Introduced in November 2014 and entering the Japanese market in February 2015, the fifth generation of Honda's flagship "Legend" sedan is essentially a "locally adapted" version of the premium Acura RLX Sport Hybrid sedan (already available on that moment in the USA).
Recall that the release of the predecessor Honda Legend of the 4th generation was discontinued in 2013, while in Russia the fourth generation disappeared from sale much earlier. With the release of the fifth generation model, the Japanese, alas, have no plans to return the Legendary Honda to the Russian expanses ...
So, the exterior of the 5th generation Legend is almost an exact copy of the Acura RLX Sport Hybrid sedan (presented back in 2012), but with “Honda” nameplates ... The exterior, it must be admitted, is very attractive, dynamic and stylish.
Exterior highlights include a sophisticated front bumper, an original grille and multi-section LED headlights. Behind the car, nothing stands out, except that the chrome edging of the foglights hints at belonging to the business class.
By 2018 (the presentation took place in October 2017, as part of the Tokyo Motor Show), the three-volume was refreshed in appearance - in accordance with the trends of "Acura style".
The length of the 5th generation Honda Legend sedan is 4982 mm, the wheelbase of the novelty is 2850 mm, the width is limited to 1890 mm, and the height does not exceed 1465 mm. The ground clearance is about 115 mm.
The curb weight of the 5th generation sedan is about 1980 kg.
5-seater salon Honda Legend, already "by tradition", received a premium finish with an abundance of leather and veneer inserts. The salon looks quite presentable, modern and is equipped with: a push-button transmission control panel, a head-up display on the windshield, as well as two displays (8 and 7 inches) of the multimedia system located on the center console (the lower display is touch-sensitive).
The interior of the sedan is quite quiet - the Japanese worked very carefully on soundproofing, besides, they did not stint to put active engine mounts, so there is practically no extraneous noise in the car.
The fifth generation of the sedan received only one version of the gasoline power plant, but three electric motors will help it at once.
The atmospheric gasoline unit itself has at its disposal 6 V-shaped cylinders with a total displacement of 3.5 liters (3476 cm³). In addition, it is worth noting that the engine is equipped with an aluminum block head, 24-valve timing, direct fuel injection, a system for shutting off half of the cylinders at low loads and a variable valve timing system i-VTEC. Engine power is 313 hp at 5800 rpm, and its peak torque falls at around 359 Nm (available already at 3800 rpm) ...
And the 3.5-liter unit is assisted by a 35 kW (47.5 hp) electric motor integrated into a 7-speed robotic gearbox with two clutches.
Two more electric motors with an output of 27 kW (37 hp) each are located on the rear axle of the vehicle. Both motors are able to operate independently of each other and distribute torque between the wheels more efficiently than most modern active differentials.
This transmission layout is called "Sport Hybrid SH-AWD" and has three operating modes:
- front-wheel drive "Engine Drive" (only the petrol engine works),
- rear-wheel drive "EV Drive" (only rear electric motors work),
- all-wheel drive hybrid "Hybrid Drive" (which uses the entire set of engines).
The total net power of the Honda Legend hybrid powertrain is 382 hp, and its peak torque is at around 461 Nm.
The Japanese do not mention the dynamic characteristics of the Honda Legend, but if you focus on the identical Acura RLX Sport Hybrid, then this Japanese should gain the first hundred on the speedometer in about 5.1 - 5.3 seconds.
With regard to fuel consumption, in the "Hybrid Drive" mode, the manufacturer promises an "appetite" of 5.9 liters per 100 km (combined cycle).
The fifth generation Honda Legend sedan received a fully independent suspension: double wishbones at the front and a multi-link system at the rear.
All wheels of the novelty are equipped with ventilated disc brakes, and the rack-and-pinion steering mechanism is complemented by a variable-force electric booster.
Already in the base, this three-box is equipped with the AHA (Agile Handling Assist) maneuvering system, which works in conjunction with the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) stability system, helping to brake the inner wheels when cornering. In addition, it boasts an uphill start assist system, adaptive cruise control and an electronic parking brake.
This sedan was the first production car of the Honda brand to use the Honda Sensing active safety system. It includes a pedestrian collision avoidance system based on data from a camera and radar. The range of the system is 60 meters (while the system is disabled at speeds over 60 km / h).
In addition to all of the above, the "base" of the fifth generation of the Honda Legend sedan is equipped with: full LED optics, climate control, a Krell Industries audio system with 14 speakers and a separate control panel for rear passengers, an integrated navigation system, and an extended safety package ...
The cost of the Honda Legend in Japan starts at ~ 6,800,000 yen (that's ~ $ 58,750).
