel drive Honda Legend is Yasuzhi Shibahata, who at one time created the all-wheel drive transmission of the legendary coupe. Nissan skyline GT-R.

The closest relative of SH-AWD is the circuit used on Mitsubishi lancer Evo IX. In both cases, the traction is redistributed between the wheels of the rear axle, respectively, the character of the car's steering changes. However, Honda's implementation is completely different.

Torque is transmitted from the front axle back through a special device connected to the propeller shaft (the shaft is lightweight, made of composite materials). That, in turn, "rests" on the rear drive unit, in which the planetary gearbox is located (thanks to the gearbox, in the corners, it switches from direct to overdrive to send more torque back). Then the traction goes to the wheels. Each of them is equipped with an electromagnetic clutch that is triggered by an electronic signal. Up to 70% of the torque can be transmitted to the rear axle, and up to 100% of this share to each wheel. Using multiple sensors, the SH-AWD spreads torque to the wheels, providing the vehicle with excellent stability and handling.

With smooth acceleration and high-speed gentle turns, 70% of the torque is provided on the front wheels. If more acceleration is required, the ratio will be 60: 40 in favor of the front pair. And in the case of active cornering, 70% of the thrust will go back. By the way, exactly at the exit from the corners, when the gas pedal is recessed into the floor, you can feel how the SH-AWD helps by loading the outer wheel with torque - the car flies out of the apex with a bullet!

I start with the "rearrangement" maneuver. Honda behaves without nervousness - rear axle drift is easily suppressed by SH-AWD, AVS and the driver in the initial phase. The steering wheel during high-speed operation practically did not "shut up".

Now I turn off the stabilization system and fly into a turn at a provocative speed. In theory, the front axle should begin to drift, but instead, the car smoothly slides outward with all four wheels. I load the front axle a little with a gas release, then add traction, and the car obediently screws into the turn.

If you "break" the sedan before entering a bend, then you can go in controlled sliding with all wheels. Stop, however! It's still not Evolution, Legend has slightly different tasks. Although it is already clear that she can do much more than is required of her.

The suspension is tuned to meet European requirements for a business sedan. Good comfort is combined with composure and lively reactions. Laxity is not felt. Yes, and with the killed sections of the track, the chassis copes without problems. The Japanese provided the steering with correct feedback and a clear zero when driving in a straight line. True, if the surface has a pronounced rut, you have to grip the steering wheel more tightly, to which information is still transmitted from the front wheels that go to the side.

In general, Legend is a real collection of modern technologies. The equipment of the car is very rich and, in particular, can please Adaptive Cruise Control (adaptive cruise control), working in conjunction with the Collision Mitigation Brake System (a system for preventing and mitigating the consequences of collisions). It looks like this. When the distance to the vehicle in front becomes less than the permissible minimum, the driver is warned of this by signals, as well as by the tension of the seat belt. If there is a real risk of collision, CMBS will apply the brakes before the driver does, and if necessary, apply and emergency braking... As for the Legend cruise control itself, it automatically maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

To ensure that the tech-packed sedan has an acceptable weight, aluminum is widely used in its design. The hood, front fenders, some engine parts, subframes, and wishbones are made of light metal. Honda Legend is the first car in the world (Jaguar XK is the second) equipped with an active pedestrian protection system: the hood automatically rises in the event of a collision with a person, softening the impact. The VSA stabilization system works in conjunction with the SH-AWD, preventing the development of emergency situations. And finally, one more curious detail. The climate control includes a sun sensor located at the top of the dashboard. It adjusts the temperature in the passenger compartment and the distribution of air flows so as to compensate for the heating in the "sunny" part of the passenger compartment.

Honda is offering the Legend in a single trim that includes an exhaustive list of optional equipment and is asking for less than $ 70,000 for the car. Well, you have to admit that the offer is very, very tempting. A new business class star is born!

Prices and equipment

The Honda Legend with a 3.5-liter engine and a 5-speed "automatic" is estimated at $ 69,000 , multifunction steering wheel, electric steering wheel height and reach, paddle shifter, audio system with DVD changer, 9 speakers and a subwoofer, power and heated seats, folding rear seat, Hands Free with Bluetooth technology, active system noise suppression, keyless entry, rain and light sensors, 2-zone climate control with separate regulation of the upper and lower flows and adjustment depending on the position of the sun, ABS, VSA, TCS, Brake Assist, hood lift system, alarm, electronic immobilizer with floating code, alloy wheels 235 / 50R17.

The full-size business sedan Honda Legend was first introduced in 1985. Thereby Japanese company decided to bring to the market a direct competitor to BMW and Mercedes-Benz. In 1987, the model range was replenished with a version with a two-door coupe body. The car was produced until 1990, after which the Legend of the second generation came to replace it.

The "first" Honda Legend is a business model that was available in sedan and two-door coupe with four seats.

Depending on the bodywork, the length of the car is from 4775 to 4840 mm, the width is from 1745 to 1755 mm, and the height is 1375 mm. The sedan has 2,760 mm between the axles, and under the bottom (clearance) - 150 mm, for the coupe these figures are as follows - 2705 and 145 mm, respectively. When equipped, the car weighs from 1320 to 1430 kg.

The first generation Honda Legend was equipped with three six-cylinder petrol engines with a V-shaped arrangement of cylinders. The first is a 2.0-liter "aspirated" engine producing 145 horsepower and 171 Nm of torque, the second is a 2.0-liter turbo engine, the output of which is 190 "horses" and 241 Nm, the third is a 2.7-liter naturally aspirated unit with a capacity of 180 forces, developing 225 Nm.

Engines were combined with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions gears, the drive is exclusively front.

On the "first" Honda Legend used independent multi-link front and rear suspension, equipped with anti-roll bars. The brakes on all wheels are disc brakes, and they are also ventilated at the front.

The first generation Honda Legend business sedan combined competent design, modern technologies for its time, as well as the company's extensive experience in creating reliable power units designed for heavy loads.

Car owners note clear steering, a fairly comfortable interior, good technical equipment, powerful engines and acceptable dynamics.

There were also disadvantages - high fuel consumption, shock absorbers do not withstand intensive use on bad roads, which causes the levers and suspension elements to break.

Model history and overview

Honda Legend is a four-wheel drive five-seater sedan of class E. The debut of the fourth-generation Honda Legend AW car took place on October 7, 2004. In 2008, the model underwent a facelift.

It appeared in 1985. Initially it was created as a representative model for the domestic market, therefore comfort for the inhabitants was put in the first place rear seat, driving performance was sacrificed to it - handling, steering precision, etc.

Problems occurred while exporting Legend. European buyers expected from Honda not only high-quality and world-famous engines, but sportiness, and with it the Legend of the first generation was bad, this also applied to driving and external qualities.

At high speed AW, the vehicle swayed strongly, there were large rolls when cornering. Honda's specialists were faced with the task of eliminating such shortcomings and making the necessary improvements.

In February 1987, a four-seater coupe was introduced, which sales in the United States were organized through the new retail chain of the luxury brand Acura, owned by Honda. The body of the Legend Coupe, although a two-door, but the entrance and exit of passengers from the rear row of seats is quite convenient.

Initially, the Legend was equipped with a 2-liter V6 petrol engine producing 145 hp. But since this was not enough for buyers, from September 1987, versions with a 2.7-liter V-shaped six-cylinder 180-horsepower engine went on sale.

For the high dynamics of acceleration (8.9 s to 100 km / h), we had to pay with an increased fuel appetite, which, when driving in the city (with an AW tomato transmission), can be 15-16 liters per 100 km. A turbocharged version of the 2.0-liter petrol engine appeared in 1988. She, in fact, made people talk about the Honda Legend with a touch of respect. Since 1988, they began to install a complex double wishbone rear suspension. In addition, the Japanese and Euro-American models received a different design of the front parts of the body (there were no other differences).

With the release of the second generation Legend in 1991, Honda moved up one notch to the category of executive AW vehicles. The lineup represented by a 4-door sedan and a 2-door coupe. The body is galvanized, not subject to corrosion. The creators also took care of the safety of the crew in the event of a road accident. Thus, a special protective capsule is integrated into all bodies, which consists of an integrated safety cage, reinforcing bars in the doors, as well as front and rear subframes. In the cabin, for the same purpose, there are two front airbags that are standard on the Legend.

For the "Japanese legend" one power unit was intended - a 3.2-liter V6 (205 hp), which accelerates a 1.5-ton AW car with manual transmission up to "hundreds" in 8.1 s. This unit is equipped with intake manifold with a variable length of the intake tract. This design makes it possible to achieve optimal filling of the cylinders with a combustible mixture at various engine operating modes and, due to this, to obtain high dynamic characteristics in a wide speed range.

The engine uses an ignition system with individual coils for each spark plug, which made it possible to eliminate current losses in high voltage wires and significantly improved the quality and reliability of this engine system. The use of candles with platinum-plated electrodes also significantly increased their service life - up to 100 thousand km.

Most of the second generation Legend AW vehicles are equipped with a 4-speed automatic automatic transmission, although there are also versions with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Independent multi-link front and rear suspension with anti-roll bars provide moderate ride comfort.

By the way, the second generation of Legend is the last one on which mechanical transmission... In addition, it was this model that Honda designers were the first to equip the AW with with a tomato gearbox with adaptive control program. The "smart" gearbox control unit is able to adapt to the driving style and, depending on this, shifts the gear shift mode. The active drive is promoted by the sharp steering, equipped with a hydraulic booster that changes the degree of assistance depending on the speed, and powerful disc brakes equipped with ABS system... Moreover, the front brakes are ventilated and two-piston.

In 1996, the third generation of the Honda Legend was introduced in Geneva.

The elegance of the body is accentuated by the deep curves on the bonnet and the shape of the radiator grille, which flows smoothly into the front bumper in the center. The front fog lights are located in a hole in the lower part of the bumper, the rear fog lights are combined in a single housing with other AW rear lights. The overall result of changes in the design of the third-generation Honda Legend AW vehicles was the slightly increased width and length of the AW vehicle.

The salon is trimmed with natural leather. Comfort is provided by: large instrument dials, a comfortable leather steering wheel with electrically adjustable in two planes, a simple push-button climate control system with a liquid crystal information display and a genuine leather AW lever for the tomato transmission.

The model is equipped with the world's first airbags with two-stage inflation, which helps to soften the force of the impact, reducing the risk of injury when the airbag is deployed; six sensors are hidden in the back of the seat, fixing the size of the human body, one of the sensors detects whether the passenger's head is in the deployment zone of the side airbag and, if necessary, prevents its deployment. The car is equipped with an ABS system, which allows for a short-term locking of the wheels on snowy asphalt.

Then, in 1999, the model was restyled, and the AW car began to provide its passengers with an even higher level of comfort and safety.

Noticeable changes have taken place in the design of the front end. The Legend has received new bumpers and a trunk roof. Externally, AW cars of the 1999 model year are distinguished by deeper curves on the hood and a new form of the radiator grill, which in the central part cuts into the front bumper. The front fog lights are located in the hole in the lower part of the bumper. The width and length of the AW vehicle have slightly increased.

At the heart of the Legend is a new 3.5L V-6 24-valve engine. First of all, this unit is famous for its almost silent operation. In addition to the usual measures for suppressing noise and vibrations (balance shafts, hydraulic compensators, damper bearings), it uses shortened (this reduces the clatter of skirts) pistons of high-precision manufacturing. The top of the engine is covered with a sound-absorbing lining. It is located longitudinally, which is not quite usual for a front-wheel drive AW car.

The car is equipped with an AW Tomato transmission Grade Logic and independent suspension of all wheels on double levers. Powerful wishbones with shock absorbers at the front and multi-link design at the rear. The rear suspension is interesting for its ability to slightly change the angles of the wheels, which gives the effect of steering when maneuvering and stabilizing when braking. Added electronics. An anti-slip system appeared, the ABS is now a four-channel, recirculation type (the previous model had three channels - the rear wheels were braked synchronously).

A distinctive feature of the Legend is the widest range of standard equipment, which includes an AW tomato climate control system, power windows, heated and electric front seats (with memory for driver's seat positions), a steering column adjustable in height and angle, a radio with a CD player. discs, cruise control and leather upholstery. In addition, two airbags, side airbags and seat belts equipped with load-limiting pretensioners are part of the standard equipment.

The cabin is spacious. On the driver's door there are buttons for memorizing the settings of the chair and mirrors. The radio and cruise control have moved to the leather steering wheel. Torpedo Legend has a lot in common with the torpedo Civic or Acсord. All controls are located very similarly and no less logical, only there are more of them. The devices are heavily recessed and are almost invisible when the ignition is off, so the scales are highlighted regardless of the time of day.

In 2002, Honda also made some changes. The most significant ones concerned the engine. The modified Legend is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine, which produces 225 horsepower, which is 20 hp. more than the previous unit. Fuel consumption is 18 liters per 100 km in the city and 15.5 per 100 km on the highway.

The vehicle is equipped with a 4-speed AW automatic transmission. The 16-inch aluminum wheels are wrapped in wide Michelin all-season tires and are equipped with an adaptive steering system for a better road feel.

The 2002 model is equipped with a stability control system. The so-called VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) prevents dangerous drifts by automatically controlling the front and rear brakes.

The AW car interior is quite spacious. The front heated seats are very comfortable thanks to the wide bolsters and large armrests. Driver's seat Equipped with 8 adjustable fittings, including a manually adjustable lumbar support roller. All finishing materials meet high quality standards. The seats are upholstered in soft leather and the dashboard is made of high quality plastic. The safety of the driver and passengers is ensured by front and side airbags. And a comfortable ride - the climate control and navigation system.

In 2005, the fourth generation of the Honda Legend appeared. A pre-production prototype was unveiled at the AW Toshow in New York in 2004. In the United States, it bears the name Acura RL. 2005 model year car is different new platform, body design and a number of interesting technical solutions.

The fourth-generation Honda Legend is the first AW vehicle in the world to come standard with SH-AWD intelligent all-wheel drive. Depending on the road conditions the electronics distributes the torque separately to each of the wheels, which allows for maximum stability of the AW car. With intensive acceleration, most of the torque is transferred to the rear axle, and at a constant speed, the Honda Legend becomes almost front-wheel drive, 70% of the torque is transferred to the front axle wheels.

Honda has gone to great lengths to lighten the weight of the new Legend. Therefore, almost the entire body is made of aluminum, including the hood, front fenders, trunk and roof. Moreover, even in the engine compartment, the load-bearing beams are made of aluminum. The developers also did not make doors from iron, preferring aluminum to it. The platform itself is 50% high quality steel.

The 2005 Legend uses a new paint technology to achieve deeper color and higher contrast. The interior design is aimed at making the driver feel as comfortable as possible and enjoy the driving process. Active Noise Control eliminates the slightest noise and ensures high-quality sound of the audio system. The Intelligent Night Vision System sees pedestrians on the road at night and warns the driver with light and sound signals.

Under the hood of the AW car there is a compact, lightweight V6 VTEC unit with a volume of 3.5 liters with variable valve timing, with a capacity of 300 hp. which accelerates the AW car to 235 km / h, and acceleration to hundreds takes only 7.3 s.

It is worth noting that Legend received a certificate from the Japanese Ministry of Transport as an AW vehicle with extremely low emissions of harmful substances - the level of air pollution in the new product is 75% lower than that provided for by the 2005 standards.

The Honda Legend's optional equipment list includes many interesting electronic systems, such as the climate control system, which takes into account the position of the car's AW relative to the sun using the GPS navigation system.

The new generation has a new function of the inter-navigation system. This is an opportunity to get a weather forecast. There are a lot of meteorological stations and meteorological services in Japan. Imagine that the owner of an AW car decided to go to Osaka from Tokyo. By putting the names of the starting and ending points of travel into the on-board computer, he can get an approximate travel time and a complete map of hourly changes in weather conditions throughout his route. The information is updated every five minutes.

However, the international navigation system can also be a guide. She independently, taking into account weather conditions, traffic density, the possibility of traffic jams and stops for lunch, will offer you several routes.

Test drive Honda Legend 2002

The Honda Legend is a sturdy and handsome sedan. However, a lot has changed since that time and by 2002 the manufacturer had made many changes. The most significant changes were made to the engine. The modified AW car is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine, the power of which is 225 horsepower, which is 21 hp. more.

The Honda Legend is far from its rivals. For example, under the hood of the Honda Odyssey 202 model year, 240 horses are hidden, and the 3.2TL has even more - 260. Such results were achieved due to the fact that both cars are equipped with a VTEC (variable valve timing system) system, which allows you to generate more power with economical use of fuel. The Legend is the only Honda AW car that is not equipped with this system.

Combined with the heavier weight, the vehicle's AW power is less than expected. Legend accelerates from standstill to 90 km per hour in 8.3 seconds.

Despite the lingering "buildup", the AW car cannot be called slow. In the city and on the high-speed highway, the car has established itself as maneuverable, although it is inferior to many sedans.

The vehicle is equipped with a 4-speed AW automatic transmission. And in this respect, the Legend loses to rivals with a 5-speed AW tomato, which, moreover, is combined with a more powerful and economical motor. The efficiency of the Honda engine is 18 liters per 100 km in the city and 15.5 per 100 km on the highway.

The changes also affected the suspension, which has now become double wishbone, which provides a soft ride for the AW vehicle and protects the driver and passengers from shaking. Also, the suspension is additionally equipped with stiffer springs and an anti-roll bar. The aluminum 16-inch AW wheels are wrapped in wide Michelin all-season tires and are equipped with an adaptive steering system for a better road feel.

Compared to the 2001 Legend, the 2002 AW is much more stable. However, in the ranges of luxury saloon and sports performance, The "improved" model is undoubtedly losing out.

While the suspension is still sporty enough, front-wheel drive will provide a pleasant ride. Nor is there any complaint about the stability control system found on the 2002 model. The so-called VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) prevents dangerous drifts by automatically controlling the front and rear brakes.

The best thing demonstrated in a trip on a straight road. The car's AW travel is very smooth, and the suspension brightens up bumps in the road. The brakes were also highly appreciated, as an AW car flying at a speed of 90 km per hour reaches a full stop at braking distance 36 meters.

Need some rest after a long hard day? Please. The AW car interior is comfortable and spacious enough for you to have a good rest. The front heated seats are very comfortable thanks to the wide bolsters and large armrests. The driver's seat is equipped with 8 adjustments, including a manually adjustable lumbar support roller.

The seat, mirrors and steering wheel remember the position of the driver's body and you do not have to adjust your steel friend every time. Passengers in the back will not feel cramped. All finishing materials meet high quality standards. The seats are upholstered in soft leather and the dashboard is made of high quality plastic. However, the audio system will disappoint you with too small and uncomfortable buttons. The rest of the control buttons for various systems are also inconveniently located.

The safety of the driver and passengers is ensured by front and side airbags. And a comfortable ride - the climate control and navigation system.

Based on materials from catalogcars.ru

http://www.autonews.ru/

Honda Legend tested by city and ring track

Outwardly - this is typical american car... This epithet does not mean anything bad at all. It just looks massive, like a barge. Huge nose, heavy stern - just like American AW vehicles. Although in general the image of the car is menacing. The bonnet line, merging with the radiator grille, together with the headlights tapered towards the center, give the Legend “face” arrogance and aggression. Two chrome-plated pipes finally fix the image exhaust system... But the wheels could be bigger. Of course, 17-inch disks are also okay, but, apparently, 18- or even 19-inch ones would fit without problems and would look much more impressive and attractive.

But with the interior decoration is a completely different story. This is where all the "Americanism" of the AW car comes out, but at the same time gets compliments. The seats are simply gorgeous. Even a person who, due to its large size, cannot fit comfortably in any AW car, he noted the seats in the Legend with a kind word. In a traffic jam for many hours, the back does not get tired or hurt. The interior itself looks like a solid top five. Wood inserts came in handy and, together with soft as a featherbed plastic, emphasize the high level of this Honda. Naturally, there is also separate climate control. Moreover, the AW car monitors the position of the sun, and if any of the sides of the car heats up more, the AW climate control automatically adjusts the temperature so that all passengers are equally comfortable. The audio system is pretty good for standard equipment. It is equipped with a subwoofer and at least does not make you want to turn it off immediately. The sound is quite clean and pleasant, although it is still not among the best. The external noise suppression system deserves kind words. And the overall sound insulation of the AW car is simply excellent. Present on Legend and all other attributes of a premium car AW, such as curtains on the side and rear windows, many electrical adjustments and a huge display on the center console. And if you add here a rather comfortable suspension, which swallows the vast majority of even the most serious irregularities and holes, then the Legend's striving for leadership in its class does not seem such an empty undertaking. When driving around the city, the car does not cause almost any complaints.

The most interesting thing about Legend is not the exterior or even the salon. Although both are worthy of kind words and careful study. The cream of the crop is the combination of AWD, engine and suspension. The motor is installed here, it would seem that it is necessary: ​​the volume is 3.5 liters, the power is 295 horsepower. But the first thing that surprises is fuel consumption: 20 liters per 100 kilometers is a lot. The very only gripe that AW can cause is when driving around the city. Even the frenzied 6.1 HEMI Chrysler 300C SRT8 requires less when not in a rush.

In order to experience that very combination of all-wheel drive, engine and suspension, the Honda Legend was taken to a special track. An instructor from Mitsubishi Driving Art School greeted the AW car with a smile. It turns out that people have already come to him in such a car. He complained that everyone believed the Legend's all-wheel drive system was exactly the same as the Mitsubishi Evolution's. Indeed, the SH-AWD system is somewhat similar to that of a Japanese sports car. It automatically redistributes the torque between the axles when cornering. By the way, the on-board computer has an excellent function: an image of four wheels appears on a special display and you can see at what point in time what torque is transmitted to each of them. So, on the Legend, more torque is always transferred to the front wheels than to the rear. That is, a situation in which, in a difficult corner, 100% of the torque goes to the rear wheels is impossible. Accordingly, Honda behaves like a front-wheel drive AW car. Unlike the same Evolution. That is why the time of passing the same lap on the track on a regular Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6 and on a Honda Legend is almost the same. Although here a significant role is played by the fact that there are very few long straight sections on that track, and on short stretches Honda does not have time to accelerate. The automatic transmission on the Legend, although it does not deserve serious reproaches, is still a little "stupid".

On the other hand, no one buys such an AW car for circuit races: as they say, Caesar is Caesar's, and locksmith's is a locksmith. And so claims to the AW car, except huge expense fuel, no. With active electronic safety systems on, for example, it simply cannot be thrown into a skid.

You will have to pay 1,760,000 rubles for owning a Honda Legend, that is, a little more than $ 70,000. For a car of this class, the money is reasonable. However, when deciding on this purchase, one must remember: for city driving - the AW car is ideal, but if you count on frantic acceleration, risky cornering, etc., then it is better to immediately think about another representative of the AW car world.

Nikolay Zagvozdkin

http://www.autonews.ru/

Legend of the future

Vladimir Soloviev

Driving # 2 2006

Early autumn morning. The air is transparent and clean, huge birds soar in the sky. These are eagles. I'm in Hokkaido, at the Takasu Proving Grounds, the northernmost and youngest of Honda's test centers in Japan. You cannot take pictures on Takasu, you cannot use a mobile phone, and much more.

THE ESSENCE OF THE FORBIDDEN

The closer it is my turn to ride, the stronger the desire to try out the new "Legend" on the move - the fruit of the Japanese concern forbidden for Europeans. A year ago it was marketed in Japan and as Acura RL in the United States. This year the new Legend promises to welcome you to Europe, and it should appear in Russia as well.

However, the word "appear" for the new "Legend" is not very suitable. She will burst into the Old World! Painfully swift and dynamic lines of its body. For their sake, the strong resemblance of the Legend's radiator grille with the “facade” of the latest Mazda models can also be forgiven.

"Legend" received a new, more powerful engine (3.5 l, 300 hp), but most importantly - a new transmission. From now on, Honda's flagship model is all-wheel drive.

However, this four-wheel drive is different from the usual one, in which traction is distributed between the axles depending on driving conditions. The transmission of the new "Legend" - its factory name Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) can be translated as "super-steerable four-wheel drive" - ​​applied an engineering solution that migrated from AW Tosport. Its essence is that on the rear axle, the torque is also distributed between the left and right wheels. Priority is given to the wheel on the outer turning radius. Under normal conditions, up to 70% of the torque is transferred to the front wheels. At high accelerations, up to 70% of the torque is sent to the rear axle to improve acceleration dynamics and at the same time stabilize the movement. When accelerating into a corner, almost 100% of the torque can be transmitted to the rear outer wheel. A diametrically opposite picture arises when the gas is released at a bend in the road: the engine will first brake the inner wheels.

The on-board computer receives pulses from the sensors for steering wheel rotation, lateral acceleration, wheel speed, processes the information and issues a control signal to the electromagnetic clutches located in the rear differential unit.

THE SWEETS OF THE FORBIDDEN

High Medium Tunnel Localize workplace... You are comfortable in the driver's seat, but the tall tunnel in the middle of the cabin limits the feeling of freedom. Try reaching for the glove box. Did you manage to open it? Wonderful. But you cannot get something from the depths without skill. However, it may be that it was conceived - the driver should not be distracted from the road under any pretext: buckle up and drive! Along the way, enjoy expensive finishes: genuine leather, wood, aluminum. And only one question haunts: what did the creators want to focus on - sportiness or solidity of the most expensive of the "Honda" sedans? It seems that they managed to accomplish both tasks in equal measure.

"Legend" is very playful: from the start it overcomes the mark of 100 km / h in eight seconds and a little. At a speed of 200 km / h, the car goes very confidently, its behavior does not inspire the driver with the slightest fear.

The new engine is 86 hp more powerful than its predecessor. At the high-speed oval of the landfill, the cunning transmission does not manifest itself in any way. The instrument panel displays symbols of complete tranquility and domination of the front-wheel drive. It's a completely different story on a winding stretch of wet asphalt: here, driving is a real pleasure. New system"Legends" seems to come to grips with the laws of physics. The "super steerable drive" persistently forces the AW car to follow the intricate bends of the road, laid among the golden groves of birches, painfully reminiscent of those near Moscow. Left-right, left-right - turns alternate. I barely have time to mark on the display as the initiative shifts from one wheel to another.

The "super-steerable four-wheel drive" on the "Legend" is the exact opposite of the famous ESP. Both systems solve the same problem - to keep the AW car on a given trajectory. Only their methods are different. ESP brakes the wheels and forcibly reduces engine speed. Conversely, "super steerable drive" increases traction at the desired wheel, allowing you to take turns faster.

ELECTRONIC POSSIBILITIES

Smart Differential - Between Two Beams rear suspension... A few more electronic things in the new "Legend" deserve, in my opinion, special attention. First of all, these are Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). In the first device, a mini-video camera at the top of the windshield identifies the lane and will give corrective commands to the steering wheel. In the second, a millimeter-wave radar, which is hidden behind a radiator grill, will make the AW car move at a given speed. Unlike the usual cruise control, it will slow down the AW vehicle if there is something else ahead. vehicle, and maintains a safe distance until a complete stop.

Here it is, a rear differential with electromagnetic clutches on each of the axle shafts. Reading about the wonders of technology is one thing, but when you drop the steering wheel at a turn, and the AW car as if nothing had happened writes out an arc and even slows down in front of an obstacle - this is already too much. However, Japanese engineers don't think so.

“These electronic systems,” explains their main developer, Shinnosuke Ishida, “forgive the driver for a mistake, but do not replace him in any way. For example, the driver distracted himself to light a cigarette, or looked in the direction from which the crash was heard - the AW car backed him up.

FOR SUCCESS IN EUROPE, THE NEW LEGEND NEEDS A STRONGER SUSPENSION. ALL THE OTHER TRUMPS ARE ON HER HANDS.

The next step towards an even safer Legend is the Collision Mitigation System. The principle of operation is clear from the table below. And I was not offered to test the effectiveness on myself - yes, I must admit, there was no particular desire.

NOISE AGAINST NOISE

Manufacturer data The time for acquaintance with the new "Legend" has expired. Eagles are slowly circling in the silent sky, the forest is playing with colors in the rays of the sun. Yes, only now I understand how quiet it was in the cabin. But this silence was guarded by the AW car itself: it protected passengers from the noise of the wheels, from the whistling of the wind outside the windows, suppressed the rumble of the engine and escaping exhaust gases. For the sake of maintaining a calm atmosphere, many sensors in the cabin worked, outside of it they caught annoying noises and sent signals opposite in phase through the audio system to "drown" their source.

A halo of mystery around the new "Legend" was melting before my eyes. The most incredible things found a completely earthy explanation. Now, to become legendary again, she will have to prove her superiority over competitors on European and Russian roads.

Source: WWW.ZR.RU - AW car magazine Behind the wheel

Honda Legend 2006: The Japanese Argument

It is both easy and difficult for any manufacturer to perform in the executive class - it seems so from the outside. It seems like many solutions (both design and technical) are obvious; you simply cannot do without them, otherwise you will not get anything "premium". But, on the other hand, how hard it is to find something original here, clearly distinguishing you! After all, the zest here should be of the appropriate level.

We discussed all this before the test drive of the new premium sedan Honda for the Russian market. A day later, it was already possible to evaluate the Japanese "raisins" and understand what the Japanese are going to use to lure the conservative buyer.

Acceleration of the Legend up to 4000 rpm is persistent, but at the same time quite smooth. This very persistence is felt only by the rapid takeoff of the arrows of the speedometer and tachometer, without jerking or jerking. And after "four" the motor has a second wind!

Yes, the hegemony of the German business class is under threat. If earlier only Lexus GS could give a battle to Stuttgart, Munich and Ingolstadt, now those who are thinking about buying an E-class sedan have new arguments to turn their eyes to the East. From there comes the Honda Legend, forcing us to take a different look at the Japanese manufacturer's AW cars. However, what is “different” here? We are already accustomed to the fact that behind the “H” nameplates there are bright and powerful AW cars with decent handling - like the Accord 2.4 or the new Civic hatchback. Well, it's all the more interesting how the creativity of Honda's engineers and designers extends to 4WD business sedans!

Even when working on an AW car of this class, the creators of Honda still remembered the "corporate lines": the Legend turned out to be a dynamic and fast-paced sports equipment, in many ways reminiscent of the Accord, albeit smoother, with rounded elements. Good or bad ... At least individually. When viewed from the side, the lines of the body and windows, and even a short rear end only emphasize its wedge-shaped shape. And the bonnet merging with the radiator grille with a rib in the middle plus protruding fenders make the "face" of the Legend unlike its rivals in the segment.

For the same money.

For the same money. it was possible to purchase "Papamobil" - an armored six-wheeled AW car, on which Pope John Paul II traveled around Great Britain in 1982. A buyer who overpaid compared to the original price, 30,000 USD. That is, he chose to remain anonymous.

presented in Russia the most affordable deck model of the Crownline boat - 220 EX / DB. Its advantages: a combination of elegant shape and quite decent capacity. the six-meter boat is perfect for both walks and relaxation in the company.

in the middle of autumn 2007 in St. Petersburg it will be possible to purchase a studio apartment. In the nearest suburbs - if you're lucky - you will be able to become the owner of a one-room apartment.

The only thing that seems illogical about the design of the sedan is the chrome grille: in the front, there are no other chrome products that would be combined with it. True, this part of the front end is covered with a brilliant composition by Mercedes, Mazda, and other companies; hence, we will consider this a tribute to the AW car fashion.

The Legend is equipped with a range of technological know-how that not only improve the safety of the driver and passengers, but also the potential pedestrian victims of collisions. For their safety, the Legend is equipped with a lift-up hood powered by squibs, which is activated when head-on collision... The Legend will be able to “see” better in the dark thanks to the xenon dipped beam headlights and the active headlight adjustment system that turn with the front wheels. Interestingly, the AW versions of the car for other markets are equipped with an infrared night vision system that recognizes unlucky pedestrians hidden in darkness or fog. And we have a lifting hood for such people ...

Light alloys are widely used in the structure of the body, engine and suspension. The five-meter sedan could not weigh 1,885 kg (with driver) without the widespread use of the "winged" metal - aluminum. From the hood and front fenders to the subframe and suspension arms. Soundproofing was also put on a "diet": Honda breeders brought new composition anti-noise substance, characterized by extremely low weight and, at the same time, high 4 efficiency indicators. The latter is hard not to notice: the only thing that sounds in the cabin is your favorite CD.

Legend turned out to be a dynamic and swift sports equipment The dashboard is trimmed with wood (it turns out, maple - wow!) The main instruments in the Civic style

More than a spacious interior, in our opinion, is not inferior to German competitors in the quality of materials. The seats with the widest range of adjustments are finished with perforated leather and are well profiled: they are very comfortable for measured city driving, but no worse when inertia begins to act on the body.

Prices for the Honda Legend start at $ 69,000. The base (and only) package includes a 3.5-liter 295-horsepower engine, AW Tomato gearbox, AFS headlights, cruise control, rear view camera, VSA stability control system (including ABS , BAS, traction control), eight airbags, xenon, dual-zone climate control and Hands Free with Bluetooth.

The dashboard is trimmed with wood (it turns out, maple - wow!), And the center console with climate control devices, a video system and a navigation system is sheathed in light technological-matte metal. Civic-style main instruments and large navigation display are easy to read; Plus, all the necessary functions are at hand for the driver.

The comfortable steering wheel fully deserves its "multifunctional" status: a lot of adjustments are made here: from the audio system to the cruise control panel.

The Honda Legend is an expensive business suit that makes you feel so comfortable that you want to wear it for your morning runs as well. Let's forget for a few minutes about the 295-horsepower 3.5-liter engine, about the unique all-wheel drive transmission - let only the five-speed AW tomato box remain, included in the "drive" mode. We will get the correct, unmistakably following the trajectory of the city business sedan. It goes smoothly and silently, practically silent about the shortcomings of the roadway.

SOHC VTEC 3.5 V63 Engine The 5.5-liter 295-horsepower V6 installed in the Honda Legend is by far the most powerful in the range of the Japanese company. The modern aluminum 24-valve engine with variable valve control and electronic valve control surprises with both excellent thrust after 4000 rpm and high level of economy: 11.8 liters of fuel per 100 km. In addition, it is perfectly balanced: you can put a full glass of water to the brim on a running engine - we assure you, not a drop will spill!

This is a typical portrait of a solid AW car of a business class - what else does a business person need, whose route passes daily on smooth asphalt through city traffic jams? "Find an alternative way!" - think in Honda. The path where you can sink the accelerator into the floor and feel the powerful onslaught of the 295-horsepower engine, feel the fleetingness of gear changes and hear the squeak of rubber on each of the four turning wheels. The Japanese on the European market have never had such a generous engine output: only the Legend deserves it. And it was on it that the unique SH-AWD system - Super Handling All Wheel Drive - was first tested.

We turn off the VSA stability control system, drown the gas to the floor and move towards the corner. Brake, steering wheel rotation - and the rear wheels of the sedan smoothly begin to float away from the center of the turn. Add gas again: a portion of the torque transferred by the smart transmission to one of the rear wheels gently and easily stabilizes the car at the exit from the corner. At the same time, the body practically does not roll, but even minimal horizontal deviations do not affect handling.

A two-link front, a multi-link rear, a wide track and a long wheelbase determine the Legend's excellent roadholding. But the real culprit for its superior handling is the SH-AWD all-wheel drive system, which (best of all!) Comes standard on the Honda Legend! As required, the system distributes torque between the front-rear and left-right wheels. In case of a threat of loss of directional stability, the system increases the speed of rotation of the wheel, actively "steering" and helping the AW car to cope with the maneuver.

If you do not turn off the VSA, the system will cope with the skid more intelligently, "cutting off" the fuel supply. Effectively! It will be very useful in winter (moreover, turning it off on ice would be, to put it mildly, unreasonable), but you must agree: it is much more pleasant to cope with a skid on your own, without relying on security systems, isn't it? Moreover, SH-AWD allows you to do this not only efficiently, but also effectively!

Arguments for"

Honda presented in the E class a fresh player with excellent driving characteristics, a powerful engine, an all-wheel drive system and all the attributes designed to emphasize the "premium" of the car. From a technical point of view, there is practically no fault with Legend. And the remarks to the designers will remind nagging: at the level of "like it or not like it."

Arguments against"

Conservative buyers (and there are quite a few of them in the E class) will find it difficult to instantly accept a new competitor and switch to Honda. For true fans of the Japanese brand Legend is not cheap: before it, the most expensive Honda in Russia cost about $ 40,000: that is, almost two times less. Finally, it is impossible to order the Legend "for yourself" - there is one engine, one transmission and ... one complete set, without any options.

Alexander Korobchenko, Philip Beresen

http://www.kolesa.ru/

Fourth "Legend"

The AW car will soon turn into a vacuum cleaner. Not because already now some models look more like household appliances than road equipment. And in the sense of ease of handling in the absence of special skills. ESP, DSC, EBD, Active Steering, Distronic and other similar systems look after a small and unreasonable driver today. But this is just the beginning. In the near future, you look, and the steering wheel will not be needed - entered the destination, and relax! I will probably be bored then. But for now, it's fun: every time you encounter this kind of innovation, you try to either outsmart it or use it to better drive... In the case of the Honda Legend, stuffed with innovations like sunflower seeds, this fun gave me a special pleasure. Because all-wheel drive systems are more interesting, I, perhaps, have not seen. Potentially SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) brings new, never before seen opportunities to the active driver. In any case, at first, dry impression.

The all-wheel drive system in the new Legend is undoubtedly the main dish. It is customary to start, however, with an aperitif and appetizers. Therefore, I note that Honda has been working on the fourth generation of its flagship for eight and a half years. This is understandable: against the background of competitors, the company could not afford to do with an ordinary product, without special claims or with blurred market prospects. In addition, in the process of changing the image, when such striking models as the Accord and Civic have already been built. Now we can safely say that Legend has become a revelation.

Monolithic design

In business class, looks play a special role. A person who respects himself and those around him will never sit in a soap dish, even if it is large. He needs a style that would emphasize his status and speak of good taste. The Honda designers did it. They managed to create a body, the solidity (as they themselves say) and sportiness of which clearly indicate both the ambition and the active lifestyle of the owner of the sedan.

Outwardly, Legend is really perceived as a single whole, from which not a single detail cannot be removed without prejudice - everything is so harmonious. By the way, the peculiarity of the design process was the repeated cycles of aerodynamic tests, each of which required making certain adjustments to the exterior. Moreover, the sketches were made in Germany, the models in Italy, and the aerodynamic tests were carried out in Japan. The result is a wedge-shaped body shape, a successful combination of sharp edges and rounded surfaces, excellent aerodynamics and a pleasant, moderately aggressive appearance. Compared to its predecessor, the new Legend sedan has added 25 mm in the sides, has grown by 15 mm, but has become shorter by 40 mm.

The original lighting equipment deserves a few kind words. On the front, there are swivel lenses under a hood with a dark metal coating, and on the back there are combination lights with 28 LEDs each. The side mirrors are water-repellent and the front door windows are specially coated to keep them clean in bad weather. How it will work in Russia, I was not able to check - the weather was sunny all the test weekends. However, we still plan to return to the car in the winter to test the Legend's handling in full, on slippery surfaces, and then at the same time we will pay attention to the glass.

Sensual comfort

This definition of comfort was not invented by me, but by the corresponding services of the company Honda. But one can agree with him. Because, for example, when I flopped into the driver's seat, I immediately felt at ease. It can be seen that the designers took special care of the person behind the wheel: a spacious salon was built around him. All devices, screens, indicators look into the eyes, on the sides there are huge mugs of mirrors, in which you can see even what you don't want to see. The seat has a full range of adjustments - electrical, of course. The steering wheel moves both in height and in reach. The instrument panel with three rings and AW Tomato blue looks great. The on-board computer display is located under the speedometer, which not only supplies various useful information, but also demonstrates the distribution of torque between the wheels, as they say - in on-line mode.

But the center console with a large monitor caused strange and ambiguous feelings in me personally. Firstly, this very monitor is able to provide you with a lot of unnecessary information, such as the longitude and latitude at which you are at the moment, or altitude above sea level. But on the big screen, you cannot display the most interesting details - about the work of the same SH-AWD, for example. Maybe this is done so that the driver is not distracted. once again from a beautiful picture, but looking at the tiny scales under the speedometer is also not easy. Secondly, the narrow auxiliary display at the very top of the console (sandwich, and only) simultaneously displays information about the current time, overboard temperature and audio center settings. And all these letters and numbers are perceived at a cursory glance, like a Chinese letter, which is very difficult to understand. Thirdly, there are a lot of buttons on the console and a joystick for the on-board computer at the bottom. To understand where to press, what to twist, how to move - you need to memorize the instructions and train for hours, you can't intuitively reach everything. In general, it is not very convenient.

It's good that the audio center can be controlled using the buttons on the steering wheel. There are no complaints about the sound quality - it was specially developed for Honda by Bose. As well as no complaints about other life support systems. Taking the same climate control is a genuine innovation. The system, quite naturally, is able to provide different conditions existence in the cabin for the driver and passengers. But! It is also possible to control the temperature in the upper and lower zones separately. To keep your head in the cold and your feet warm, according to the Russian proverb. Finally, the Japanese were not too lazy to tie climate control to the GPS system: from where the sun's rays fall, it is cooler there. I suspect that the Legend's electronic brain is capable of other miracles that I simply did not have time to realize in three days.

And it's also spacious inside. Despite the reduced overall length, the interior, in all respects, has become larger. Hence, there is ample legroom for rear passengers and a fairly spacious luggage compartment - its volume is 452 liters. Moreover, there are side curtains in the stern - they are raised manually, and the rear one, with an electric drive. Only this drive is half: it is worth moving the automatic transmission selector to position R, as the shutter will go down, but it will not rise back on its own, you need to press the corresponding button again. But is this the main thing?

Super handling

The main thing is, of course, the all-wheel drive system. I will not burden the reader with detailed descriptions of the principles of operation of the central differential or planetary gear, two electromagnetic clutches - one for each rear wheel. This, by the way, has never been offered by any other AW top manufacturer. But to know that the torque walks between the axles in the proportion of 70:30, and between the left and right rear wheels - in the proportion of 100: 0 (and vice versa, of course) is perhaps useful. But the whole highlight of SH-AWD is that this moment walks with great meaning, and, what is most striking, is understandable, predictable. At least on dry pavement.

I will make a reservation again: a slippery test that will make it possible to understand everything to the end - we still have to. In the meantime, I will very briefly say what is written in the official press release and share some personal impressions.

So, Honda says that the distribution of torque is carried out through a predictive correction, the source of which is information about the actions of the driver. In other words, the electronics constantly analyze information from numerous sensors - about the steering wheel steering angle, lateral acceleration, the degree of pressing the accelerator pedal, the speed of rotation of each of the wheels, and selects the best option distribution of torque between the wheels of the AW vehicle.

Enough theory, let's turn to practice. With a sharp start on dry asphalt, most of the momentum is directed to the front wheels, as indicated by the scales on the monitor under the speedometer. When driving on the highway, the opposite is true. When passing a bunch of turns on this very monitor, such a whistle begins that you cannot follow it, especially while driving. So I can only rely on personal feelings.

These feelings are as follows. On smooth gas in the AW turn, the car demonstrates neutral steering, striving with the whole body out of the corner. Exemplary, I would say, behavior. Legend is so loyal to the driver that one involuntarily wants to provoke her to take some more decisive action. And then what? Then the rear outer wheel is loaded, and the car literally dives into a turn. From which, with skillful handling of the gas pedal, the front wheels are pulled out. Amazing! But that's not all. If you decide on an outright provocation, at the moment when the feed, according to all the laws of physics, should go into a skid, the electronics unload the rear wheels. Skillful drivers driving a rear-wheel drive AW car are well known for this technique: when skidding under the thrust, depress the clutch pedal (throw the automatic transmission handle to the N position) in order to straighten the trajectory. In Legend, the SH-AWD brilliantly performs a similar operation. The driver can only turn the steering wheel correctly. Fortunately, the steering gear is set up quite competently. Quite indicative: if the driver does everything right, the VSC stabilization system does not intervene, allowing liberties - within reasonable limits, of course. The elastic suspension also contributes to enviable handling. Providing a level of comfort corresponding to the AW class of the car, it, at the same time, does not allow too much body roll. Therefore, a large AW car is very stable not only on straight lines.

Another undeniable advantage of the Legend is its powertrain. The 6-cylinder engine from the leader in the engine industry has a working volume of 3.5 liters and develops 295 hp. maximum power and 351 Nm of torque. In practice, this means excellent driving performance and typical Honda character. So, the greatest return is achieved as soon as the tachometer needle passes the 4000 rpm mark. At such moments, the interior, which hitherto seemed almost soundproof, is filled with a pleasant groovy sound. The 5-speed automatic transmission, which is standard on the Legend, also pleased us with its quickness. It allows you to fully realize the potential of the engine, and with a sharp press on the gas pedal, it jumps quite quickly one step, or even two steps below. You can also manually change gears by pressing the paddles at the steering wheel spokes.

In short, it's easy to accelerate, but slow down? It is also possible, of course, and in power brake calipers there is no doubt. But have brake system there is a strange feature. You have chosen, it seems, the desired degree of pressure on the pedal, and decelerate at exactly the same pace as expected. But just before stopping, although you do not reduce the effort on the brake pedals, the car suddenly makes a short leap forward, so you have to brake. What caused such a strange two-stage setting, I cannot say. But in the ragged rhythm of city traffic, this is not a gift, and you don't get used to such an algorithm right away - it is so unusual. Although, I must admit, I did not have any real problems in this regard for three days.

Good price

Successful design, high level of comfort, four-wheel drive and an excellent engine - all this is offered for $ 69,000. So the Honda Legend will certainly take its rightful place in the Russian market, it is quite capable of competing with Lexus GS, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E350 or BMW 5th series. If there is no one but - queues. As, for example, on the Civic. Buyers of AW vehicles of this class are not used to waiting too long. And this cannot be ignored.

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Legend or reality?

Recently, the word "Honda" is more and more often heard, and this is due to many factors. In addition to AW vehicles, the Japanese company set about creating high-precision electronic systems, and has now come up with a new hobby - robotics. An iron "man" with an electronic brain already walked the catwalk at the Moscow International AW Tosalon 2006, delighting the audience with his childlike spontaneity and friendliness, and next to it was a concept car capable of reading information from the retina to recognize its owner. Yes, another hatchback Honda civic, who visited our test, is a vivid proof that the company's ambitions are not at all joking. Having become by no means the first to be behind the wheel of the new Honda Legend and having heard a lot of rave reviews from our colleagues about this AW car, we, nevertheless, did not become so optimistic in our views and came to a disappointing conclusion for Honda - Legend is destined to remain a real legend on the AW car market in Russia, and it will not be at all easy to overtake those competitors whom the company has chosen for itself with the help of pricing policy.

So, the fourth generation of Legend has come to our market to conquer that part of the audience that is accustomed to solid and prestigious business class AW vehicles. Honda's marketers felt that they had created an AW car that can be opposed not only to the usual Japanese business sedans, but also AW to high-profile German brands and models, such as the Audi A6 quattro, BMW 5-series, etc. Indeed, the luxurious interior, powerful 3.5-liter engine and all-wheel drive give the Legend a lot of potential.

The body of the new Legend has become 20 mm higher and 25 mm wider, while the length and wheelbase, on the contrary, have decreased by as much as 38 mm and 110 mm, respectively, compared to the 1999 model. This did not stop the engineers from increasing the cabin space by 30 mm and the height by 40 mm. It turned out to be a rather complicated algorithm, but as a result, the passengers benefited, while the aerodynamic characteristics, which are now controlled by much more complex electronic systems, not only did not suffer, but also improved significantly.

The appearance of the AW car will generate more controversy among all segments of the population, including from the side of buyers. To some it will seem too simple, to others it is quite acceptable for a car of this level, but there will be a lot of both. And this will happen because the front Legend demonstrates clear aggression, due to the structure of the head optics and the hood, showing everyone its power. But behind the sedan, it seems, it loses all its hot ardor and turns into a completely ordinary AW car, where there are only two separate exhaust pipes remind of nearly 300 horse power under the hood. Those who disagree can put forward their point of view, thereby confirming the above.

Inside Legend is assembled from a bunch of contradictions. The fact that this car is primarily intended for driving is indicated by the amount of free space in the back, there is not enough space here; in order to stretch your legs or sit down normally for a tall person, you will not have to ask to move the front seats. On the contrary, the extremely comfortable structure of the seats and the soft perforated leather allow you to forget about the lack of space for a while, because it is a pleasure to sit on it. This is where the entertainment for the rear passengers ends, and all other benefits are gathered around the driver and some, if the latter allows it, around the front passenger.

The interior is replete with leather, on the dashboard and panels it is extensively replaced by plastic, where, nevertheless, some elements are also trimmed with leather. In a thin line along the perimeter of the Legend cabin, there are wood inserts, and metal parts are also visible everywhere. The driver's seat is conveniently arranged, except that you will have to reach for the buttons for disabling the stabilization system and turning on the driving mode in the snow, they are located between the steering wheel and the dashboard. The steering wheel is very comfortable, as it should be for a modern business class AW car, the audio system control, cruise control, on-board computer and a telephone. It seems that everything is fine further too - all the windows are in place, the mirrors are adjustable and folded, even the seats are heated and MP3 music from ten Bose speakers sounds great, but there is one problem - the center console.

An attempt to concentrate all possible functions on the center console and minimize the number of buttons led to a full load of the entire menu, which, among other things, is not Russified. We meet the English text everywhere and, it would seem, what's wrong with that, well, you think about it, in most cars you have to navigate by the icons and the words “Audio”, “Computer”, “Phone”, familiar to every child from childhood, etc. But you have to not only read the menu, but also talk with the on-board computer, for example, to connect mobile phone, and then dial a number. First, a representative of the Honda company kindly agreed to do it, which we, in fact, did not ask him to do. Apparently, realizing right away that we will not be able to independently guess what to say to a respected or respected on-board computer (the voice can be configured for both female and male) and what to ask him / her for, we cannot, a Honda representative connected one of the of our phones to the system under the name "Nokia Cool Telephone". To accept the name of the new paired equipment as simply Nokia, the on-board computer flatly refused, referring to the too short name. Now we were able to receive calls and talk through the speakerphone through the Bose speakers. In order to call a subscriber, it was necessary to dictate 10 digits of the number to the computer, which did not work out. Armed with an English dictionary with transcriptions, we tried to pronounce these numbers as clearly as possible, but were forced to be disappointed in our pronunciation, and at the same time in the entire Honda voice control system. For those who do not know, let us explain. In all other AW vehicles where this function had to be encountered, it was possible to dial a number using either the on-screen (Touch Screen) or push-button dial.

The center console lacks some buttons for the air conditioning and audio systems, replaced by "a rotating and swinging joystick-like element," according to an official press release. The "element" really sways and rotates, thus "walking" through the menu displayed on the color screen, between the functions of the audio system, navigation, separate climate control, calendar, calculator and on-board computer. It is highly undesirable to use it while driving, until a thorough study is carried out. it will take time - the menu is too busy and intuitively difficult to understand. In many menu items, doubts arise about what to do - rotate the joystick or swing. The navigation system built into the Honda Legend is applicable in our country in about the same way as if you attach a fifth leg to a dog - there is no sense without a map of the area from it, but it is first displayed on the screen when the engine is started.

The $ 69,000 worth , the control system is included four-wheel drive SH-AWD. It is said to be the most advanced all-wheel drive system to date. While driving, it increases the speed of rotation of any wheel when cornering, thereby regulating oversteer. In the usual rhythm of movement, 70% of the torque is rotated by the front wheels, if you press the gas harder, the same 70% goes to the rear axle - after all, pushing is easier than pulling. When accelerating, the Honda Legend turns into an almost rear-wheel drive AW car, and it also happens when cornering. We did not find anything special in this system, except that the AW car really holds the road perfectly in any non-absurd situations. If you do not violate much speed mode, then Legend will not allow itself to be skidded, even on slippery surfaces. The dashboard graphically displays the SH-AWD operation, the question is who will look at dashboard during an extreme turn, because only in this case the most interesting things are shown there.

A nice touch was the rear-view camera and outside mirrors, which are lowered while driving. reverse... In this case, the electric curtain is also lowered on rear window, only when the "Drive" mode is turned on, it will not rise back by itself. In this mode, the automatic transmission switches from 1st to 5th gear. For 3.5 liters under the hood and 295 hp five gears are clearly not enough, and the acceleration for this power seemed rather weak. certainly powerful and dynamic, but other AW cars with similar power units demonstrate much greater potential, the engine seems to be choking something from the inside, preventing it from throwing out all its energy. Despite all of the above, we must pay tribute, the automatic transmission works perfectly, the shocks characteristic of AW tomatoes are not felt at all, the switching occurs clearly. In addition, the automatic transmission uses the Shift Hold Control system, which does not allow the tachometer needle to go down during a short-term deceleration of the car's AW, thereby maintaining high dynamics. Like all modern transmissions Honda automatic transmission The Legend is equipped with a sequential gear shift mode.

The AW vehicle's movement is smooth and predictable, the steering is precise, and the travel of the double-wishbone suspension at the front and multi-link at the rear allows you to move with comfort. Standard equipment on the Legend includes AFS swivel headlights that illuminate the road when maneuvering in accordance with the movement of the steering wheel, and allow you to "peek" into turns. The Honda Legend has a too large turning radius, which diminishes the ability to quickly turn around in a narrow street. In addition, for almost 70 thousand US dollars, I really want not just xenon, but bi-xenon headlights, which are also missing in the Legend.

Now let's take a look at the prospects of the Honda Legend in the Russian market. With all its indisputable advantages and a rather rich, but only possible configuration, the Honda Legend will compete in the price range with the BMW 530Xi, the cost of the basic configuration of which in dollar terms is about 68 thousand, and the dynamic performance according to the manufacturer's data is better than that of the Honda Legend (7 , 4 seconds to hundreds, against 6.8 seconds for BMW); Audi A6 quattro with 3.0-liter power unit, which, although less powerful, is certainly no less prestigious and costs about $ 73 thousand with a very rich set of options. Moreover, in Germany, the Honda Legend is offered for the same money as in Russia, i.e. for 69,000 USD, and the prices for "Germans" there are an order of magnitude lower than in Russia. Whether Legend has a future, and what it will become, buyers will certainly decide.

Sales of the latest generation Honda Legend business sedan begin. Many of the technical solutions incorporated into this car seem semi-fantastic, inherent in some concept model rather than a serial one.

The MODEL is already partly known to our customers - in America, "Acura RL" is sold for about a year, and this car, in fact, is a twin of the Honda flagship and has long been offered in Russia by "gray" dealers. Designing "Honda Legend", the designers spent a lot of time on adapting it to the tastes of European buyers.

At first glance, you can see that the car is assembled superbly: the joints of the panels are carefully fitted, the “thread” gaps. And an unobtrusive feature of the body is also interesting - there is no usual “step” between the glass doors and their frames in the area of ​​the B-pillar. This reduced the noise level in the head area of ​​the driver and front passenger, as well as the overall aerodynamic resistance. Well, Honda has always been distinguished by exquisite engineering.

The salon is the embodiment of luxury, an example of the highest business class standards. The quality of finishing materials is the highest both in appearance and in touch. The front overlays are real maple. The driver's seat has eight adjustments, plus the steering column has two. All of them are electrically driven. When reverse gear is engaged, a picture from the camera is displayed on the color display of the navigation system rear view... Parktronic, however, no. But it comes standard with a 10-speaker “Bose” audio system and turntable xenon headlights... Each of them can direct light up to 20 degrees in the direction of travel.

Intelligent four-wheel drive provides exceptional cornering reliability.

The engine and gearbox for all "Honda Legends" are the same: a 3.5-liter V6 and a 5-speed "automatic". This tandem delivers an energetic and smooth acceleration. And the engine's voice is juicy, beautiful and solid - thanks to a special valve that opens in the exhaust system after 3.500 rpm. On the high revs it makes it easier to "breathe" the engine and gives it a sporty sound.

Unfortunately, in transient modes, the “machine” settings are not the best. With a sharp acceleration, when the accelerator pedal is pressed to the floor, the box “thinks over” its further actions for a long time. The “manual” mode saves the situation. By the way, the gearbox can be controlled by the paddle shifters, as in the racing formula.

What silence in the cabin with uniform movement! At a speed of 160 km / h, not only aerodynamic noise, but also the engine is not audible. Only the tires rustle slightly. By noiselessness "Legend" is just right to compare with representative models top level, the price of which amounts to hundreds of thousands of euros. This is due to both excellent noise isolation and ANC (active noise cancellation) system. Two sensors detect low-frequency vibrations from the engine and transmission, and the control unit outputs a phase reverse signal through the audio system speakers, which dampens unpleasant sounds... Thanks to this innovation, Honda's people were able to get rid of a fair share of all kinds of mats, panels, coatings and other similar elements that protect the cabin from noise. Hence the weight gain.

Reduced overall weight and aluminum body panels - hood, front fenders, trunk lid. The subframes and suspension arms are also made of “winged metal”. In addition, the driveshaft is made of carbon fiber.

"Honda Legend" from authorized dealer will be about $ 10,000 cheaper than its counterpart - "Acura RL" - from the "gray" interior.

"4x4" of tomorrow

The FIRST of two main features of the new “Honda Legend” is the “Super Handling-All Wheel Drive” (SH-AWD) system - all-wheel drive, which provides super-controllability. With the help of three planetary gears and multi-plate clutches, the electronics regulate the distribution of torque between the wheels. Sometimes in a very remarkable way:

In terms of richness and impeccable quality of interior trim "Legend" is comparable to the representative models.

- when accelerating, the thrust between the front and rear wheels divided in a ratio of 60:40. In this case, a little more torque is supplied to the rear wheels than usual for efficient acceleration;

- uniform movement in a straight line - 70:30. In fact, the usual front-wheel drive for "Honda";

- when cornering, the car can become almost rear-wheel drive - 30:70;

- in a corner, up to 100% of traction (out of the 70% that goes to the rear wheels) can only be supplied to ONE rear wheel. Thus, “4x4” helps not only to extinguish, but also to control skidding - if a sufficiently experienced driver is sitting at the wheel.

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Together with the traditional system of course stabilization, all-wheel drive SH-AWD gives the Honda a truly phenomenal stability.

This is in theory. I don’t know what it will be like in wet or icy conditions, but on dry asphalt in any mode it is great to control the Legend. The rolls are minimal, there are no delays, the steering wheel is filled with reactive force. Unlike systems with a connected all-wheel drive on an arc, the behavior of the machine is always unambiguous: drift or skid almost instantly turns into sliding with all four wheels. It seems that even a beginner can feel like a confident pilot who is not afraid of peak situations.

The second interesting feature of the debutant is the “Collision Mitigation Brake System” (CMBS), or collision avoidance system. If you read the abbreviation fluently, it turns out to be almost "symbiosis" - a useful union of machine and man.

In case of a dangerous reduction in the distance to the object in front, the driver hears a warning signal and sees on the display the inscription "Brake!" this does not stop the vehicle completely. Later, Japanese engineers explained that they deliberately left CMBS only as an assistant, and not as a deputy driver, so that the person would not lose touch with the car. Reasonable ... It is a pity that the copies supplied to Russia will be deprived of "symbiosis".

The designers also took into account passive safety pedestrians. A collision with a person is recognized by special sensors in the front bumper, and in less than 30 milliseconds the squibs raise the rear edge of the hood (near the windshield) by 10 cm.Now the head of the unfortunate person will be greeted not by a solid engine, originally located in millimeters from the hood, but by a relatively soft body panel ...