Superficiality?

[JD@af]

Around 1990, it became a major automotive trend, most notably in Japan, for manufacturers to divide and branch off their corporations into the lower-tier "regular cars," and the top-of-the-line luxury cars, here in North America. This year marked the rise of Toyota's Lexus line of automobiles, Nissan's (recently changed over from Datsun) introduction of their Infiniti line, and Mazda's failed but proposed Amati luxury line (the sole remaining production automobile of this line became the Mazda Millenia). Honda had preceded this trend by four years, having introduced their Acura line of automobiles in 1986.

I often wonder why this move was made in North America, but not in the rest of the world (at least not for Honda). Are Americans perceived as being that superficial, that all that matters for us is a premium name, which is directly linked to a premium price? Case in point, the relative values, dollar for dollar of a Honda Civic versus an Acura Integra. The Civic wins hand over fist in this comparison. Yet for the sake of a more sophisticated image, we are attracted to the swankier name of the Acura over the humbler persona accompanying the Honda namesake.

This gives rise to personal fear for me. What kind of light does this shed upon the nature of the American people, and more importantly, how we are perceived by citizens of the rest of the world?

[igor@af]

Americans = Dumb and Gullible
joke...
but thats what they are aiming at- that people will buy a car because the manufacturer only makes luxury models.
e.g
If you buy Toyota LS430, then its a Toyota, there are many toyotas- from Celica to Prius.
But if you buy Lexus LS430, then you're god. You own a Lexus!!! Lexus doesn't make cheap cars at all!
So, you think- everyone will know I am rich, even if I am not.

[Jay!]

I also heard once that they did it because they wanted to make sure they didn't have too many models under one nameplate. This would be important when two models from the same manufacturer would be close to competeing with each other.

Ex.1: Honda Prelude and Acura Integra.
Ex.2: Nissan Maxima (maybe 3rd gen.) and Infiniti G20.

They try to have one really good model for each style (Sport Sedan, Sport Coupe, Family Sedan, Compact Car, etc.).

[JD@af]

Good point....

[i_rebel]

Interesting . . . I do believe it's more aimed at capitalizing on the superficiality of the American consumer and the fickle minds that spend the most money . . .

Silver 2000 . . . you make a good point, howeveer I think for some makers that has very little to do with it. Infiniti for example has the I30 which is the correct counterpart for the Maxima and in fact is identical besides the exterior and a few interior appointments . . . they would never have needed to sell side by side . . . it's the same damn car!

The Q45 for example is the only 8 cylinder in the N American lineup and could just as easily appeared on our shores as a Nissan flagship without interfering with sales for the rest of the line . . .

I believe Toyota NEEDED to create the Lexus line though, because they have so many econo/luxury sedans at home in Japan, where their lineup is more of the family luxury variety . . . I believe they HAD those cars already, just needed to come up with a plan to market them in the US . . .

Nissan on the other hand, is viewed as the sports car maker in Japan . . . they more or less had to CREATE the Infiniti lineup probably to compete with Lexus and Acura . . . all the Infiniti engines are of the variety used in the sportier Nissan vehicles.

Witness the 2.0 liter engine in the G20 . . . it's identical to the engine in the sporting version of the Sentra, the SE-R . . . the base model Sentras use a 1.6 liter . . .

I'm tired now . . . got work to do, see y'all later

[e420gsr]

i believe it might also have something to do with the number of models each "maker" is allowed to import into the U.S.
it could be a way for japanese automakers to get around that,
only honda = x amount of cars,
but with acura AND honda, they get to double the amount they import and since its not "really" honda, but acura with a honda engine, they are able to send more cars.
i could be wrong, and if i am, correct me.

[Jay!]

I'm not sure about import quotas. For example: almost all Hondas and Acuras that are sold in North America are now produced in North America. (Exceptions: NSX, S2000, anything "Type-R"...) Some models, like the Accord, is region-specific, and is different from both the Japanese Accord and the European Accord. Others that seem to be identical between Japan and N. America, though some are re-badged as Acuras, are produced, at least partially, on both continents.

Another hitch to this theory is that Honda uses the same plants to produce Hondas and Acuras, such as the line that made both the Civic and the last Integra.

Just MHO. :flash:

[i_rebel]

Although they are assembled here, they are still "imports" . . . of Japanese manufacture . . . or somethin' like that . . .

I kinda like that theory about quotas . . .

[AlexusVTEC]

so you're saying that overseas cars such as the NSX, and RSX (or integra) are badged as Hondas? Wow, i rememeber reading this thing about a car called the toyota soarer which was actually the last generation of LEXUS SC's anyone know if that was sold here or overseas only?. Is north america the only continent to separate the lines into luxury/economy models?

[Tavypimp]

pics of my car

[knorwj]

i'm not positive but i believe the quota thing is correct. Take honda for instance. they could only "import" a certain number of models and vehicles under the honda nameplate, so to get around that they introduced acura in america to release other models. that is why I believe in japan you can't get an acura it will be under the honda badge such as honda integra etc. etc. and the toyota soarer is a lexus over here. this happens with alot of cars.