Details of Cars

Honda Inspire: the Accord-based flagship sedan of Honda Clio

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Honda Inspire in China
A China-market Honda Inspire of the CY generation. Photo by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Honda Inspire is a mid-size sedan derived from the Honda Accord chassis. The first Inspire debuted in late 1989 as the Accord Inspire, a sister nameplate to the Honda Vigor, and was sold through Honda Clio dealerships while the Vigor and Saber went through Honda Verno.

Honda Inspire at a glance

Honda Inspire key facts
Maker Honda
Introduced 1989, as the Accord Inspire
Class mid-size luxury sedan
Base Honda Accord chassis
Sister car Honda Vigor, later Honda Saber
Japanese channel Honda Clio
1995 exported to the US as the Acura 3.2 TL
1999 second-generation TL-based car built in the US
2003 fourth generation, first with Variable Cylinder Management
2007 fifth generation, based on the 2008 North American Accord
End of Japanese production 2012, after six generations
Revival 2018 as a China-only model

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Inspire.

History of the Honda Inspire

Accord Inspire

Honda Inspire rear view
The same Inspire from the rear. Photo by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

On 12 October 1989 the Honda Accord Inspire was introduced. The platform was shared with the Honda Vigor, a JDM Accord-derived five-cylinder luxury car, and the two were sold through different Japanese retail channels: Verno for the Vigor and Saber, Clio for the Inspire.

Acura TL connection

In 1995 the Inspire was updated and exported to the United States as the Acura 3.2 TL, while the Vigor nameplate was replaced by the Honda Saber. The longitudinal 2.5-litre straight-five layout and platform remained and was sold as the Acura 2.5 TL. In 1999 these cars were replaced by the second-generation TL based on the US-spec Accord and largely engineered in the United States; built there, they were imported to Japan as the new Inspire and Saber.

Later generations

In June 2003 the fourth-generation Inspire was introduced in Japan, derived from the North American Accord V6 and the first Honda with Variable Cylinder Management. It was restyled in October 2005 and aimed at the Nissan Teana, Toyota Mark X and other Japanese entry-level luxury cars. The fifth generation of October 2007 was essentially a rebadged 2008 North American Accord with minor changes. Production ended in September 2012 after six generations and 23 years, and the name returned in 2018 as a China-only model based on the tenth-generation Accord.

Design and features

  • Accord base: a larger, more luxurious Accord for Japan.
  • Two dealer channels: Inspire at Clio, Vigor and Saber at Verno.
  • Acura TL link: the export version for North America.
  • Variable Cylinder Management: first used on the 2003 Inspire.

Honda Inspire versions

  • Accord Inspire (1989): the first generation.
  • Acura 3.2 TL (1995): the American export.
  • Fourth generation (2003): North American Accord V6 base.
  • Fifth generation (2007): rebadged 2008 Accord.
  • China-only Inspire (2018): the revived model.

The Inspire is built on the Honda Accord and shares its Japanese luxury role with the Legend. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.

Sources

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