Honda Legend 2008 News

Only a fraction of the 1.2 million cars on Australia roads with airbags that can spray shrapnel have been fixed, new figures show.

It’s the biggest recall in Honda Australia history and the consequences of not getting the airbags replaced can be deadly.The number of Honda cars recalled in Australia to replace potentially deadly airbags has climbed to a staggering 421,000 vehicles with the addition of 71,000 extra models today across the Jazz, Civic and Legend range.Honda is one of eight car brands recalling up to 53 million cars globally -- including more than 5 million Hondas -- to replace Takata airbags that can fire shrapnel when deployed in a crash.So far the faulty airbags have been linked to at least eight deaths overseas, but none have been reported in Australia.Honda has the highest number of affected vehicles in Australia (421,000), even more than market leader Toyota (258,000) which sells almost six times more cars. It represents more than four out of every five Hondas sold locally during the recall period.It brings the Takata airbag tally across all brands to more than 900,000 vehicles in Australia.Honda Australia Director, Stephen Collins, told News Corp Australia the company was fixing 5000 cars per week across its network of 107 dealers.“This is unprecedented for us and shows how seriously we are taking this issue,” said Mr Collins.Because so many airbags need replacing globally, some customers face a painstaking wait that could stretch into 2017 before having their cars fixed.But Honda says at least one third of the 421,000 cars have had their airbags replaced so far in Australia.The crisis has left drivers with the unenviable task of taking the risk and driving their cars or -- if they can afford it -- park their recalled car until new airbags become available.So far, authorities in the US and Australia have not ordered the recalled cars off the road.The odds of being killed are difficult to calculate. Not all of the airbags in the 53 million cars are defective.But internal testing by Takata in 2015 found 265 of 30,000 recalled airbags had ruptured -- or less than 1 per cent.That may sound like good odds, until you realise it still leaves 530,000 cars around the world -- and at least 6000 in Australia -- with airbags that can kill.The three Honda models added today include the Honda Civic (2006 to 2011), the Honda Legend (2007 to 2012) and the Honda Jazz (2012).Chrysler 300C sedan 2005 to 2007BMW 3 Series 1997 to 2006Honda Jazz 2004 to 2009Honda Accord 2001 to 2006Honda Accord Euro 2004 to 2007Honda CR-V 2002 to 2008Honda Civic 2004 to 2005Honda Civic 2006 to 2011 (added 25 February 2016)Honda Legend 2007 to 2012 (added 25 February 2016)Honda Jazz 2012 (added 25 February 2016)Honda MDX 2003 to 2006Lexus SC430 2001 to 2003Mercedes-Benz SL and SLK 2014Nissan N16 Pulsar 2000 to 2006Nissan D22 Navara 1997 to 2004Nissan Y61 Patrol 1997 to 2010Nissan T30 X-TRAIL 2001 to 2007Nissan A33 Maxima 1999 to 2003Subaru Impreza 2004 to 2007Toyota Echo 2003 to 2005Toyota RAV4 2003 to 2005Toyota Corolla 2003 to 2007Toyota Yaris 2005 to 2007Toyota Avensis 2003 to 2007

But the Japanese firm isn't expecting more sales.Honda's flagship has been given a mid-life overhaul after falling short of its sales targets locally. But even though it failed to reach its target of 60 sales a month, Honda Australia is happy with its range-topping model, which was relaunched two years ago.“The current model has sold 700 since its launch, which is pretty much on target. The car is a showcase for technology. It was never meant to be a volume seller,” Honda Australia's Mark Higgins says.Last year Honda sold 404 examples of the Legend - well below its target of 600 - despite having repositioned it at $74,500 after the price had crept towards $90,000 on the previous generation.But Higgins says the company was happy with those numbers. Stock problems throughout its run had hampered sales of the previous model.“We hope this new car will achieve all its targets and objectives. I think we were happy with where the old model settled, about 30 a month. We see it at that level.”The 2009-model Legend is the most powerful Honda road car the company has produced. The old model's 3.5-litre V6 has grown to 3.7-litres and now produces 226kW of power and 370Nm of torque. That's up from 217kW and 351Nm from the old unit.Despite the power increase, fuel use has been marginally reduced from 11.8litres/100km to 11.3litres/100km.The Legend retains its Super Handling all-wheel-drive system and drive-by-wire throttle, but gets an updated five-speed Sequential SportsShift transmission.On the outside the car has more than a dozen cosmetic changes. At the front is a new bonnet, bi-xenon headlights, grille and bumper. The rear gets a new boot with integrated spoiler, bumper, lights and exhaust. There are new 18-inch alloy wheels and side rocker panels.Continuing the technological theme, the “acoustic windscreen” features a thin film of butyl alcohol sandwiched between two glass panels to increase sound protection. There is also the Honda Active noise-cancellation system, which transmits acoustic signals into the cabin to reduce noise.The interior has new seats, steering wheel, BOSE sound system and climate control. But the changes come at a price. The 2009 Legend now costs from $77,500. 

Plans for a powerhouse Legend in 2010 with an eight-pot engine and all-wheel drive are well advanced at HQ in Japan, but the driving force for the newcomer is actually in the US. More US drivers are pushing for V8 engines, a shift Hyundai has also identified, and answered, with its Genesis sedan and coupe. Now Honda is looking for more go in a move that could have implications for Australia . . . only if the maker decides to bring its second-string brand, Acura. An Acura plan is being developed at Honda Australia's headquarters and it could easily include the V8-powered Acura RL that is now an open secret around the world. “We understand that a V8 engine will be launched in the new flagship Acura model in America. That is the car called the RL,” Honda Australia managing director Yasuhide Mizuno says. “We believe the V8 is being introduced to create a bigger differential between the RL and the Accord. Whether it comes to Australia depends on our strategy for introducing Acura." “It won't be until the next decade, at the earliest, before we decide on whether we launch that brand. That depends on us reaching a number of other targets with the Honda brand,” he says. Mizuno confirms the V8 will have the same eco-focused cylinder de-activation system already seen on the latest V6 Accord — which can run as a six, four or three-cylinder motor — but is giving away nothing else. Honda gave the first hint on its V8 plan with the ugly Acura Advanced Sports Concept it displayed at the 2006 Los Angeles motor show. There is no prize for guessing it was a design study for the coming RL, though Japanese artists believe Honda has listened to criticisms of the original design and made significant changes as it works towards production. Honda of America has been listening carefully to the word on the street, as it wants the V8 RL to go up against BMW, Audi and Lexus. One source says Honda plans to extract 315kW from the V8, but — thanks to the cylinder de-activation system — also believes it can generate class-leading fuel economy figures. The other big change for the RL and Legend, which currently share a front-wheel-drive mechanical package, is the switch to on-demand rear-wheel drive with four-wheel steering. Honda of America believes rear-drive is essential for the RL, but the company is developing a revised version of the SH-AWD system used now to provide rear-drive balance at all times with an on-demand power feed to the front wheels when rear traction is compromised. So it's good news on the technology and design fronts, but there will be bad news on price. The RL is aimed at a $70,000 bottom line in the US and that would probably put it close to $100,000 in Australia.  

Like Mazda, Honda is keeping its model options limited, having quietly dropped its under-performing MDX luxury SUV model last year.That just leaves the strong sales performers, which have Honda in seventh place, narrowly behind Mitsubishi, despite now having only one SUV on the market.Honda Australia managing director and CEO Yasuhide Mizuno said Civic sales are up 58 per cent, Jazz 42 per cent, Accord 75 per cent and CR-V 26 per cent.Mizuno, who began on the assembly line in 1986 and has worked for Honda in bikes and cars in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia, says worldwide revenue last year from 3.65 million cars was $111 billion, up 12 per cent.But while there are more Honda models available overseas, Australia gets a limited seven-car line-up with the Legend luxury saloon re-introduced last year.Honda Australia senior director Lindsay Smalley says between now and 2010 they will have an update on all models, but only release three new models.The first of these is the British-built Civic Type-R hot hatch which hits the showrooms this month. The standard three-door and five-door hatches are also expected in about 18 months and the other model is possibly the seven-seater Pilot, a replacement for the MDX.“It's the same size as the MDX but more of a family large wagon rather than a luxury SUV,” Smalley said. “We haven't really studied it yet.”Smalley said diesel versions of its Accord and VR-V were a possibility when Honda introduced its cleaner generation-two diesel engines in the next two years.The Acura luxury division, like Toyota's Lexus, is also a possibility, but Smalley says it is unlikely before 2015.“We would have to be selling about 100,000 a year,” he said.Last year Honda Australia sold 56,000 unit and this year Smalley expects to sell 64,000.He said sales growth depended on getting more Honda dealers. At present they have 96 nationally, but will increase that to 125by 2010.

The company's flagship nameplate has been absent for two years but it has been returned with serious intent.