Luxury automobiles can trace their roots back to the late 1800s. In the 1980s, three Japanese automakers introduced their own luxury brands: Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti. Acura was founded by Honda in 1986 and introduced the Legend sedan in 1986. Lexus, founded by Toyota in 1989, launched the LS 400 sedan as its first model. Infiniti, founded by Nissan in 1989, introduced the Q45 sedan and M30 coupe. Genesis, a standalone brand separated from Hyundai in 2015, became its own thing in 2015 with the G80 sedan. Lexus is the largest of the three Asian luxury brands in terms of sales, with 320,249 vehicles sold in the US in 2023. Acura sold 145,655 vehicles in the US in 2023, while Infiniti sold 64,699 units. Genesis sold a million vehicles between November 2015 and September 2023. Toyota hopes that Lexus will reach 1 million deliveries by 2030. Genesis plans to become fully electric by 2030.
At the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Lexus debuted two new electric vehicles, the LF-ZC and LF-ZL [8a6efade]. The LF-ZC features a teardrop shape with a drag coefficient of less than 0.20 and promises twice the range of current EVs [8a6efade]. It has a unique interior space with a flat floor and displays for gauge information and interactivity [8a6efade]. The car's behavior can be updated through over-the-air updates using the Arene OS software, which also includes an AI voice-activated assistant called Butler [8a6efade]. The LF-ZC is part of Lexus' plan to go fully electric in the North American market by 2030 and globally by 2035 [8a6efade].
Acura has also made an announcement in the electric vehicle market, revealing pricing for the 2024 Acura ZDX, its first all-electric model [1686792f]. The ZDX A-Spec with a single-motor rear-wheel-drive powertrain starts at $64,500, while the high-performance ZDX Type S with a dual-motor AWD powertrain starts at $73,500 [1686792f]. The ZDX features cutting-edge technology and connectivity, including Google integration, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bang & Olufsen luxury audio [1686792f]. Acura is implementing a new omni-channel digital sales process for all ZDX sales [1686792f]. The ZDX is built on an electric vehicle platform with a low center of gravity and near 50/50 weight distribution [1686792f]. The rear-wheel-drive ZDX A-Spec is powered by a rear-mounted single-motor producing 340 horsepower [1686792f]. The ZDX Type S has an estimated 500 horsepower and features a height-adjustable air suspension, performance-tuned adaptive dampers, and 15.6-inch Brembo front brakes [1686792f]. Acura provides comprehensive charging solutions for ZDX owners, including access to public fast-charging networks and charging packages that include home charging stations and charging credits [1686792f].
Honda started building engines in the United States in 1985, becoming the first Japanese automaker to do so. Two years later, Honda became the first to export U.S.-built cars overseas. Honda now has 12 plants in the United States, with four in Ohio, three in North Carolina, and one in Alabama, Indiana, and Georgia each. The Honda Accord is built in Marysville, Ohio. The Honda Civic Hatchback is made in Greensburg, Indiana. The CR-V and CR-V Hybrid are built in Greensburg, Indiana and East Liberty, Ohio. Acura TLX, TLX Type S, Integra, and Integra Type S are made in Marysville, Ohio, while Acura MDX and RDX are built in East Liberty, Ohio. Other Honda models made in the U.S. include the Odyssey minivan, Ridgeline truck, Passport SUV, and Pilot, which are produced in Lincoln, Alabama [8a743a4c].
Acura, a Honda high-performance brand, gained popularity in North America by emphasizing its uniqueness. It was launched in 1986, before other Japanese car manufacturers launched their own premium brands. Acura's product concept was a high-performance brand promoting a young, energetic, and sporty image. In the 2000s, Acura faced challenges in the slowing U.S. economy and returned to its roots by reviving the concept of 'Precision Crafted Performance.' Acura supports challengers through activities such as sponsoring the Sundance Film Festival and producing an animated film called 'Chiaki's Journey.' Acura also participates in car racing, including the IMSA Endurance Championship and the Long Beach Grand Prix. Acura's participation in the Long Beach Grand Prix includes winning the title in 2019 and 2020 and dominating the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2021 and 2022. Acura will continue to take on the challenge of the coming electrification era. [e52a381c]
The article also discusses the history and pricing of each brand's models [6af7f3c1].