Is It Only a Matter of Time before Acura Goes Global?
Following Toyota's lead in reverse-engineering its Lexus brand into its home market and Nissan recently announcing that its
upscale Infiniti nameplate would follow suit in coming years, it appears as if Honda's Acura division isn't necessarily going global yet, but nevertheless attempting to simplify the production and marketing of its many dual-brand models by launching in Japan.
It only makes sense that Europe will be next, of course, being that it's a global marketplace now that the internet has made it so a potential Japanese customer searching for information on an NSX, per se, may end up looking at a North America-destined Acura version that isn't even available in the land of the rising sun, or vice versa.
At the very least the former scenario won't be the case any longer, however, as Acura will join its Honda parent in the automaker's domestic market for 2008 with 100 dealerships, just in time for the expected launch of its
next-generation flagship sports car, yet to be named. Other models, currently available as Hondas in Japan, will be re-designated with the Acura badge either when the time comes for a redesign or right away.
Being that Honda doesn't sell a version of the Acura TL in Japan yet, there's a good chance that this model will immediately be positioned directly under Honda's Legacy model, if and when this car gets Acura branding that may or may not include an RL moniker. It makes sense, of course, for Acura to globally unify all of its model names, so expect the unique Japanese names of its Honda models to be replaced by the rather bland Euro-style alpha naming strategy Acura has adopted for its North American market cars.
Following Toyota's lead in reverse-engineering its Lexus brand into its home market and Nissan recently announcing that its
 |
| Acura has truly separated itself from its Honda roots with its beautifully styled TL. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
It only makes sense that Europe will be next, of course, being that it's a global marketplace now that the internet has made it so a potential Japanese customer searching for information on an NSX, per se, may end up looking at a North America-destined Acura version that isn't even available in the land of the rising sun, or vice versa.
At the very least the former scenario won't be the case any longer, however, as Acura will join its Honda parent in the automaker's domestic market for 2008 with 100 dealerships, just in time for the expected launch of its
 |
| Acura will join its Honda parent in the automaker's domestic market for 2008 with 100 dealerships, when cars like this Honda Legend will be rebadged as Acuras. (Photo: Honda) |
Being that Honda doesn't sell a version of the Acura TL in Japan yet, there's a good chance that this model will immediately be positioned directly under Honda's Legacy model, if and when this car gets Acura branding that may or may not include an RL moniker. It makes sense, of course, for Acura to globally unify all of its model names, so expect the unique Japanese names of its Honda models to be replaced by the rather bland Euro-style alpha naming strategy Acura has adopted for its North American market cars.