November 1998 Volume 79 Number 11 "serving the protectors"
Honda's brand of luxury
By Jim Barnett

Honda’s enviable reputation for superbly refined, world-class cars continues with the Legend. This car is Honda’s flagship and reflects the blend of power, luxury appointments and excellent engineering for which the company has long been known.

Luxurious and beautifully appointed, the Legend deserves limousine status. It is one of the smoothest and quietest cars available. Creature comforts and safety features abound, while other design features enhance driving pleasure.

Legend is powered by an advanced 3.5-litre, V6 petrol engine which is longitudinally mounted and drives the front wheels. Of all alloy construction, the engine features:

• A single overhead camshaft.
• Four valves per cylinder.
• A three-stage variable induction system.

Power output is a healthy 147kW @ 5200 rpm with 284 Nm of torque available at a lazy 2800 rpm.

The standard transmission is a sophisticated four-speed, electronically-controlled automatic unit which features Honda’s Grade Logic Control System. The onboard computer senses uphill or downhill travel and prevents the transmission from “hunting” between gears. The gear shift selector’s “gate” design is similar to that used by Mercedes Benz and offers slick shifting.

Both the engine and transmission are silky smooth and extremely quiet. Only in the upper rev range is slight engine noise detectible in the cabin.

Legend weighs a hefty 1645kg, but the power of its 3.5-litre engine makes it capable of rapid acceleration and effortless high-speed cruising.

Four-wheel, fully independent, double-wishbone suspension, with front and rear stabiliser bars, provides superb ride and handling on all surfaces. Anti-squat and anti-dive geometrics have been incorporated to prevent excessive “nose-up” and “nose-down” during harsh acceleration and deceleration.

The traction control system is designed to prevent abrupt changes in traction and reduce wheel spin. Sensors monitor:

• Steering wheel angle.
• Wheel speed.
• Accelerator pedal angle.
• Throttle valve angle.

The system calculates the amount of wheel spin and controls engine output accordingly.

Light steering at low speeds results from Legend’s variable, power-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering. At higher speeds the steering is firmer.

Large four-wheel disc brakes, with a three-channel anti-lock braking system, provide excellent stopping power.

Legend’s interior is simply stunning. It includes:

• Sumptuous, hand-stitched, Australian Howe leather seats.
• Burnished walnut trim which complements the dashboard, console and armrests.
• An elegant dashboard layout which features a comprehensive array of switches, gauges and warning lights.
• Easy-to-use driver controls within easy reach.

A six-stack CD player which produces superb sound through eight strategically located speakers is housed in the centre console bin.

The ventilation system features fully automatic climate control with digital readout.

Both front seats are electrically adjustable - the driver’s seat has eight-way adjustment coupled to a two-stage memory. These seats are also electrically heated.

The leather steering wheel has telescopic and electronic tilt adjustment. To allow easy boarding and alighting, an automatic forward and upward tilt of the steering wheel occurs after removing the ignition key. The wheel repositions upon reinsertion of the key.

Other features include:

• Electric tilt-slide sunroof.
• Cruise control.
• Power windows.
• Power heated mirrors.
• Central locking with keyless entry.
• Alarm.
• Immobiliser.
• Four-millimetre thick side glass.
• Alloy wheels.
• Galvanised body panels.

Honda claims Legend is the strongest sedan it has ever built and meets or exceeds the world’s most stringent safety regulations. Safety features include:

• Driver and front passenger airbags.
• Adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners.
• Lap-sash seatbelts for all passengers.
• Two side intrusion beams on front doors and one on rear doors.

The 1998 Legend retails for $76,850.

Test vehicle supplied by Honda Australia through Nordic Honda, Adelaide.