Honda Accord

Then Toyota supplier Soichiro Honda started his own company in the aftermath of World War II, and just a couple of decades later the company had become the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. Cars were a slower-burner but Honda would become renowned as one of the great innovators of the automotive industry. The Civic and Accord models laid down markers in the US market through impressive fuel efficiency, and in the same market its 1986 move to enter the luxury segment with its Acura sub-brand was so successful it was mimicked by both Nissan and Toyota. It pioneered variable engine valve control with V-Tec in 1989, putting it to notable use in the 1991 NSX supercar. Its most glorious motorsport period to date was 1986-1991 when its race engines dominated Formula One. Honda has since been more closely associated with environmentally friendly cars such as the Insight hybrid, and vehicles with clever packaging such as the Jazz and Civic.