Japanese luxury brand Acura is a sub-brand of automaker Honda Motor Company. Since its introduction to Canada and the United States in 1986 and subsequent release in Mexico (2004), China (2006), and Hong Kong (1991), Acura has been marketing performance, near-performance, and luxury vehicles. The brand was originally promoted under the statement: "Acura. Precision Crafted Performance." Funny thing is, the Acura brand still isn't available in its home country of Japan. Though Honda planned to launch the brand there in 2008, the play was delayed due to financial reasons and continued to be withheld due to the financial crisis of 2008. The brand's headquarters are in Tokyo Japan, and the United States.

Although the Acura vehicles weren't (and still aren't) available to Japan, the creation of the brand did coincide with the release of a Japanese sales dealership sales channel, Honda Clio, which also marketed vehicles in the luxury category. A previous sales channel, Honda Primo, was established the next year. Acura did very well for itself; the brand "held its own" as one of the best-selling luxury brands in the United States. And, though sales declined in the 1990s, Acura experienced a revitalization in the early 2000s as a result of new model issues and drastic redesigns.

From the NSX exotic sports automobile to the sporty MDX SUV, the Acura brand is renowned for its unrivaled quality. Every Acura automobile is constructed upon the principle that integrity breeds excellence. The first Acura model ever debuted was the Legend- a name that would stand throughout the brand's history- in 1986. The Legend lineup expanded to include several models for all different types of drivers. It was also the first Japanese luxury car to appear in America. Soon after the Legend sedan's introduction, a coupe version was introduced as well. In 1990, these vehicles were joined by the sporty Acura NSX, which included impressive technological features and incredible design. A two-seater that was ready to hit the track, the NSX really changed the game for exotic cars. The Acura MDX sport-utility vehicle was released in 2000 after being designed and produced by a Honda facility in the state of Ohio. This vehicle was the brand's first venture into the SUV marketplace. In 2011, the Acura MDX was cited as one of the year's most popular models; it's both sensible and desirable. The Acura MDX competes against other luxury SUV/Crossover vehicles such as the Buick Enclave, the Lincoln MKT, and the Volvo XC90.

By 2001, the Acura brand had really perfected luxury. Car enthusiasts swooned over the streamlined, sporty, and efficient Acura RSX. The technology-focused 2003 TL, the 2004 TSX sports sedan, and the stylish 2005 RL soon followed. All of Acura's vehicles carry impressive residual value. This means that they retain a large portion of their worth during the first three years of ownership and beyond. Overall, Acura has done extremely well as a relatively new luxury brand. The company widely competes against other luxury brands such as Lexus, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.