Acura

The Japanese have a knack for engineering and resilience, almost like modern-day phoenixes. After bouncing back from the devastation of World War II, they rebuilt their industries from the ground up, eventually becoming a powerhouse in the global auto market. And in 1986, Japanese engineers dropped a game-changer—the launch of Acura, Honda’s luxury division. This was their way of throwing down the gauntlet against Western automakers.

Acura wasted no time making an impact. Early mode...