It is the “King” in the Honda stable and since 1985, has been the flagship model of Honda.
The first generation was a result of a joint venture between the Rover group of the UK and Honda Motors Japan codenamed KA1 which had a six-year lifespan. It had an exceptional ride, a host of innovative features and an innovative SOHC engine. Notable owners of the first-generation Legend were Soichiro Honda and racing legend Ayrton Senna.
Early this week, 11 years after the Fourth generation, Honda launched the Fifth-generation Legend with all the fanfare and trimmings worthy of automotive royalty. “That is what this new vehicle is all about, “Smart Exhilarating Luxury.” The All-New Legend provides luxury and comfort while combining state-of-the-art technologies. Our mission to bring about world-class products to the market is realized in this vehicle,” states Toshio Kuwahara, GM and President of HCPI.
Held at the grand ballroom of the Solaire Hotel and Casino, Honda introduced its flagship model with two levels of trim, the Modulo and the Mugen version. With a length of 4,997mm and width of 1890mm plus a curb weight of 1976kgs, the Legend is expected to lock horns with the Lexus LS Hybrid, the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes Benz S400 Hybrid.
Under the hood of the All-New Legend are Earth Dreams Technology V6 3.5 L direct injection i-VTEC with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) engine and a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) with an integrated high-performance electric motor. At the rear a Twin Motor Unit (TMU) and an intelligent power unit equipped with high-power lithium-ion batteries are located. Each rear motor is independently controlled and can provide either drive or deceleration power to its wheel in any ratio. This technology is called the advanced torque vectoring system which provides highly stable handling performance in a wide range of driving situations. The advanced hybrid system of the Legend automatically combines front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive with Engine drive, Electric Vehicle Drive or Hybrid drive as a response to the driver’s inputs and driving conditions to ensure optimal performance and outstanding fuel economy. Overall this powertrain delivers power similar to a V8 engine and a 4-cylinder like fuel economy.
For the discerning few, one can dress up their Legends with MUGEN and Modulo accessories which can be purchased individually or as a package for added convenience and style. Available MUGEN accessories are Carbon Fiber Front Lower Spoiler, Carbon Fiber Ducktail Spoiler, Sports Luggage Mat, and 20-inch Aluminum Wheel. The Modulo accessories on the other hand, include Front Corner Under Spoiler, Ducktail Spoiler, Door Lower Garnish and Mudguard.
With all these advanced technology, features and systems, Honda’s Legend 3.5 Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is out to carve inroads in a small, yet very competitive domestic market. The All-New Legend can be viewed and test driven exclusively at Honda Cars Global City and Honda Cars Greenhills and has a sticker price of P4.3M.