Legend's Quick On The Draw

It's the making of a Legend. Ahead of its unveiling at the New York Motor Show, Honda has released official pictures of its all-new BMW 5-Series rival. Auto Express readers got their first glimpse of the next-generation Legend in Issue 767, when we brought you exclusive spy shots of the car, which is set to go on sale in the UK this year.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Chris Thorp

08th April 2004

Gone are the conservative looks of the previous model in favour of a more angular style. The aim is to give the Honda the presence it needs to tempt buyers away from the 5-Series and new Audi A6.

However, the Legend does have a trump card - its groundbreaking Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. This uses a network of sensors and an extra differential to split torque between the front and rear axles. It also diverts power to the appropriate wheel to compensate for any loss of traction.

Honda has clearly invested heavily in this technology, which leads us to believe that the newcomer will deliver formidable performance. Insiders at the company have hinted the saloon will have the 300bhp 3.5-litre V6 which debuted in the Dual Note supercar concept shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001.

The hi-tech engine's 320Nm of torque will be fed to all four wheels via a five-speed automatic box. However, for improved economy, the unit has a cylinder shutdown function, so only half are used when cruising. While a diesel is unlikely, it's planned to add a hybrid to the line-up before the end of the decade.