Acura Vigor

With info translated from the [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9B%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%BB%E3%83%93%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC entry for Honda Vigor in the Japanese Wikipedia] :

The Vigor started out in Japan only in the early 1980s as upper trim level Accord, with later generations of the Vigor moved upmarket and received a shared platform with the luxury oriented Honda Inspire, and the engine sat longitudinally like the second generation Acura Legend. In Japan during the early 1990's, there were four sedans between the Civic and the
Honda Accord and Honda Ascot with 4-cylinder engines mounted transversely, and the Vigor and Inspire with 5-cylinder engines mounted longitudinally. The Vigor was sold at Honda Verno dealerships in Japan, and the Honda Inspire was sold at Honda Clio dealerships.

The Acura Vigor was Acura's mid-size sedan sold in the United States from 1992 to 1994, and was replaced by the Acura TL/Honda Saber.

First generation series SZ/AD (1981-1985)

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Honda Vigor


production=1981-1985
class=Compact
assembly=Sayama, Saitama, Japan
body_style=3-door hatchback
4-door sedan
transmission=4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
engine=1.8 L "ES3" I4Beginning September 25, 1981, Honda produced a variant of the Honda Accord badged as the Honda Vigor for Japan only. The first generation Vigor was a higher grade 4 door sedan and 3 door hatchback, with the 1.8 L engine as the only engine available. The Vigor was a sportier, faster, "vigourous" Accord with a higher level of equipment over the more sedate Accord. The Vigor competed with the Toyota Corona Mark II and the Nissan Laurel in Japan. This engine debuted the SOHC 3 valve per cylinder mated to a 4 speed automatic transmission with a lock up torque convertor. Items that were optional on the Accord, such as cruise control, power windows, and power steering were standard on the Vigor. A trip computer that displayed mileage, driving time, and fuel economy was also standard on the Vigor.

Trim levels that were offered were the VT-i, VTL-i, VXR, VX, VL. PGM-FI fuel injection was standard on the VT-i and VTL-i. The hatchback was available on the TT-i.

econd generation CA1-CA2-CA3 (1985-1989)

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Honda Vigor


production=1986-1989
class=Compact
body_style=4-door sedan
engine=1.8L B18A I4 2.0L B20AConvert|120|hp|kW|0|abbr=on I4
wheelbase=auto in|102.4|0
length=auto in|179.7|0
width=auto in|67.4|0
height=auto in|53.4|0
transmission=4-speed automatic
5-speed automatic
5-speed manual
fuel_capacity=Convert|15.9|usgal|L impgal|1
assembly=Sayama, JapanJune 4, 1985 saw the introduction of the redesigned Vigor as a 4 door sedan only. As before, the Vigor was an uplevel Accord. The 1.8 L B18A engine was now offered with dual carburetors and a larger 2.0 L B20A engine was offered Honda's PGM-FI, with the 1.8 L A18A engine as the basic offering. The Vigor had minor cosmetic differences from the Accord, using a different front grille and rear tail lights. May 1987 saw the introduction of the 2.0 Si Exclusive, adding electric retractable side view mirrors as standard. A automatic shift-lock system was added September 1988 on the "MXL Super Stage" trim level.

Third generation series CB5/CC2 & CC3 (1989-1995)

Infobox Automobile
name=Acura Vigor (3rd generation)


manufacturer=Honda
production=1992–1994 (USA)
1981-1995 (Japan)
class=Mid-size luxury car
body_style=4-door "B" Pillar hardtop
successor=Acura TL
Honda Saber
related=Honda Accord
wheelbase= Auto in|110.4|0
length= Auto in|190.4|0
width= Auto in|70.1|0
layout=FF layout
aka= Honda Vigor
1989 Honda Inspire
height= 1992-93: Auto in|53.9|0
1994: Auto in|52.0|0
fuel_capacity= 17.2 US gal.
engine=G25A 2.5L Convert|176|hp|kW|0|abbr=on I5
transmission=4-speed automatic
5-speed manualAt the launch of the fourth generation Accord, the Vigor was no longer based on the Accord chassis. The third generation Vigor was based on a new, longer Accord platform called the "Inspired Accord" or the Honda Inspire, that was shared with the new Honda Legend. The Vigor was sold in the United States and was badged as the first generation Acura Vigor in 1992 [ [http://www.edmunds.com/acura/vigor/1992/review.html 1992 Acura Vigor Review at edmunds.com] ] . The Honda Inspire was not yet introduced to the USA until the next generation was introduced in 1995, and sold as the Acura 3.2 TL, with the Vigor sold as the Acura 2.5 TL.

Production began in 1991 [ [http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/makehistory/5,0/Acura_History.aspx Acura History at conceptcarz.com] ] and the vehicle went on sale as a 1992 model in June of that year, slotting between the Integra and the Legend.

Honda's 2.5 L longitudinally mounted 5-cylinder 176 hp petrol was the only engine available.

Honda, Acura's parent company, anticipated that the market would move toward small, well-equipped sports sedans akin to the BMW 3-Series and that a less expensive but well equipped alternative to the BMW would be a strong seller; the Vigor was the result of that thinking. They were wrong, and early reviews of the Vigor were not favorable. Comparisons to the Lexus ES 300, which was roomier and softer in ride, generally favored the Lexus as the more appealing buy for the average luxury car buyer, whereas the Vigor was stiff and small.

Despite this, the model did receive points for its handling prowess, which was very good for a front-wheel-drive sedan and akin to the 4-door version of the Integra.

In response to the reviews, Acura made several changes to the Vigor for the 1994 model year, increasing rear seat room, softening the suspension and re-engineering the steering rack to help isolate the driver from road imperfections in an attempt to make the model more like the ES. The tactics were unsuccessful; buyers favored the more powerful Legend as a sports sedan and still seemed to prefer the ES as an entry-level luxury model.

Poor sales and no improvement in market response led Honda to drop the model, and production ended on May 13, 1994. The Vigor was replaced by the 1996 Acura TL/Honda Saber. [ [http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/cc/92-98vigor-tl.htm Acura Vigor Used Vehicle Review: at CanadianDriver.com] ] .

External links

* [http://www.acuravigorclub.com/ Acura Vigor Club]
* [http://www.acura-legend.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=43 Acura Vigor Section (of Acura-Legend.com)]

References