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- This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Japanese Wikipedia.
The Honda Inspire is a luxury sedan introduced by Honda in 1990 and based on the Honda Accord chassis. The first Inspire debuted in 1990 as the Accord Inspire, a sister nameplate to the Honda Vigor, then the Honda Vigor was exported to the USA as an Acura. The Vigor/Saber and the Inspire were the same car sold at different retail channels in Japan, known as Honda Verno for the Vigor/Saber, and the Inspire at Honda Clio stores. The Inspire was developed during what was known in Japan as the Japanese asset price bubble or "bubble economy".
In 1995 the Inspire was updated by the second generation model, on a platform it shared with the Honda Legend, and exported to the US as the Acura 3.2 TL, while the Vigor nameplate was replaced with the Honda Saber. The longitudinal 2.5 L straight-5 engine layout and platform remained and was sold as the Acura 2.5 TL.
In 1999 these cars were replaced by the third generation TL that was based on the US-spec Accord platform, and largely designed and engineered in the US by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Raymond, Ohio. Manufactured in the US, these were imported into Japan as the new Inspire and Saber.
In June 2003, the fourth generation Inspire was introduced in Japan. It was the redesigned American-spec Accord. This Inspire marks the first time Honda introduced their Variable Cylinder Management technology. In October 2005, a fourth generation Inspire received a mild restyle, with new headlights, new taillights, revised interior and new colors. The Inspire targeted the Nissan Teana, the Toyota Mark X and numerous other entry level luxury cars from Japan.
In October 2007, the fifth generation of the Inspire was previewed at the Tokyo Auto Show. It is essentially a rebadged 2008 North American-market Accord with minor exterior and interior modifications.
Honda Inspire
 |
| Also called |
Honda Vigor
Acura Vigor |
| Production |
1989–1995 |
| Body style |
4-door hardtop |
| Layout |
MF layout |
| Engine |
2.5 L G25A1 Straight-5
2.0 L G20A1 Straight-5 |
| Transmission |
4-speed automatic
5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase |
2,805 mm (110 in) |
| Length |
4,690 mm (185 in)
(G20 engine)
4,830 mm (190 in)
(G25 engine) |
| Width |
1,695 mm (67 in)
(G20 engine)
1,775 mm (70 in)
(G25 engine) |
| Height |
1,355 mm (53 in)
(G20 engine)
1,375 mm (54 in)
(G25 engine) |
| Curb weight |
1,270 kg (2,800 lb)
(G20 engine)
1,440 kg (3,200 lb)
(G25 engine) |
On October 12, 1989, the "inspired Accord" was introduced. The Honda Inspire was shared with the Honda Vigor, which was a strong selling luxuriously equipped badge engineered JDM Honda Accord available only at Honda Verno dealerships. The Inspire was introduced before the recession developed in Japan in the early 1990s (known in Japan as the "bubble economy"), and Honda wanted a car that would compete with the Toyota Cresta and Nissan Laurel, with the unique inline 5-cylinder Honda G engine, in a front-wheel-drive configuration. This 5-cylinder engine was also used in the JDM Honda Rafaga, which was a shorter sedan shared with the second generation Honda Ascot. In Japan, the smaller G20A engine used regular grade fuel, while the larger G25A engine used premium grade fuel.
The bodystyle was a 4-door hardtop, but it wasn't a true hardtop, using a "B" pillar between the front and rear passenger compartments, and instead it used frameless doors. The Inspire was available in two versions; a shorter and narrower version with the G20A 2 liter engine that was in compliance with Japanese vehicle size requirements for cars classified as a "compact", and a longer and wider version with the G25A 2.5L engine, similar in dimensions to the first generation Legend, with the Inspire having a 5-cylinder engine.
The Inspire offered a luxurious approach to the interior as a lower price alternative to the top level Legend, and both vehicles were sold at Honda Clio dealerships. Interior appearance was provided by the Japanese furniture company, Tendo Mokko, offering unique leather interior and a choice of genuine wood inserts for the dashboard and center console.
The SOHC 4-valve-per-cylinder G20A Straight-5 cylinder was all new, with a choice of 2.0 L or 2.5 L engine displacement. The five-cylinder was a compromise between the smaller, frugal but weaker 4-cylinder engine, and the larger, less fuel efficient V6 engine, as Honda wanted the engine to be a good match for the Inspire's luxury aspirations. The harshness typical of a 5-cylinder engine was minimized by adding a counter rotating balance shaft and improved engine motor mounts. The engine produced adequate torque, which helped its fuel efficiency.
The transmission is attached behind the engine, with a driveshaft that sends power to the front of the car to an asymmetrically installed limited-slip differential which then supplies power to the front wheels using half shafts; this allowed the powertrain to remain slightly behind the front wheels. This also gave the car a 60:40 front to rear weight distribution. The turning radius of the Inspire also was not as tight as its competitors due to the use of Constant-velocity joint installed on the front axle half shafts, but the Inspire did have an advantage in adverse traction conditions.
Honda Inspire
 |
| Also called |
Acura 3.2 TL
Acura 2.5 TL
Honda Saber |
| Production |
1995–1998 |
| Body style |
4-door hardtop |
| Layout |
MF layout Straight-5
FF layout V6 |
| Engine |
3.2 L C32A5 V6
2.5 L G25A1 Straight-5
2.0 L G20A1 Straight-5 |
| Transmission |
4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase |
2,840 mm (111.8 in) |
| Length |
4,840 mm (190.6 in)
4,870 mm (191.7 in) V6 |
| Width |
1,785 mm (70.3 in))
1,800 mm (70.9 in) V6 |
| Height |
1,405 mm (55.3 in)
1,415 mm (55.7 in) V6 |
| Curb weight |
1,360 kg (3,000 lb)
1,430 kg (3,200 lb) V6 |
The second generation Inspire was almost identical in its dimensions to the first generation 1986 Honda Legend, with that vehicle having been updated and enlarged to better fit the role of flagship for the Honda and Acura brands. The second generation Inspire was available with the Type I 3.2 L V6 offered in the Legend on July 6, 1995, while still offering the straight 5 in both 2.0 L and 2.5 L versions. The profile of this vehicle was reduced somewhat to 1,405 mm (55.3 in). The luxury approach was enhanced. A carryover from the previous generation saw marginal increases in length, width, and height dimensions for vehicles installed with the V6 engine, but the smaller dimensions were not in compliance with Japanese government regulations concerning dimensions and maximum engine displacement, thereby giving buyers an incentive in interior accommodations when purchasing the V6 model.
The Inspire, sold at Honda Clio dealerships, was also known as the (Japanese: Honda Saber) and sold at the Honda Verno sales network, and mechanically identical to the UA1-UA3 Inspire. Starting with this generation, all Inspire and Saber vehicles were manufactured at Honda's Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, USA.
November 8, 1996 saw the introduction of dual airbags for front seat passengers and anti-lock brakes as standard.
As the recession in Japan began to take hold, cost-cutting measures began to appear in the reduction in the quality of the interior. The interior approach began to take on a more family sedan friendly appearance, with influences from the Honda Odyssey.
This version of the Inspire competed with the Toyota Camry Gracia, Mark II, Cresta and Chaser, the Nissan Cefiro and Skyline, the Mazda Millenia and the Mitsubishi Diamante.
The third generation Honda Inspire/Saber was introduced October 15, 1998, and was the first Honda designed and built in the USA and exported to Japan. It was based on the CG series, US-spec Honda Accord sedan. In North America, this vehicle was sold as the Acura TL, while in Japan it was the second model that accompanied the flagship Honda Legend at Honda Clio Japanese dealerships. The Saber version of this car was sold as the top level sedan at Honda Verno. Honda's internet-based navigation system Internavi was introduced with this generation.
The Inspire no longer offered the Straight-5 engine, and instead offered the 3.2 L J32A V6 and 2.5 L J25A V6 with VTEC, and a choice of a 4- or 5-speed automatic transmission. The bodystyle was changed from hardtop to sedan as a result of the USA-spec Accord having been upgraded to meet USA requirements for improved side impact protection. A cabin air filter, also known as a pollen filter is introduced with this generation and is located behind the glove compartment for all vehicles sold internationally.
The Honda Saber was discontinued April 2003 along with the consolidation of the Honda Japan sales networks Primo, Clio and Verno.
The fourth generation was introduced June 18, 2003. This vehicle was built at the Saitama Prefecture facility in Sayama, Japan. The bodystyle and appearance was aligned with the North American Accord.
This is the first vehicle that showcases Honda's "VCM" technology, on the 3.0 L J30A V6 with i-VTEC with a 5-speed automatic transmission. "HiDS" also made the options list. Honda also made available its "IHCC", the collision avoidance "CMBS", "C-MOS", which utilized a front-mounted camera to assist in unwanted lane drifting. A Internet based navigation service called Internavi is available for drivers in Japan.
A styling update appeared on November 4, 2005, changing both the front grille and rear tail lights. LED was introduced for the rear tail lights.
In September 2002, a straight-4 DOHC i-VTEC 2.4 L K24A engine was made available on the USA-spec vehicle only.
This model is sold in Southeast Asia market in the name Honda Accord. The engine available are 2.0L, 2.4L and 3.0L all in I-VTEC engine.
The fifth generation Honda Inspire was released on December 19, 2007 in Japan, with a further increased enhancement to the vehicles dimensions, which are on par with the second generation Honda Legend. The Inspire is now one level below the fourth generation Honda Legend, with a comparable level of luxury and refinement of the Legend. The AWD system, called "SH-AWD" is not available on this iteration of the Inspire, however. Honda technologies such as "CMBS", Adaptive Cruise Control, called IHCC, and HDD navigation with Honda's telematics subscription service Internavi is included. The power steering is now electric power assisted to reduce power demands on the engine, thereby improving fuel economy.
The Inspire now uses the base model V6 from the Legend. The Inspire has over the previous generations grown in all dimensions in that it is larger than the first and second generation Honda/Acura Legends built between 1985 and 1996, with a larger and more powerful V6 engine. It matches the dimensions of the fourth generation Honda Legend/Acura RL, and the Acura TL in every dimension almost exactly (wheelbase, length, width, and height). One of the primary differences between the Legend/RL, the Inspire, and the TL is that the Legend is built in Japan, the TL is built in the USA, and the Inspire is built at multiple locations.
This vehicle is now being made available in Thailand and Southeast Asia, using the 2.0L, 2.4 L DOHC K24A and 3.5L with i-VTEC under the name Honda Accord. There are few exterior and interior differences between this Inspire and the US-spec Honda Accord. In Japan, the Inspire competes with the Toyota Crown, and the Nissan Fuga.
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JDM Honda Inspire interior
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